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Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management
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Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2021) | Viewed by 80949

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jolanta Tamošaitienė

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-1022 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: civil engineering; construction; technology; processes; MCDM; risk
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The planning and effective management of construction processes are extremely important for success in the construction sector. Activities in the construction sector are inherently risky, due to the objects, their size, the processes (initiating, planning, and executing), members and the environments. Sustainability must be included in risk assessment processes.

Traditionally, decision-making process needs to consider not a single but several different criteria; therefore, multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approaches and other decision-making methods are usually applied.

When evaluating the attributes of a problem, sustainability should be taken into consideration, as well the factors that influence the efficiency and value creation of the decision process.

Assoc Prof. Dr. Jolanta Tamošaitienė
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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.

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Keywords

  • risk
  • sustainability
  • construction
  • MCDM
  • technique
  • environment

Published Papers (21 papers)

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20 pages, 729 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Barriers and Risks to Private Sector Participation in Infrastructure Construction Projects in Developing Countries of Middle East
by Jolanta Tamošaitienė, Hadi Sarvari, Daniel W. M. Chan and Matteo Cristofaro
Sustainability 2021, 13(1), 153; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13010153 - 25 Dec 2020
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4456
Abstract
In developing countries, governments are often unable to implement urban infrastructure construction projects (UICPs) on their own, mainly due to budget and financial resource limitations. The participation of the private sector, through public–private partnerships (PPPs), has been considered as an alternative effective method [...] Read more.
In developing countries, governments are often unable to implement urban infrastructure construction projects (UICPs) on their own, mainly due to budget and financial resource limitations. The participation of the private sector, through public–private partnerships (PPPs), has been considered as an alternative effective method for increasing the efficiency and productivity of urban infrastructure development. However, in many developing countries such as those situated in the Middle East, attracting private sector investments for UICPs uncovers profound challenges that have not ever been comprehensively accounted for and prioritized. To fill this knowledge gap, this study seeks to determine and prioritize the major barriers and risks faced by governments and urban managers in attracting private sector investments through the PPP schemes launched by developing countries in the Middle East. Based on a Delphi study conducted in Iran as an example, the opinions of 60 UICPs experts in both the public and private sectors were collected and analyzed. Results show that technical and organizational barriers and risks were perceived as the most important to private sector participation, followed by economic and financial barriers and risks, and then political and legal barriers and risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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13 pages, 1103 KiB  
Article
Quantifying the Third-Party Loss in Building Construction Sites Utilizing Claims Payouts: A Case Study in South Korea
by Ji-Myong Kim, Kag-Cheon Ha, Sungjin Ahn, Seunghyun Son and Kiyoung Son
Sustainability 2020, 12(23), 10153; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su122310153 - 04 Dec 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1706
Abstract
This study aims to quantify the losses to third-parties on construction sites by determining the loss indicators and identifying the relationship between the losses and the indicators to improve the sustainability on building construction sites. The growing size and intricacy of recent construction [...] Read more.
This study aims to quantify the losses to third-parties on construction sites by determining the loss indicators and identifying the relationship between the losses and the indicators to improve the sustainability on building construction sites. The growing size and intricacy of recent construction projects have resulted in the growth of losses, both in quantity and frequency. Notably, third-party losses are rapidly increasing owing to the urbanization of the environment and increases in construction scale. Therefore, for efficient and sustainable construction management, a financial loss assessment model is essential to mitigate and manage such loss. This study uses the third-party losses on construction sites obtained from a major South Korean insurance company to describe the difference from the material losses and to disclose the loss indicators based on actual economic losses. ANOVA analysis and multiple regression analysis are adopted to identify the variance and define the loss indicators and to make prediction models, respectively. Several groups of loss indicators are investigated, including construction information and the occurrence of natural disasters. The findings and results of this research afford an essential guide to sustainable construction management, and they can serve as a first stage loss assessment model for construction projects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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16 pages, 2250 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Risk Allocation on Contractors’ Opportunistic Behavior: The Moderating Effect of Trust and Control
by Yilin Yin, Qing Lin, Wanyi Xiao and Hang Yin
Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9604; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12229604 - 18 Nov 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2873
Abstract
In construction projects, contractors often exhibit opportunistic behaviors, which harms the project performance, and risk allocation between clients and contractors affects the contractors’ opportunistic behaviors (strong and weak). In this study, a structural equation model was built to explore the impacts of risk [...] Read more.
In construction projects, contractors often exhibit opportunistic behaviors, which harms the project performance, and risk allocation between clients and contractors affects the contractors’ opportunistic behaviors (strong and weak). In this study, a structural equation model was built to explore the impacts of risk allocation on opportunistic behavior and the moderating role of trust and control through an empirical test using a recovery questionnaire with 342 interviewees. The results show that the greater the risk contractors take, the stronger their opportunistic behavior is. Trust has a significant inhibitory effect on both strong and weak opportunistic behaviors caused by risk allocation, while control has a significant inhibitory effect only on strong opportunistic behavior caused by risk allocation. This study enriches the research on the governance mechanism and construction management of opportunistic behaviors and provides management suggestions for risk allocation and control measures of such behaviors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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15 pages, 757 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Risk of Natural Disaster-Induced Losses to Tunnel-Construction Projects Using Empirical Financial-Loss Data from South Korea
by Sang-Guk Yum, Sungjin Ahn, Junseo Bae and Ji-Myong Kim
Sustainability 2020, 12(19), 8026; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12198026 - 28 Sep 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3583
Abstract
Tunnel construction, a common byproduct of rapid economic growth and transportation-system development, carries inherent risks to life and various kinds of property that operations and management professionals must take into account. Due to various and complicated geological conditions, tunnel construction projects can produce [...] Read more.
Tunnel construction, a common byproduct of rapid economic growth and transportation-system development, carries inherent risks to life and various kinds of property that operations and management professionals must take into account. Due to various and complicated geological conditions, tunnel construction projects can produce unexpected collapses, landslides, avalanches, and water-related hazards. Moreover, damage from such events can be intensified by other factors, including geological hazards caused by natural disasters, such as heavy rainfall and earthquakes, resulting in huge social, economic, and environmental losses. Therefore, the present research conducted multiple linear regression analyses on financial-loss data arising from tunnel construction in Korea to develop a novel tunnel-focused method of natural-hazard risk assessment. More specifically, the total insured value and actual value of damage to 277 tunnel-construction projects were utilized to identify significant natural-disaster indicators linked to unexpected construction-budget overruns and construction-scheduling delays. Damage ratios (i.e., actual losses over total insured project value) were used as objective, quantitative indices of the extent of damage that can be usefully applied irrespective of project size. Natural-hazard impact data—specifically wind speed, rainfall, and flood occurrences—were applied as the independent variables in the regression model. In the regression model, maximum wind speed was found to be correlated with tunnel projects’ financial losses across all three of the natural-hazard indicators. The present research results can serve as important baseline references for natural disaster-related risk assessments of tunnel-construction projects, and thus serve the wider purpose of balanced and sustainable development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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32 pages, 3918 KiB  
Article
Multi-Criteria Decision Making of Contractor Selection in Mass Rapid Transit Station Development Using Bayesian Fuzzy Prospect Model
by Min-Yuan Cheng, Shu-Hua Yeh and Woei-Chyi Chang
Sustainability 2020, 12(11), 4606; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12114606 - 04 Jun 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2737
Abstract
In Taiwan, the most advantageous tender in governmental procurement is the selection of a general contractor based on a score or ranking evaluated by a committee. Due to personal, subjective preferences, the contractor selection of committee members may be different, causing cognitive difference [...] Read more.
In Taiwan, the most advantageous tender in governmental procurement is the selection of a general contractor based on a score or ranking evaluated by a committee. Due to personal, subjective preferences, the contractor selection of committee members may be different, causing cognitive difference between the results of the members’ selection and the preliminary opinions provided by the working group. Integrated, multi-criteria decision making techniques, combined with preference relation, Bayesian, fuzzy utility, and prospect theories are used to assess factors weighing up the duration/cost/quality, probability of external information, and utility function system. The paper proposes a Bayesian fuzzy prospect model for group decision making, based on probability and utility multiplied relation, and taking the sustainable development factors into consideration. This study aims to provide committees with an objective model to select the best contractor for public construction projects. The results of this study can avoid the lowest bidder being selected; besides, the score gap of contractor selection can be increased, and the difference between the top three contractors’ scores can be decreased as well. In addition to proposing an innovative decision-making system of contractor selection and an index weight-assessing system for sustainable development, this model will be widely applied and sustainably updated for other cases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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28 pages, 442 KiB  
Article
Risk Allocation in Unsolicited and Solicited Road Public-Private Partnerships: Sustainability and Management Implications
by Gabriel Castelblanco, Jose Guevara, Harrison Mesa and Diego Flores
Sustainability 2020, 12(11), 4478; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12114478 - 01 Jun 2020
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 3992
Abstract
Risk allocation plays a crucial role in the successful development of public-private partnership (PPP) projects. However, despite being an important topic for scholars and practitioners, the existing literature does not provide sufficient evidence on how managing risks in solicited (SP) and unsolicited (USP) [...] Read more.
Risk allocation plays a crucial role in the successful development of public-private partnership (PPP) projects. However, despite being an important topic for scholars and practitioners, the existing literature does not provide sufficient evidence on how managing risks in solicited (SP) and unsolicited (USP) road PPP projects, and subsequently, on what the sustainability implications are for such managerial processes. This study aims to extend risk allocation studies by analyzing contracts in Chilean highway PPPs over the last decade based on a systematic content analysis framework and case study data. The framework was developed through line-by-line coding of contract provisions associated with risk-related issues, and data were collected from semi-structured interviews with Chilean PPP practitioners. Results show that, although the majority of risks are either shared or transferred to the private party in most contracts, there are important variations in the way allocation procedures are implemented for SPs and USPs. Contracts analyzed revealed that risk arrangement mechanisms have usually focused on the economic dimension of sustainability without fully incorporating social and environmental considerations, increasing protests in the long-term. Conclusions indicate that risk allocation procedures and sustainability considerations are highly dependent on project-specific features and contextual factors. Overall, the analysis uncovers that the level of autonomy given to the private sector in both SPs and USPs has contributed to properly manage technical and economic risks, but has failed to successfully allocate social and environmental concerns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
19 pages, 4190 KiB  
Article
Probabilistic Fire Risk Framework for Optimizing Construction Site Layout
by Rani El Meouche, Mohammed Abunemeh, Ihab Hijazi, Ahmed Mebarki, Fadi Fatayer and Amjad Issa
Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 4065; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12104065 - 15 May 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2767
Abstract
Purpose: This paper aims to develop an efficient model able to reduce catastrophic consequences and the significant number of victims resulting from fires at construction sites. The paper proposes probabilistic modeling aimed to minimize the probability of failure of a construction site. Methodology: [...] Read more.
Purpose: This paper aims to develop an efficient model able to reduce catastrophic consequences and the significant number of victims resulting from fires at construction sites. The paper proposes probabilistic modeling aimed to minimize the probability of failure of a construction site. Methodology: The developed model in this paper consists of modeling fire hazards, the vulnerability of the potential targets, and the risk within construction sites. The optimization algorithm called “differential evolution” is used in order to determine the optimal site layout, which is characterized by having the smallest overall probability of failure. A numerical simulation is performed to delineate an appropriate probability density function of the failure of the site. In addition, a geographic information system (GIS) is used to display the spatial variability of fire risk on a construction site. Findings: The paper provides an efficient model to enhance site layout planning and assign locations for supporting temporary facilities at appropriate positions within a construction site. The model is examined through applying it on a simple case study containing numerous facilities. All these facilities are considered vulnerable targets and some of them are potential fire hazards, with different intensity values. Value: Most of the previous research focuses on travel cost distance in developing site layout planning models. This paper fulfills the development of a valuable model able to generate an optimized construction site layout by minimizing the probability of failure of the whole site. It will assist the decision makers and the risk managers in identifying the riskiest zones on a construction site. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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23 pages, 887 KiB  
Article
Drivers of Sustainable Adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Nigerian Construction Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
by Abdullahi B. Saka, Daniel W. M. Chan and Francis M. F. Siu
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3710; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12093710 - 03 May 2020
Cited by 41 | Viewed by 5342
Abstract
The small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which are the backbone of any economy are often on the disadvantaged side of the digital divide in the construction industry. With the advent of building information modelling (BIM), the SMEs are facing challenges and are slow [...] Read more.
The small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which are the backbone of any economy are often on the disadvantaged side of the digital divide in the construction industry. With the advent of building information modelling (BIM), the SMEs are facing challenges and are slow with its uptake. Hitherto, extant research studies on BIM have focused primarily on the large firms and there is an observed trend of underrepresentation of the SMEs in BIM studies. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the major drivers of sustainable adoption of Building Information Modelling in SMEs and the dynamics of these drivers in developing countries using interpretive structural modelling approach and Matrice d’Impacts croises-multipication applique a classement (MICMAC) analysis. The findings reveal that organizational readiness is of utmost importance for the proliferation of BIM in SMEs. Also, the independent drivers which are the most important drivers consist of BIM characteristics, internal and external environment drivers and thus portray the BIM adoption as a complex socio-technical system. This study categorizes the drivers for easy intervention of SMEs’ managers and policymakers. It contributes to the nascent studies of BIM adoption in SMEs of developing countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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19 pages, 1288 KiB  
Article
A Combination of DEMATEL and BWM-Based ANP Methods for Exploring the Green Building Rating System in Taiwan
by Perry C. Y. Liu, Huai-Wei Lo and James J. H. Liou
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3216; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12083216 - 16 Apr 2020
Cited by 43 | Viewed by 4010
Abstract
Green buildings are a crucial environmentally friendly component for sustainable human habitation and for the preservation of a healthy ecosystem. This study proposes a novel hybrid model to explore the influential relationship of various indicators and their importance for a green building evaluation [...] Read more.
Green buildings are a crucial environmentally friendly component for sustainable human habitation and for the preservation of a healthy ecosystem. This study proposes a novel hybrid model to explore the influential relationship of various indicators and their importance for a green building evaluation system. First, a green building index system is established based on a review of recent literature on green building evaluation systems. Then, the decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) technique is utilized to determine the influential relationship among the criteria. Finally, a novel best worst method (BWM)-based analytic network process (ANP) model is applied to determine the influential weight of the criteria. The result indicated that the top five ranked criteria are all classified within the two dimensions of waste reduction and energy saving. An empirical case study of an example in Taiwan is carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model. Management implications are also provided. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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17 pages, 4270 KiB  
Article
Application of Reliability Analysis for Risk Ranking in a Levee Reconstruction Project
by Meho Saša Kovačević, Lovorka Librić, Gordana Ivoš and Anita Cerić
Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1404; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12041404 - 14 Feb 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2351
Abstract
Levees are embankments designed for passive flood protection. In order to reduce the potential of climate-induced flooding risks, it is necessary to reconstruct or upgrade the existing levees. Flood risk management aims to reduce the probability of floods and their potential adverse effects [...] Read more.
Levees are embankments designed for passive flood protection. In order to reduce the potential of climate-induced flooding risks, it is necessary to reconstruct or upgrade the existing levees. Flood risk management aims to reduce the probability of floods and their potential adverse effects on the population, economy, and environment. This paper presents the novel application of reliability analysis for risk ranking in the Otok Virje-Brezje levee reconstruction project in the Republic of Croatia. To identify, verify and analyse key risks, a group of 35 experts, who were directly involved in the levee reconstruction project or have extensive experience in similar projects, was selected. An Analytic network process (ANP) was used for group multi criteria decision-making. Quantitative and qualitative approaches to risk analysis were combined. Different experts from the various organisations may have diverse interests and goals. The geometric mean method was chosen to reach group consensus. The resources that will be allocated to the risk responses are proportional to the risk exposures. To analyse the reliability of the group consensus-reaching method a determination of the risk ranking probability matrix is proposed by using the Monte Carlo simulation method. Different decision-making approaches are proposed for cases in which consensus is not reached with satisfactory reliability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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15 pages, 3050 KiB  
Article
Probabilistic and Fuzzy Approaches for Estimating the Life Cycle Costs of Buildings under Conditions of Exposure to Risk
by Edyta Plebankiewicz, Wiesław Meszek, Krzysztof Zima and Damian Wieczorek
Sustainability 2020, 12(1), 226; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12010226 - 26 Dec 2019
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2762
Abstract
The paper discusses issues related to life cycle costs in construction. Life cycle cost is a key element in the assessment of environmental sustainability in construction and it provides a tool for the economic evaluation of alternative sustainability options exhibiting different capital, operating [...] Read more.
The paper discusses issues related to life cycle costs in construction. Life cycle cost is a key element in the assessment of environmental sustainability in construction and it provides a tool for the economic evaluation of alternative sustainability options exhibiting different capital, operating costs or resource usage. The authors reviewed selected models of estimating life cycle costs in construction, drew attention to the complex mathematical models developed so far, namely those which take into account only financial risks and those which involve the possibility of the influence of other risk factors and described the main assumptions accompanying the original model for estimating the whole life costs of buildings, including: reasons for choosing theory of possibility, division and parametrization of input data. The aim of this paper is to confirm the validity of the model structure assumptions adopted by the authors by comparing the originally selected fuzzy approach to calculating life cycle costs taking into account the risk with the probabilistic approach, as well as indicating the domain in which the probabilistic approach will complement the fuzzy approach chosen by the authors. The paper presents a comparison analysis of two approaches used in the authors’ model, a fuzzy and a probabilistic approach, recommended by the ISO standard 15686-5:2008. The authors used the Oracle Crystall Ball software in their simulations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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20 pages, 3336 KiB  
Article
A Critical Design Structure Method for Project Schedule Development under Rework Risks
by Guofeng Ma, Jianyao Jia, Tiancheng Zhu and Shan Jiang
Sustainability 2019, 11(24), 7229; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11247229 - 16 Dec 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3069
Abstract
In order to overcome the difficulty in quantifying rework by traditional project schedule management tools, this study proposes an innovative method, namely improved Critical Chain Design Structure Matrix (ICCDSM). From the perspective of information flow, the authors firstly make assumptions on activity parameters [...] Read more.
In order to overcome the difficulty in quantifying rework by traditional project schedule management tools, this study proposes an innovative method, namely improved Critical Chain Design Structure Matrix (ICCDSM). From the perspective of information flow, the authors firstly make assumptions on activity parameters and interactions between activities. After that, a genetic algorithm is employed to reorder the activity sequence, and a banding algorithm with consideration of resource constraints is used to identify concurrent activities. Then potential criticality is proposed to measure the importance of each activity, and the rework impact area is implicated to indicate potential rework windows. Next, two methods for calculating project buffer are employed. A simulation methodology is used to verify the proposed method. The simulation results illustrate that the ICCDSM method is capable of quantifying and visualizing rework and its impact, decreases iterations, and improves the completion probability. In this vein, this study provides a novel framework for rework management, which offers some insights for researchers and managers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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20 pages, 4663 KiB  
Article
A Risk Based Approach to Evaluating the Impacts of Zayanderood Drought on Sustainable Development Indicators of Riverside Urban in Isfahan-Iran
by Hadi Sarvari, Mansooreh Rakhshanifar, Jolanta Tamošaitienė, Daniel W.M. Chan and Michael Beer
Sustainability 2019, 11(23), 6797; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11236797 - 29 Nov 2019
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3575
Abstract
In recent years, the Zayanderood River in Isfahan-Iran has been encountered by hydrological imbalance and drought. Literature review shows that long-term climate change, drought, and disruption of the river’s water supply has led to depletion of underground aquifers and, consequently, gradual subsidence of [...] Read more.
In recent years, the Zayanderood River in Isfahan-Iran has been encountered by hydrological imbalance and drought. Literature review shows that long-term climate change, drought, and disruption of the river’s water supply has led to depletion of underground aquifers and, consequently, gradual subsidence of the river and serious damage to old buildings and structures along the riverbank. This fact would be followed up by adverse environmental, social, and economic effect that could threaten the sustainable development of urban space. Therefore, it is necessary to use efficient risk identification and assessment approaches toward a more effective risk management. The goal of this study is to identify and prioritize the risks of river drought with regards to all three sustainable development areas including environmental, social, and economic. The research methodology was a mixed field method that included a set of questionnaires and interviews. To evaluate collected data, the analytic network process (ANP) method was used. Eighteen important risks were identified. Based on the results, decrease in the groundwater level, climate change, and gradual soil degradation were ranked first, second, and third, respectively. As this study examined the impacts of river drought on all three areas of sustainable development simultaneously and comprehensively, it is expected that the results will fill the existing theoretical and practical gap affecting improvements in assessment and management of sustainable development risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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16 pages, 1144 KiB  
Article
An Evidential Model for Environmental Risk Assessment in Projects Using Dempster–Shafer Theory of Evidence
by Seyed Morteza Hatefi, Mohammad Ehsan Basiri and Jolanta Tamošaitienė
Sustainability 2019, 11(22), 6329; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11226329 - 11 Nov 2019
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 2681
Abstract
One of the goals of sustainable development is to achieve economic and social growth according to environmental criteria. Nowadays, impact assessment is an efficient decision making method in planning and management with environmental perspectives. Environmental risk assessment is a tool to reduce the [...] Read more.
One of the goals of sustainable development is to achieve economic and social growth according to environmental criteria. Nowadays, impact assessment is an efficient decision making method in planning and management with environmental perspectives. Environmental risk assessment is a tool to reduce the impacts and consequences of various activities on the environment in order to achieve sustainable development. One of the commonly used environmental risk assessment methods is the probability–impact matrix method, which is known as a quantitative method for risk assessment of projects. In this method, numerical estimates of probability and impact of risk occurrence are very difficult, and these factors are associated with uncertainty. When uncertainty exists, data integration is of great importance, for which the fuzzy inference system and evidence theory are known as effective methods. Unavailability of experts’ opinion and the exponential growth of the number of required fuzzy rules associated with the risk factors are two drawbacks of fuzzy inference. Dempster–Shafer’s theory of evidence is one of the popular theories used in intelligent systems for modeling and reasoning under uncertainty and inaccuracy. In this paper, an evidential model for project environmental risk assessment is proposed based on the Dempster–Shafer theory, which is capable of taking into account the uncertainties. The proposed model is used to assess the environmental risks of Maroon oil pipelines in Isfahan. In addition, the proposed model is used in the case of tunneling risk assessment taken from the subject literature. To evaluate the validity of the proposed evidential model, the results are compared in two case studies, with the results of the conventional risk assessment method and the fuzzy inference system method. The comparative results show that the proposed model has a high potential for project risk assessment under an uncertain environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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23 pages, 8276 KiB  
Article
Stability Analyses and Cable Bolt Support Design for A Deep Large-Span Stope at the Hongtoushan Mine, China
by Xingdong Zhao, Huaibin Li, Shujing Zhang and Xiaoming Yang
Sustainability 2019, 11(21), 6134; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11216134 - 03 Nov 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4822
Abstract
This study presents stability analyses and a cable bolt support design for a typical deep large-span stope (1-1# stope) at the Hongtoushan mine in China, using an integrated empirical and numerical method. Detailed field work including quantification of joint distribution and surface quality, [...] Read more.
This study presents stability analyses and a cable bolt support design for a typical deep large-span stope (1-1# stope) at the Hongtoushan mine in China, using an integrated empirical and numerical method. Detailed field work including quantification of joint distribution and surface quality, along with laboratory test on intact rock samples, were performed to obtain the geotechnical properties of rock masses. The rock mass of the 1-1# stope was characterized by rock mass rating (RMR), rock mass quality (Q), and geological strength index (GSI), and then the modulus, peak strength, cohesive strength, and internal friction angle of the rock mass were estimated. The stability of the stope was then evaluated by empirical (RMR, stability graph) and numerical approaches (limit equilibrium analyses with UNWEDGE and stress-strain analyses with FLAC3D), considering of the effects of rock mass quality, induced stress, and large-span. A cable bolt support system obtained from the empirical method, was then further analyzed using the FLAC3D and UNWEDGE codes. The results show that the maximum plastic zone thickness and vertical displacement at the stope roof decrease significantly and the safety factor of the unstable wedge block increases significantly after installing the cable bolt support systems recommended by the empirical method. Therefore, it is suggested that an integrated empirical and numerical method is used to obtain quantitative stability assessment and optimum cable bolt support design for deep large-span stope roofs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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17 pages, 1392 KiB  
Article
What Enables a High-Risk Project to Yield High Return from a Construction Contractor’s Perspective?
by Jin Woo Won, Wooyong Jung, Seung Heon Han, Sungmin Yun and Bonsang Koo
Sustainability 2019, 11(21), 5971; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11215971 - 27 Oct 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4117
Abstract
“High risk high return” is a general rule in the overall industry; however, high-risk projects in the construction industry frequently fail to yield a high return. In order to achieve a sustainable business in the international construction market, contractors require an average to [...] Read more.
“High risk high return” is a general rule in the overall industry; however, high-risk projects in the construction industry frequently fail to yield a high return. In order to achieve a sustainable business in the international construction market, contractors require an average to high return yield under high-risk conditions. This study aims to reveal what risk factors and risk management performance enables high-risk projects to yield high returns. The study investigated 124 international construction projects by Korean contractors and classified them into four groups: high-risk high-return (HH), high-risk low-return (HL), low-risk high-return (LH), and low-risk low-return (LL). The study found that risk assessment accuracy was the most important trigger in discriminating between high return projects (HH, LH) and low return projects (HL, LL), whereas risk mitigation performance showed little difference between high return and low return projects. In addition, the contingency amount did not significantly affect project return in HL, LH, and LL projects, but HH projects showed a positive relation between contingency and predicted risk amount. This article contributes to recognizing the differences between high return and low return projects and provides insights for practitioners into the relation between risk management performance and high returns in different risk conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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15 pages, 4607 KiB  
Article
Risk Assessment of Additional Works in Railway Construction Investments Using the Bayes Network
by Agnieszka Leśniak and Filip Janowiec
Sustainability 2019, 11(19), 5388; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11195388 - 29 Sep 2019
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4656
Abstract
The implementation of railway infrastructure construction projects including sustainable development goals is a complex process characterized by a significant extension of individual investment stages. The need for additional works has a big impact on construction railway projects, representing a risk which is the [...] Read more.
The implementation of railway infrastructure construction projects including sustainable development goals is a complex process characterized by a significant extension of individual investment stages. The need for additional works has a big impact on construction railway projects, representing a risk which is the result of many different factors. During the execution of works, both the design assumptions and the conditions of the project’s implementation can be changed. An attempt to eliminate potential risks is a key element of construction projects. The article proposes a proprietary management method for the risk of additional works in railway projects. A methodology for creating risk management strategies using a standard algorithm that includes risk identification, risk analysis, and risk assessment is presented. The original elements of the work include risk identification followed by analysis using Bayesian networks. Using the example of a scenario of events, it is shown that a well-programmed network can be used to implement risk mitigation methods. Using the network, it is possible to compare different ways to reduce risk, check the effect of reducing the risk factors, and determine a satisfactory level of effects, e.g., increased financial resources as a result of additional works. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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12 pages, 736 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Influence of Socio-Economic Factors on Occupational Safety in the Construction Industry
by Bożena Hoła and Tomasz Nowobilski
Sustainability 2019, 11(16), 4469; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11164469 - 18 Aug 2019
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3824
Abstract
The purpose of the article was to identify the socio-economic factors generated in a construction environment, which affect the number of accidents at a construction site. Moreover, the objective was to construct a mathematical model that correlates selected factors with the number of [...] Read more.
The purpose of the article was to identify the socio-economic factors generated in a construction environment, which affect the number of accidents at a construction site. Moreover, the objective was to construct a mathematical model that correlates selected factors with the number of employees injured in accidents at work at a construction site, and also to estimate the influence of the identified factors on the level of occupational safety. Based on the analysis of the literature, it was stated that there are no studies describing the impact of socio-economic factors on accident rates in construction. The research included 104 factors that characterize the production value, the potential of enterprises, the generic structure of entities, and also employment and its volatility in the construction industry. In order to solve the problem, multiple regression analysis, available in the Statistica software, was applied. The developed mathematical multifactor model reflects empirical values very well, which was confirmed by the values of multiple correlation coefficients, the coefficient of determination, the adjusted coefficient of determination, as well as the mean square error and root mean square error. The construction of the model does not include qualitative factors, e.g., factors that describe the level of safety culture in the society. The developed model was used to determine the number of people injured in accidents at work. The model has certain limitations regarding its applicability. The model was developed for four selected Polish voivodeships that have a similar level of economic development and occupational safety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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17 pages, 51033 KiB  
Article
Study on the Fracture Distribution Law and the Influence of Discrete Fractures on the Stability of Roadway Surrounding Rock in the Sanshandao Coastal Gold Mine, China
by Gang Liu, Fengshan Ma, Haijun Zhao, Guang Li, Jiayuan Cao and Jie Guo
Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2758; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11102758 - 14 May 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2422
Abstract
Cracks are critical for the deformation and failure of rock masses, but the effects of real cracks are rarely considered when evaluating the stability and safety of practical engineering. This paper presents a study on the application of fractures in the Sanshandao Gold [...] Read more.
Cracks are critical for the deformation and failure of rock masses, but the effects of real cracks are rarely considered when evaluating the stability and safety of practical engineering. This paper presents a study on the application of fractures in the Sanshandao Gold Mine. Field investigation and statistical analysis methods were adopted to obtain the distribution laws of the cracks. Laboratory tests, MATLAB programming, and simulation using the software, GDEM (Gdem Technology, Beijing, China, Co., Ltd.), were employed to study the mechanical behaviors of rock masses with real fractures after excavation. The main results are as follows: (1) Three sets of highly discrete cracks were developed in the study area. Their inclination and dip can be approximately considered to follow a Gaussian distribution or uniform distribution. They had close ties to the three faults developed in the mining area. (2) Compared with the model that did not consider cracks and the model processed by the equivalence idea, the surrounding rock deformation caused by excavation of the model that considered real cracks was larger than that of the former and smaller than that of the latter. However, its influence range was larger than that of the other two models. The results show that it is reasonable to use three sets of discrete cracks to characterize the fracture distribution of the surrounding rock. In the evaluation of roadway stability, it is not advisable to use the equivalence method to deal with all the cracks. Considering a part of the cracks that are compatible with the size of the calculation model, a relatively accurate evaluation can be obtained in terms of the deformation, failure, and permeability changes of the surrounding rock. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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Review

Jump to: Research, Other

18 pages, 749 KiB  
Review
A Principal-Agent Theory Perspective on PPP Risk Allocation
by Asheem Shrestha, Jolanta Tamošaitienė, Igor Martek, M Reza Hosseini and David J Edwards
Sustainability 2019, 11(22), 6455; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11226455 - 16 Nov 2019
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 9241
Abstract
This study proposes a framework for the allocation of risk in public private partnerships (PPP) projects. Its contribution lies in the recognition and incorporation of risks introduced by project stakeholders, and as articulated by the principal-agent theory (PAT). The framework assesses risks and [...] Read more.
This study proposes a framework for the allocation of risk in public private partnerships (PPP) projects. Its contribution lies in the recognition and incorporation of risks introduced by project stakeholders, and as articulated by the principal-agent theory (PAT). The framework assesses risks and routes these risks to those parties best equipped to mitigate their impact on the project. This allocation of risk is facilitated by a thirteen-step process. The practical benefit of this study lies in outlining a clear, systematic method for allocating risk efficiently to both the government and private enterprise parties of the project. In so doing, risk mitigation can be expected to improve project performance, optimize stakeholder goals, and enhance sustainability objectives, including improved operational life-cycle efficiency and elevated social and community benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

12 pages, 1163 KiB  
Concept Paper
An Approach to Determine Risk Indices for Drinking Water–Study Investigation
by Janusz R. Rak and Katarzyna Pietrucha-Urbanik
Sustainability 2019, 11(11), 3189; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11113189 - 07 Jun 2019
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 3475
Abstract
In accordance with the water quality standard, the safe functioning of the water treatment system operation is considered. This paper alludes to extreme situations, which arise where there is periodic deterioration of the quality of raw water, for which the technological process of [...] Read more.
In accordance with the water quality standard, the safe functioning of the water treatment system operation is considered. This paper alludes to extreme situations, which arise where there is periodic deterioration of the quality of raw water, for which the technological process of water treatment is not prepared. A conception method is presented by which to assess indices of risk vis-à-vis drinking water, on the basis of a probability estimation methodology. The categorisation of water pipes in line with quality-reliability as regards the physical and chemical composition of drinking water or water intended for business purposes is proposed. An example of the method being put to use is also offered, and it is recognised how the approach being proposed could be the basis for further analysis that takes different conditions of functioning of water-supply systems into account. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Risks in Construction Management)
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