Discuss about the Influence Of 4D Modern Aspects In Technology On Performance Of Construction Projects.
The construction industry has long been criticized for its conservatism and lack of innovation for many years. Much of the innovation in the sector occurs at the project level and tends to be process and organization based which affects the long term results (Xiao, Proverbs 2014, p.330). According to official statistics construction companies invest comparatively little in formal R&D, they take significant time in adopting new technologies and develop new ideas to improve constructions operations. Technology also was readily available with commensurate simple techniques (Kumaraswamy & Chan 2015 p.210). But contact with the outside world through interregional and international training of professionals in foreign countries as occasioned by colonization, brought changes to tastes and hence outlook to architectural designs and structures (Nkado 2014, p.86). These changes rendered the undeveloped local building materials inadequate while there was an increased demand for exotic ones. Among the several technological innovations that have been advanced it has become difficult for experts to capture with standard indicators in their own performance which makes them to be more suitable for technology intensive construction sectors (Calkins 2016, p.34).
It reported by experts that the growth of new technologies in the Construction Industry is expected to continue contributing significantly on how construction is performed in the future (Kagioglou, Cooper & Aouad 2014, p.86). With any new methodologies, there are expected to be changes in the composition of skilled workforce. New construction technologies may require the attainment of new skills or trades with the consequence of establishing new or redesigning the current training programs. The Australian construction industry is currently beaming with emergence of complex construction methodologies which parties are ready to adopt them. It observed that some of the sites in Australia are embracing specialized technologies to be part of their practices (Bassioni, Price & Hussan 2015 p.451). In construction industry project performance can be assessed through the establishment of time, cost and quality criteria to find suitability of the different modern aspects of technology employed in construction sites.
Yeo (2014 p.190) states that ‘in Europe, the construction sector is central to the overall economy of the EU, accounting for more than 10 % of GDP, employing more than 16 million people in large, medium and small enterprises, providing accommodation and infrastructure, and playing a prominent role in the global marketplace.’ Studies show that research and development becomes vital in providing solutions to cost minimization and reduction of risks in construction industry. Development of new technologies is based on the European Construction Technology Platform developed a Strategic Research Agenda established three strategic goals that included: meeting clients’ and users’ requirements, dramatically improving sustainability and energy efficiency, and achieving a transformation from traditional craft practices to modern and efficient knowledge-based methods by employing intelligent new materials management, ecofriendly technologies and efficient processes to improve construction performance (Yeo, 2014 p.190).
Australian construction and building agencies have concurred with strategies emanating from European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP) that was launched in 2005 to facilitate innovative and sustainable solutions in the construction industry (Gidado 2013 p.220). According to the Australian agencies project performance improvement, especially in developing countries, has continued to capture the interest of a number of construction management researchers. That is indicated by the number of journals and conferences in the construction domain that address new technologies in construction industry. The quest for excellence, waste elimination, environmental friendly techniques, and value creation underpins the purporse of such research endeavors and conferences. Modern technological aspects encompass the interest of clients, consultants, and contractors in order to increased productivity and quality in the nature of output produced in construction industry (Ching & Binggeli 2018 p.122).
As mentioned earlier that modern aspects of technology were fronted to be part of the European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP) agenda to the countries (Abeysundara, Babel, & Gheewala 2014, p.16). There is a wide range of actual and potential new emergence of construction materials, but most of these remain within the scope of existing methods of application or installation. The implications for training and skills are therefore generally, but not entirely, secondary. In the event of a significant increase in the use of new materials, trades people will need to be able to read, understand and implement the instructions on the new trends in constructions (Boyd & Wild 2013 p.451). This may require changes in the basic construction training to prepare the stakeholders to new changes in technologies. It is noted that changes in use of new materials will be significant affect new-buildings and R&M development in construction industry. Examples of modern technology currently adopted in construction sites include use of 4 Dimensional planning for architectural designs (Boyd & Wild 2013 p.451).
4D it’s a type of application that adds time scheduling in construction industry. It is beneficial in construction phasing simulation with better advantages of visualizing losses and inefficiencies. The 4D model links construction plans with 3D model it clearly describes how the building and construction sites should look like after a construction activity. Based on constraints of time and space AD tools enables planners to either plan and communicate (Preece, Moodley & Smith, 2014, p.103). That further allows construction experts to adopt different approaches for site layout, crane placement and scheduling during construction phases. Automatic links are placed on 3D geometry that is 4D enabled which have an enabled scheduler to evaluate advice and create construction designs.
Many construction firms and agencies use 4D modeling for evaluation and simulation used for construction schedule. During planning the grouping of objects is done on the basis of construction phases and schedule generated. Contractors are supposed to have knowledge before they start building 4D models in planning. If any model is developed in construction industry it is the work of the contractor to provide feedback on the basis of construction, and budgeted sequencing and cost (Armstrong & Wallace 2014, p.102). The 4D gives contractors a further additional knowledge on construction risks and deviations reporting. Experts are dependent on 4D models and simulations for planning processes for reporting all probable challenges, hindrances and give integrative efforts in managing different project teams. Optimized schedules are employed in the workplace as part of planning model generated by workplace conflicts. A comparison between planned 4D model and the actual results of 4D models is done for optimization purposes which then allow employees to assess and identify conflict related conditions. That makes it possible for a scheduled based workplace to be implemented during the construction phase of a project (Armstrong & Wallace 2014, p.112).
Development of 4D models is done automatically by filtering features on the basis of parameters set. One example is to use Revit a tool that distributes objects into different phases as per the required specifications. Desired objects in construction phases can be viewed by the users by different filters (Joseph 2013, p.45). The 4D model development is achieved based on the basis scheduling and designing of 4D models providing necessities but does not provide direct assimilation with the project schedule. A solitary verifiable result is achieved by connecting it to one or numerous activities and a single activity can be connected with one and several physical objects production of 4D evaluation.
There are several issues raised by planners in using 4D modeling as a system and mechanism for scheduling and they need to carefully address them. The marketing and design scope depends on the user’s specifications and request. That limits the expert’s capacity to develop creative and innovative structural designs. The model is faced with complexity when there is a pile of activities to be scheduled which may interfere with the final output. The details level of the model is unswervingly affected by time scheduled to advance it, and the nature of the model. An extremely exhaustive wall system comprising several components to funding a rendering for different materials may be used by an architect (Seymour & Rooke 2014, p.70). The concerns have prompted construction experts to doubt on the performance of 4D as a new development.
The study will seek to answer the question what is the influence of modern aspects on construction projects? Modern technologies have been tested over the years on the basis of workability but not much has been done to establish their performance contributions to the construction industry. For several years the cost of material costs as been ballooning in the construction industry, it makes project managers in construction firms to assess suitable cost saving initiates that will make the cost of constructing houses to be manageable to clients. Simple technologies have been regarded to be outdated that makes houses to be regarded as outdated by the major players in the industry. There is a high chance that the construction industry technology will in future be a major item of concern because of unproved performance by the industry players. Due to its complexity the use of 4D in construction is contributing positively in scheduling planning and management of project activities. The study will be seeking to answer the research question, how modern aspects influences performance of constructed projects? The study will be further be guided by the following research objectives:
The methodology of the study provides the guide in which it will anchor upon. For the real outcome of the study it will employ action type of research. The methodology employed will be seeking to find answers on how 4D modern aspects in technology influences performance of construction projects. Action research is appropriate for this study because it is useful in establishing workability and actual verifiable outputs from the study (Bryman 2014, p.34). The action research methodology chosen will base on using an experimental research design approach. The design involves carrying out collection, tests and action studies to establish the outcomes of the study on a practical basis (Kothari 2014, p.26). That will entail using the experiment and control construction models as part of its sampling frame. The experiment group will involve construction models using the 4D technology, while the experimental groups will involve construction models that do not have the stated technologies.
The justification of conducting the study using the stated methodology is that majority of reviewed studies in technology usage have addressed specifically projects done by experts on design and how they are executed in projects. Not many studies have been done to focus on how the 4D model is performing in construction industry compared to the traditional methods.
During data collection observational checklists aided with advanced computerized software designed and developed. Both tools will be designed based on a number of rubrics desired specifically to the study. The rubrics that will be used for the observation checklists and the advanced computerized software used to assess the performance of the model will include: quality, durability, construction standards, aesthetic, leveling, flexibility and cost (Bryman 2014, p.38). The observational checklist was selected because it provides a quicker and cheaper way to record data. The 4D models from control and experimental groups will be tested and findings recorded. The process will not take place without hiring a 4D expert providing assistance during data collection and analysis. A panel of experts will be formulated to test the dimensions of the observation checklist in order to identify its reliability, validity and suitability. Reliability tests will be conducted using a value above 0.7 will be acceptable. It will be important for a pilot study to be conducted in order to get assurance of the final results and facilitate any correction henceforth.
Before the actual day of collecting and analyzing data a preview meeting be conducted with the various experts to clarify on the methodology and process employed. The activity of analyzing performance will take place in define construction site which employs the 4D model technology. Advanced statistical designed software will facilitate the collection, recording, and analysis of the findings. The software will facilitate gathering of information based on the different metrics of the study. A team of expert will be contacted to help in formulation of the advanced software that will be useful in analyzing the results. Later on the findings from the analysis will be formally documented and presented to the relevant stakeholders for policy and scholarly learning.
Conclusion
The study findings will be beneficial to construction companies because more light will be shed in the area of construction and they will be able to understand the utility of using 4D in improving construction performance. This will make it easy for construction companies to use high innovation 4D levels in their construction projects. Further the study will enable construction firms to solve the problem of complexity in construction designs by adopting 4D technologies that are suits complexities of their projects. The study’s findings will provide a prospected theoretical and practical view of using 4D in construction in which it will be important to researchers and scholars in future. This will be in the form of the academic materials which will be made available for other experts in construction industry.
From the study findings, companies seeking to enter into construction business will get information valuable in developing suitable designs for their clients. This will encourage, motivate and is likely lead to a better construction projects in future. The construction authorities and firms are the major beneficiaries of this study because the study recommendations will be addressing solutions and concerns on how 4D models can be implemented, and if positive it will lead to the quality of construction projects. The long run effect of using the technology will be to make buildings more secure and meeting the client’s needs. Ideally, any type of construction project calls for very high levels of performance from the project execution team and this is more pronounced in construction projects so as to attain improved output through modern technology applications. Performance of 4D model will now henceforth measured in the form of project completion time, costs involved as well as efficiency in the construction projects. Gaps in the study will also provide a rich avenue for future studies to be conducted.
References
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