Elgar Companions to the Built Environment series – serie

This incisive Research Companion presents a global perspective on the state of the art of research on innovation policies, strategies and practices in construction, challenging existing theories, models and concepts.Chapters explore conceptual frameworks for fostering innovation in construction projects, featuring case studies that illustrate practical implementation. They outline a number of key topics including business model developments and economic justifications for investment in construction, policy-led innovations and the participation of Indigenous people in projects. Expert contributors analyze multi-stakeholder perspectives and address recent reforms in construction project procurement, as well as emerging technologies in health and safety management. The Companion demonstrates the importance of stakeholder integration for open and sustainable innovation projects and provides guidance on how construction organisations can develop tools to measure this.The Research Companion to Innovation in Construction is an engaging resource for students and researchers in construction management, planning, architecture, and engineering. Its in-depth exploration of business models and procurement strategies makes it an essential read for practising architects, civil and building engineers, construction managers, and quantity surveyors.

This Research Companion explores the evolution, current state and future of the body of knowledge on the construction industry in developing countries, offering comprehensive coverage of the subject along with the complementary Research Companion to Advances in the Construction Industry in the Global South. It draws on novel analytical approaches to highlight the crucial role of construction in economic growth and national development and reiterate the need to develop the industry. Fresh perspectives are presented on both foundational and emerging scholarship evaluating the interactions and synergies between established and new components of construction in developing country contexts. Chapters trace the root causes of factors hindering project performance and propose potential solutions and effective strategies for industry improvements. Grounded in a wide variety of case studies, this Research Companion outlines valuable lessons for bolstering economic development now and in the future.Scholars and students of construction management and economics will benefit from this Research Companion’s insights and proposed research directions. Its relevant policy options also make it an essential resource for administrators and policymakers in the construction industry.

This innovative Research Companion considers the history, nature and status of construction economics, and its need for development as a field in order to be recognised as a distinct discipline. It presents a state-of-the-art review of construction economics, identifying areas for further research. Contributors explore topics that have been under-discussed in the literature, including the philosophy of construction economics and its practice in classical antiquity. Chapters also offer new takes on the development of the construction industry, the economics of housing, construction labour and the economics of informatics applications. Comprehensive in outlook, the Research Companion goes on to provide in-depth analyses of procurement, bidding, stakeholder management, construction data, transaction costs and sustainability in construction. The Research Companion will be critical reading for scholars and students of construction economics, construction management, cost engineering, quantity surveying, urban economics and institutional economics. Its use of empirical research and exploration of the methods of analysis used in construction economics will also be beneficial for administrators of the construction industry and practitioners in these fields.

This timely Research Companion explores the intersection of environmental concerns, design innovation, and construction practices, detailing the principles and strategies that drive circularity in the built environment. Advancing life-cycle thinking in the built environment, leading international experts provide a critical examination of complex research issues linking construction and green building.Chapters present in-depth research and case studies on current challenges and opportunities in sustainable construction. Contributing authors emphasise how circular green construction adopts regenerative approaches that aim to preserve the value of materials, reduce embodied carbon and extend the functional lifespan of the building. The book provides forward-looking discussions to shape policy and influence the future of green building through circular approaches, deconstruction strategies and adaptable designs.This Research Companion is an important resource for students and academics in built environment disciplines including construction management, building technology, civil engineering, architecture and urban planning. It also provides actionable insights for practitioners and policy-makers involved in sustainable building practices.

This important Research Companion considers contemporary issues, new ideas and novel solutions within the construction industry in the Global South, providing an authoritative reference for future research and practice in this area. Chapters address critical current and emerging topics in the industry, such as the application of frontier technologies, new management concepts, professionalism and ethics. Contributing authors also consider broader global developments and their implications for the construction industry in the Global South such as decolonization, international trade policies, sustainability and disruptive events. By reviewing recent advances in the field and anticipating future research directions, this book provides key insights into future-proofing construction industries.The Research Companion to Advances in the Construction Industry in the Global South is an essential resource for students and scholars of construction management and economics. Administrators, policy makers, practitioners in the construction value chain and industry stakeholders will also benefit from this book’s practical insights.

Offering critical insights to the state-of-the-art in Building Information Modeling (BIM) research and development, this book outlines the prospects and challenges for the field in this era of digital revolution. Analysing the contributions of BIM across the construction industry, it provides a comprehensive survey of global BIM practices. Accessible and thorough, the chapters explore the theory behind and facilitators of BIM, covering knowledge management around BIM, the development of ontologies and language in the area, holistic implementations, and BIM ecosystems. The book further discusses the technological developments of BIM, including scan-to-BIM, 3D digital reconstruction and AI and robotics techniques. Critical analysis of BIM-enabled construction and engineering management innovations are also examined, highlighting prospects and challenges in the area.This will be a critical read for engineering, construction management and architecture students looking for a comprehensive study of BIM. It will also be beneficial to practitioners working in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Owner & Operation (AECOO) industry wanting a better understanding of the benefits and future developments of BIM.