by Jeffrey C Kadlowec, Registered Architect Construction 4.0 is the current transformation derived from the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) focused on addressing performance issues and enhancing productivity. Complexity, fragmentation and cultural barriers are growing challenges negatively affecting performance. Formally developing skills and standard procedures will provide the industry with the means to improve operations, reduce costs, and enhance quality [Siriwardhana 2023]. Combined research suggests that skills in a variety of areas, including general, digital, technical & non-technical, cognitive, emotional, social, and managerial must improve. Embracing and adopting digital technologies in automated environments will allow for better collaboration and significantly.
by Jeffrey C Kadlowec, Registered Architect Greater project complexity and increasing client demands are leading to more project failures due to higher costs, labor shortages, and a lack of proper management in an industry known for poor performance. Megaprojects provide significant impact to economic development yet 98% of these project result in time and cost overruns with 30% average cost increase of 80% original value and 77% at least 40% behind schedule [Gartoumi 2024]. Success is dependent upon the best utilization of materials, minimizing waste, creating value, and meeting quality standards while reducing costs, assuring timely delivery and achieving client.
by Jeffrey C Kadlowec, Registered Architect The construction industry is experiencing a myriad of changes brought on by the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) over the past decade. Globalization, digitalization, internet of things (IoT), cyber-physical systems (CPS), and artificial intelligence (AI) continue to impact standard processes while changing the traditional ways business is conducted [Kagan 2023]. Typical activities and the enterprises that conduct them are heavily regulated, creating a lag behind advanced innovations seen in information technology (IT). As these modern methods are applied throughout the industry, there is a growing need for implementation of new digital standards. Documentation is.
by Jeffrey C Kadlowec, Registered Architect The vast number of project elements and complex interdependencies between building systems necessitate prioritization of construction activities. The critical path method (CPM) and project evaluation and review technique (PERT) were developed to quantify the importance of project tasks. Schedule-based indexes further investigate the relative importance of tasks to determine probability and the degree of uncertainty [Zarghami 2022]. These include criticality index (CI), significant index (SI), cruciality index (CRI), uncertainty importance measure (UIM), and schedule sensitivity index (SSI) as shown in Table 1. Table 1. Defining schedule-based indexes [Zarghami 2022]. Utilizing several forms of construction.
by Jeffrey C Kadlowec, Registered Architect Developed countries around the world are focused on achieving carbon neutrality. The construction industry remains a large consumer of natural resources and producer of carbon emissions leading to environmental degradation. Demolition further increase this impact creating 25% of global waste [Chen 2024]. The traditional linear model of production must be adapted towards a circular economy through restorative and regenerative design processes (see Fig 1). Figure 1. Life cycle of prefabricated modules in a circular economy [Chen 2024] Borrowing from procedures and techniques developed over the past century in the manufacturing industry, modular and prefabricated.
by Jeffrey C Kadlowec, Registered Architect The rapid growth of city centers around the world are creating new challenges for engineers and infrastructures. Increased pollution, urban flooding and water scarcity have become apparent over the past decades. Low impact development (LID), best management practices (BMPs), sustainable urban drainage (SuDS), and water sensitive urban design (WSUD) have emerged as the prominent strategies to control urban runoff [Zhu 2022]. Bio-retention, green roofs, grassed swales, and permeable pavement are essential measures of a Sponge City (SC) to provide and maintain natural ecosystems. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) measure and.
Author Note Jeffrey C Kadlowec, Architect ART-IS-ZEN® architecture & engineering 1101 E Tropicana Ave, Box 2125 Las Vegas, NV 89119-6629 Abstract Controlling costs by utilizing various project delivery methods will increase productivity and enhance performance. This has become of greater importance due to the current shortage of skilled tradespersons and inflation of material prices. Technologies from a variety of market sectors are being integrated into the construction industry to improve efficiency and reduce waste. These added benefits align with sustainable development goals focused on quality of life and reducing environmental impact. Various tools from construction estimating and financial analysis provide.
Author Note ART-IS-ZEN® architecture & engineering 1101 E Tropicana Ave, Box 2125 Las Vegas, NV 89119-6629 www.art-is-zen.com Abstract Project manager must provide proper planning and a wide variety of resource to successfully complete unique and complex construction. Lean principles from the manufacturing sector provide tools and techniques to improve performance at a reduced cost with limited waste. Integrating the critical path method with building information modeling provides a multi-dimensional representation of projects. This allow for better decision making through the analysis of data and evaluation of scenarios. It provides the means for optimization of procedures and processes leading to the.
by Jeffrey C Kadlowec, Registered Architect Time, cost and quality (TCQ) are key performance indicators of any construction project. Trade-offs occur between minimizing duration and value while maximizing performance. Improvements towards one objective lead to deterioration of the others variables. Net present value (NPV) is greater when calculated periodically as real costs and overruns are realized at finish times (Kebriyaii 2021). Profitability can be optimized through financial analysis and effective decision making throughout the building lifecycle. Proposed financial models should be implemented for large scale-projects, along with environmental impact studies and consideration of social aspects, to ensure the success of.
by Jeffrey C Kadlowec, Registered Architect Adequate cash flow and financial planning are required for construction projects and the long-term success of development organizations. Lack of assets will prevent growth, have adverse effects on operations, and remains the leading cause of business failure (Sunagar 2022). For general contractors to perform work, they must first obtain materials and mobilize labor, this comes at a substantial upfront cost. Timely invoicing of owners and on-time payment to subcontractors and suppliers is essential to avoid costly delays and project failure. Accurate projections of the flow of money based on production and consumption rates becomes.
