Spon Research – serie
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94 produkter
94 produkter
652 kr
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The last three decades have seen the evolution of Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Relationship Contracting (RC) as alternative procurement approaches to traditional methods of delivering public infrastructure. The potential for growth in these new forms of procurement has led to an on-going debate on the nature of requirements, particularly in terms of policy development, encouraging private investment and value for money. A key argument for Governments to procure projects using PPPs and RC is that the process delivers better value for all the stakeholders, including the community and asset end-users. This wide-ranging study of such crucial procurement issues includes international historical context, collaboration and risk management, with a focus on sustainable procurement approaches. The international significance of PPPs and RC procurement is reinforced with case study examples from the UK, Europe, North America, South Africa and the Asia-Pacific. It features cutting-edge research from around the world on subjects such as: Reviews and reflection of the PPP approachProject AlliancingImplementation of RC in developing countriesChanges in procurement policyValue for money, collaboration and stakeholder involvementGrowth and emergence of PPPs in AsiaRisk managementIncluding contributions from some of the world's most prominent academics and practitioners in this field, it is a crucial guide to the strategic choices governments now face for the provision of infrastructure, between using ‘public’ or ‘private’ mechanisms, or a combination of the two.
Improving the Performance of Construction Industries for Developing Countries
Programmes, Initiatives, Achievements and Challenges
Inbunden, Engelska, 2020
1 928 kr
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This book documents the experiences, development, and prospects of the construction industry in numerous developing countries. It will provide a strong base of reference for countries looking to improve their construction industries as part of their wider economic development programme.The opening chapter presents a strategic overview of the contents of the book, and each country-specific chapter is structured to consider the legal and policy frameworks, administrative infrastructure and procedures, and implementation mechanisms, as well as the experiences, current activities, and future plans and programmes with respect to construction industry development in each country. The concluding chapter looks forward and considers the implications of future trends for the construction industries in developing countries and the actions which will be required to address them. Chapters cover: India, Singapore, Chile, South Africa, Tanzania, Malaysia, Botswana, Ghana, Uganda, Indonesia, China, Croatia, and Eswatini. Readers will learn about the wealth of comparable stories from global coverage from the detailed country-specific cases.Building on important scholarly works in the field, this book is essential reading for academics, researchers, and policy makers in built environments, economics, construction management, infrastructure management, and the wider construction industry.
2 153 kr
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This book chronicles how contract cases from the construction industry have influenced, solidified, refined and particularized U.S. contract law. The book’s central claim is that the construction industry experience has helped to contextualize U.S. contract law and, therefore, has encouraged the common law to be more receptive to flexible legal standards and practices and less constrained by the relatively rigid rules that often characterize contract law. Other scholarly books analyze the themes, values, standards, and principles of contemporary contract law, but none captures how construction industry relationships and practices have influenced the common law of contracts.After providing an overview of construction law as a specialty of the practicing bar and as a field for scholarly inquiry, this book examines the construction industry cases that have most directly influenced contract law. It reviews how industry dispute patterns have caused courts to refine contract law principles or to adapt and modify other principles. Separate chapters explain the special roles that cases in the U.S. Supreme Court and in the lower federal courts have played in defining and distinguishing contract law in the construction industry. The final chapters assess implications the construction industry cases hold for contract theory writ large, and for the future of contract law.This book is essential reading for legal scholars, construction law and contract law specialists, and those interested in how the construction industry has helped shape the U.S. legal system.
Corruption in Infrastructure Procurement
Addressing the Dynamic Criticalities
Inbunden, Engelska, 2020
2 340 kr
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This book presents an extensive study on the extant constructs of corruption in infrastructure-related projects and aims to contribute to the determination and elimination of its incidence and prevalence in infrastructure projects.The book conducts a comprehensive examination of the various determining factors of corruption that negatively affect the procurement process and, in the end, result in cost and time overruns. The authors present an in-depth understanding of how the identified determining factors of corruption can be addressed. Thus, it is intended to broaden the reader's knowledge of the causes, risk indicators, and different forms of corrupt practices in the procurement process of infrastructure works, before explaining how they affect its stages and activities A dynamic model is developed to demonstrate how to tackle the overall impact of corruption within the procurement process and, at the same time, increase the effectiveness of the extant anti-corruption measures. In short, this book demonstrates that the fight against corruption in the procurement process is strategically feasible and must continue.This book is essential reading for academics, researchers, professionals and stakeholders in the procurement of infrastructure projects and civil works, as well as those with an interest in corruption, construction management and construction project management.
913 kr
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This book presents an extensive study on the extant constructs of corruption in infrastructure-related projects and aims to contribute to the determination and elimination of its incidence and prevalence in infrastructure projects.The book conducts a comprehensive examination of the various determining factors of corruption that negatively affect the procurement process and, in the end, result in cost and time overruns. The authors present an in-depth understanding of how the identified determining factors of corruption can be addressed. Thus, it is intended to broaden the reader's knowledge of the causes, risk indicators, and different forms of corrupt practices in the procurement process of infrastructure works, before explaining how they affect its stages and activities A dynamic model is developed to demonstrate how to tackle the overall impact of corruption within the procurement process and, at the same time, increase the effectiveness of the extant anti-corruption measures. In short, this book demonstrates that the fight against corruption in the procurement process is strategically feasible and must continue.This book is essential reading for academics, researchers, professionals and stakeholders in the procurement of infrastructure projects and civil works, as well as those with an interest in corruption, construction management and construction project management.
Work Stress Induced Chronic Diseases in Construction
Discoveries using data analytics
Inbunden, Engelska, 2021
2 203 kr
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This book aims to fill a gap in the current construction health and safety research and discover new knowledge about work stress induced chronic diseases among construction industry professionals. In achieving these aims, the book investigates: the nature and extent of psychosocial stressors experienced by construction professionals, stress management tactics applied and the impact on mental health the prevalence and occurrence patterns of serious chronic conditions such as insomnia, obesity, musculoskeletal disorders and vision impairmentaetiological pathways from job stressors through chronic diseases to job performance. While there are many studies, policies and regulations aiming to look after the health of construction workers, little attention is paid to construction professionals. By applying advanced analytical methods to data collected in a national survey of construction professionals in Australia, the author presents new scientific evidence which can be used to help establish equitable workers' compensation treatments and outcomes for construction professionals in line with other professions. Moreover, the research and analysis are underpinned by theories and literature from public health and epidemiological disciplines in addition to literature from construction, and work health, safety and wellbeing domains. It is essential reading for any health policy makers and researchers in the fields of health and safety and construction management.
Work Stress Induced Chronic Diseases in Construction
Discoveries using data analytics
Häftad, Engelska, 2024
686 kr
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This book aims to fill a gap in the current construction health and safety research and discover new knowledge about work stress induced chronic diseases among construction industry professionals. In achieving these aims, the book investigates: the nature and extent of psychosocial stressors experienced by construction professionals, stress management tactics applied and the impact on mental health the prevalence and occurrence patterns of serious chronic conditions such as insomnia, obesity, musculoskeletal disorders and vision impairmentaetiological pathways from job stressors through chronic diseases to job performance. While there are many studies, policies and regulations aiming to look after the health of construction workers, little attention is paid to construction professionals. By applying advanced analytical methods to data collected in a national survey of construction professionals in Australia, the author presents new scientific evidence which can be used to help establish equitable workers' compensation treatments and outcomes for construction professionals in line with other professions. Moreover, the research and analysis are underpinned by theories and literature from public health and epidemiological disciplines in addition to literature from construction, and work health, safety and wellbeing domains. It is essential reading for any health policy makers and researchers in the fields of health and safety and construction management.
Life-Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Commercial Buildings
An Analysis for Green-Building Implementation Using A Green Star Rating System
Inbunden, Engelska, 2021
2 410 kr
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This book develops a model to evaluate and assess life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions based on typical Australian commercial building design options. It also draws comparisons between some of the many green building rating tools that have been developed worldwide to support sustainable development. These include: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) by the Building Research Establishment, Comprehensive Assessment System for Building Environmental Efficiency (CASBEE) by the Japanese Sustainable Building Consortium, and Green Star Environmental Rating System by the Green Building Council of Australia.Life-cycle assessment (LCA), life-cycle energy consumption, and life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions form the three pillars of life-cycle studies, which have been used to evaluate environmental impacts of building construction. Assessment of the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of buildings is one of the significant obstacles in evaluating green building performance. This book explains the methodology for achieving points for the categories associated with reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the Australian Green Star rating system. The model for the assessment uses GaBi 8.7 platform along with Visual Basic in Microsoft Excel and shows the relationship between the building’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions released during the lifetime of the building. The data gathered in the book also illustrates that the green building design and specifications are becoming more popular and are being increasingly utilized in Australia. This book is important reading for anyone interested in sustainable construction, green design and buildings and LCA tools.
Life-Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Commercial Buildings
An Analysis for Green-Building Implementation Using A Green Star Rating System
Häftad, Engelska, 2024
686 kr
Skickas inom 10-15 vardagar
This book develops a model to evaluate and assess life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions based on typical Australian commercial building design options. It also draws comparisons between some of the many green building rating tools that have been developed worldwide to support sustainable development. These include: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) by the Building Research Establishment, Comprehensive Assessment System for Building Environmental Efficiency (CASBEE) by the Japanese Sustainable Building Consortium, and Green Star Environmental Rating System by the Green Building Council of Australia.Life-cycle assessment (LCA), life-cycle energy consumption, and life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions form the three pillars of life-cycle studies, which have been used to evaluate environmental impacts of building construction. Assessment of the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of buildings is one of the significant obstacles in evaluating green building performance. This book explains the methodology for achieving points for the categories associated with reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the Australian Green Star rating system. The model for the assessment uses GaBi 8.7 platform along with Visual Basic in Microsoft Excel and shows the relationship between the building’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions released during the lifetime of the building. The data gathered in the book also illustrates that the green building design and specifications are becoming more popular and are being increasingly utilized in Australia. This book is important reading for anyone interested in sustainable construction, green design and buildings and LCA tools.
Improving the Performance of Construction Industries for Developing Countries
Programmes, Initiatives, Achievements and Challenges
Häftad, Engelska, 2023
679 kr
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This book documents the experiences, development, and prospects of the construction industry in numerous developing countries. It will provide a strong base of reference for countries looking to improve their construction industries as part of their wider economic development programme.The opening chapter presents a strategic overview of the contents of the book, and each country-specific chapter is structured to consider the legal and policy frameworks, administrative infrastructure and procedures, and implementation mechanisms, as well as the experiences, current activities, and future plans and programmes with respect to construction industry development in each country. The concluding chapter looks forward and considers the implications of future trends for the construction industries in developing countries and the actions which will be required to address them. Chapters cover: India, Singapore, Chile, South Africa, Tanzania, Malaysia, Botswana, Ghana, Uganda, Indonesia, China, Croatia, and Eswatini. Readers will learn about the wealth of comparable stories from global coverage from the detailed country-specific cases.Building on important scholarly works in the field, this book is essential reading for academics, researchers, and policy makers in built environments, economics, construction management, infrastructure management, and the wider construction industry.
Funding and Financing Transport Infrastructure
Business Models to Enhance and Enable Financing of Infrastructure in Transport
Häftad, Engelska, 2020
728 kr
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This book seeks to enhance understanding of the impacts of project setup and its implementation environment on project performance by leveraging information from the study of a rich set of European transport infrastructure project cases. It puts forward a system’s view of project delivery and aims to serve as a strategic tool for decision makers and practitioners. The proposed approach is not limited to specific stakeholder views. On the contrary, it allows stakeholders to formulate their own strategies based on an holistic set of potential implementation scenarios.Furthermore, by including cases of projects that have been influenced by the recent financial crisis, the book aims to capitalise on experiences and provide guidelines as to the design and implementation of resilient projects delivered both through traditional as well as Public Private Partnership (PPP) models.Finally, the book proposes a new Transport Infrastructure Resilience Indicator and a corresponding project rating system that can be assessed with an eye to the future, ultimately aiming to support the successful delivery of transport infrastructure projects for all stakeholders involved.
707 kr
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Valuing People in Construction provides contemporary perspectives on the ‘glue’ that binds the construction process together; people. The book addresses people issues in the construction industry where behavioural outcomes impact upon business and project performance. The main proposition of the book is that as people continue to lead the completion of construction activities, their health, safety, and well-being should be seen as a priority, and valued by stakeholders. As employers and employees, the role of people in construction must be to strive for the improvement of individual lives and society. This edited collection, which is the first book to focus specifically on placing value on people in construction, focuses on people at work, gender at work, conditions at work, and respect at work. In addition to an editorial overview, the book presents tested and refined empirical work and case studies by leading construction researchers from Africa, Australia, and Europe.Essential reading for researchers, students and professionals interested in construction management, the sociology of construction, HRM in construction, gender, work and health studies.
Target Cost Contracting Strategy in Construction
Principles, Practices and Case Studies
Häftad, Engelska, 2020
707 kr
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The problems inherent in the traditional design-bid-build procurement method often lead to the adversarial working relationships within the construction industry. Target cost contracts, accompanied by a gain-share/pain-share arrangement serving as a cost incentive mechanism, have emerged in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Hong Kong with the aim of achieving better value for money and more satisfactory overall project performance under a collaborative working relationship.This book presents the underlying principles, practicalities and a series of short case studies of applying the target cost contracting strategy. Principles begin with the fundamentals then cover the development of target cost contracting in major countries/cities, definitions of target cost contracting, perceived benefits, potential difficulties and critical success factors for implementation.Practices include the target cost contracting approach and process in general, the key risk factors, risk assessment model, risk allocation and risk mitigation measures for target cost contracts in particular, together with a conceptual framework for the performance measurement of target cost contracts. Several short real-life case studies from the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand are provided for further illustration.The book will appeal to a wide spectrum of readers from industrial practitioners to undergraduate students, researchers and academics interested in construction contracts and procurement methods.
Fall Prevention Through Design in Construction
The Benefits of Mobile Computing
Häftad, Engelska, 2020
697 kr
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The role of designers has traditionally been to design a building so that it conforms to accepted local building codes. The safety of workers is left up to the contractor building the designs. Research shows, however, that designers can have an especially strong influence on construction safety during the concept, preliminary and detailed design phases. This book establishes the new knowledge and conceptual frameworks necessary to develop a mobile computing-enabled knowledge management system that can help reduce the high rate of construction falls. There are three main objectives of this book:1. To create a new Prevention through Design (PtD) knowledge base to model the relationships between fall risks and design decisions; 2. To develop a PtD mobile App to assist building designers in fall prevention through design; 3. To evaluate the practical implications of the PtD mobile App for the construction industry, especially for building designers and workers. The cutting edge technologies explored in this book have the potential to significantly reduce the rate of serious injuries that occur in the global construction industry. This is essential reading for researchers and advanced students of construction management with an interest in safety or mobile technologies.
728 kr
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Leadership and sustainability have separately been the subject of numerous studies in a built environment context over the years, but they have yet to be addressed together. The real impact of legislation and guidelines designed to promote sustainability within the construction industry is closely linked to the leadership behind it, as this book explores in a variety of ways.Featuring research from 5 different continents, the international scope of this book allows a comparison of experiences in different types of economies and cultures. The interdisciplinarity of this subject is also reflected in the backgrounds of the contributors, with a significant number of perspectives derived from business and management research.The issues examined in this book are essential reading for all researchers, decision-makers and graduate students in the built environment.
1 009 kr
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Performance-Based Optimization of Structures introduces a method to bridge the gap between structural optimization theory and its practical application to structural engineering. The Performance-Based Optimization (PBO) method combines modern structural optimisation theory with performance based design concepts to produce a powerful technique for use in structural design. This book provides the latest PBO techniques for achieving optimal topologies and shapes of continuum structures with stress, displacement and mean compliance constraints.The emphasis is strongly placed on practical applications of automated PBO techniques to the strut-and-tie modelling of structural concrete, which includes reinforced and prestressed concrete structures. Basic concepts underlying the development of strut-and-lie models, design optimization procedure, and detailing of structural concrete are described in detail. Alternative approaches to topology optimization are also introduced. The book contains numerous practical design examples illustrating the nature of the load transfer mechanism of structures.
Free-Standing Tension Structures
From Tensegrity Systems to Cable-Strut Systems
Häftad, Engelska, 2019
996 kr
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Architects are constantly looking for new methods to create large indoor spaces unhindered by columns and other supports. Tensile and cable-strut structures are one method of producing such spaces. They also enable the creation of different shaped spaces allowing architects more scope for innovation. Free-standing Tension Structures: From Tensegrity Systems to Cable-strut Systems provides the background engineering needed to produce these wonderful structures. Providing a complete background to the underlying structural engineering theories of tensegrity, this book will prove invaluable for all architects and engineers working on tensile structures.
3 894 kr
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Performance-Based Optimization of Structures introduces a method to bridge the gap between structural optimization theory and its practical application to structural engineering. The Performance-Based Optimization (PBO) method combines modern structural optimisation theory with performance based design concepts to produce a powerful technique for use in structural design. This book provides the latest PBO techniques for achieving optimal topologies and shapes of continuum structures with stress, displacement and mean compliance constraints.The emphasis is strongly placed on practical applications of automated PBO techniques to the strut-and-tie modelling of structural concrete, which includes reinforced and prestressed concrete structures. Basic concepts underlying the development of strut-and-lie models, design optimization procedure, and detailing of structural concrete are described in detail. Alternative approaches to topology optimization are also introduced. The book contains numerous practical design examples illustrating the nature of the load transfer mechanism of structures.
Free-Standing Tension Structures
From Tensegrity Systems to Cable-Strut Systems
Inbunden, Engelska, 2004
3 328 kr
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Architects are constantly looking for new methods to create large indoor spaces unhindered by columns and other supports. Tensile and cable-strut structures are one method of producing such spaces. They also enable the creation of different shaped spaces allowing architects more scope for innovation. Free-standing Tension Structures: From Tensegrity Systems to Cable-strut Systems provides the background engineering needed to produce these wonderful structures. Providing a complete background to the underlying structural engineering theories of tensegrity, this book will prove invaluable for all architects and engineers working on tensile structures.
2 614 kr
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Construction is one of the largest and most people-intensive industrial sectors. In many countries, however, construction is also one of the most highly criticized in terms of its employment practices and industrial relations. People and culture are too often seen as variables that must be manipulated in the cause of improved productivity.This important new work provides an essential corrective to the current literature by focusing on people and culture rather than sector efficiency. It presents the latest thinking from a diversity of perspectives derived from a major ESRC seminar series and invited contributions from leading researchers. Its interdisciplinary approach draws together industry and research and is international in its relevance.Through several multidisciplinary themes, People and Culture in Construction:explores the industry's labour market and the major influences on employment patternsexamines how to improve the image and reality of the construction sector as an employerlooks at the forces shaping the industry and implications for its stability considers the current composition of the workforce and the potential impacts of workforce diversificationanalyzes the impact of government targets and policies on construction working practices and culture investigates how to address the skills shortfall currently affecting the industry's performance.
2 752 kr
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Construction teams are usually complex, interdisciplinary and temporary, and, as such, the need for effective communication is crucial. However, published data regarding the manner in which individuals interact within the temporary project team is scarce, with little other than anecdotal evidence available.Recognizing this gap, Communication in Construction Teams provides a comprehensive overview of the literature on interpersonal communication and delivers a critical review of various research methods previously used in and outside the construction management field. Making use of Bales' interaction process analysis (IPA), a tool used successfully in many fields to collect interaction data, the text investigates the link between successful projects and the effectiveness of communication, finding that participants in the construction process exhibit regular patterns of interaction and, most significantly, that there are different patterns of interaction associated with successful and unsuccessful projects.Putting forward a number of practical suggestions to assist all actors involved in construction projects, this insightful publication will be of interest to researchers in the fields of building design and construction management.
Employee Resourcing in the Construction Industry
Strategic Considerations and Operational Practice
Inbunden, Engelska, 2009
2 340 kr
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Construction is one of the most challenging industrial environments for effective people management. It is characterised by geographically dispersed projects, production-oriented management styles, long working hours, high levels of staff turnover and employment practices grounded in the traditional ‘personnel’ paradigm. The employee resourcing function – recruitment, selection and deployment – is largely reactive and intuitive, and fails to draw on the longer-term benefits of strategic human resource management (SHRM).This book explores the challenges inherent in employee resourcing in-depth. It provides insights into the strategic considerations and operational approaches adopted by large construction organisations in deploying their human resources. It presents an improved framework for informed SHRM-style decision-making derived from an extensive study conducted within eight major construction organisations. This book provides a valuable resource for both students and practitioners interested in evaluating and improving current organisational practice.
2 410 kr
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Innovation in Small Construction Firms promotes the benefits of innovation, and stimulate innovation capability within and between small and medium sized (SMEs) construction firms in an effort to bring in a new 'can innovate, should innovate, want to innovate' culture to the construction industry. Presenting new theoretical and practical insights and models grounded in descriptive case studies, the issues addressed include:what is the motivation to innovate? what is appropriate innovation? how can small construction firms create, manage and exploit innovation?what practice-based models, tools and techniques support the capability of small construction firms to innovate well?how does this fit in the context of leading international work in construction innovation?Findings are contextualised in the broader literature to make them of relevance to policy makers, practitioners and researchers interested in small, project-based firms in general.
2 614 kr
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Concurrent Engineering (CE) is a systematic approach to the integrated and concurrent design of products and related processes, including aspects as diverse as manufacture and support. It is only now being carefully applied to the construction sector and offers considerable potential for increasing efficiency and effectiveness. It enables developers to consider all elements of a building or structure's life cycle from the conception stage right through to disposal, and to include issues of quality, cost, schedule, and user requirements.Drawing together papers that reflect various research efforts on the implementation of CE in construction projects, Concurrent Engineering in Construction presents construction professionals and academics with the key issues and technologies important for CE's adoption, starting with fundamental concepts and then going on to the role of organisational enablers and advanced information and communication technologies, then providing conclusions and suggestions of future directions.
Procurement in the Construction Industry
The Impact and Cost of Alternative Market and Supply Processes
Inbunden, Engelska, 2006
2 340 kr
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Do recent moves in the construction industry towards collaborative working and other new procurement procedures really make good business sense? Procurement in the Construction Industry is the result of research into this question and it includes the first rigorous categorizing of the differences between procurement methods currently in use. In the process of carrying out this research, the team has produced a comprehensive study of procurement methods which looks in detail at the relative benefits and costs of different ways of working, with sometimes surprising results. As such, it is not only a valuable guide for practitioners on the complexities of the procurement process, but also an outline of the relevance of economic theory to the construction sector.
2 614 kr
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This is the first comprehensive investigation of the industrial sourcing and procurement practices throughout sixty-eight construction industry supply channels across seven major commodity sectors at all levels. London presents real-world case studies to combine theory and practice to describe the economic structural and behavioural characteristics of sectors integral to the construction industry performance. Construction Supply Chain Economics details 'everyday' experiences and procurement decisions made by people in firms in the industry related to projects as they seek out other firms to work with during the tendering stage. London creates a language that enables us to classify and understand behaviour and recognise the impact of our decisions on firms and projects within the industry. Construction Supply Chain Economics introduces a new model for mapping the construction sector of particular interest to construction management and economic researchers and to procurement decision makers, including policymakers and clients, as well as industry practitioners, such as contractors, consultants and materials suppliers.
2 410 kr
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Conventional air conditioning is not a sustainable solution to the challenge of a hot or humid climate. The climate problem is compounded in so-called Urban Heat Islands, urban areas where the air can be 3–5°C hotter than its surrounding areas and where pollution levels are consequently raised.Including a colour section with thermal images and maps, this book explores the complex relationships between climate, buildings and plants, especially in urban heat islands. These relationships bear very critically on a range of environmental issues and point to some corresponding solutions. One chapter highlights some of the extensive research work carried out in Singapore, especially investigating the thermal benefits of greenery in buildings in the urban setting. Though several books have been written on urban heat islands, this work uniquely examines the linkages between climate, buildings and plants. It forms a reference for researchers and professionals such as architects, architectural science, landscape architects, building services engineers, urban planners and urban climatologists. It may also be useful for final year undergraduates or graduate students in these disciplines.
2 340 kr
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Since the early 1980s, researchers and practitioners in the organisational and management fields have presumed a link between organisational, or corporate, culture and organisational performance. Whilst many believe this exists, other authors have been critical of the validity of such studies. Part of this doubt stems from a reliance on measures of organisational performance that are based purely on financial measures of business growth.Using the construction industry as the subject of his research, Vaughan Coffey traces the development of the literature on organisational culture and business effectiveness and investigates the culture-performance link using a new and highly objective measure of company performance and an evaluation of organisational culture, which is largely behaviourally-based. Providing a theoretical contribution to the field, this work shows that various cultural traits appear to be closely linked to objectively measured organisational effectiveness. This book will be valuable to professionals and researchers in the fields of management and public policy. It indicates directions for construction companies to develop and change, and in doing so strengthen their chances of remaining strong when opportunities for work might deplete and only the most successful companies will be able to survive.
Containment of High-Level Radioactive and Hazardous Solid Wastes with Clay Barriers
Inbunden, Engelska, 2009
3 644 kr
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One of the principal objections to or problems with the use of nuclear fuel is that a proven method for safe disposal of spent nuclear fuel has yet to be established. The central focus of most schemes underway to dispose of these high-level radioactive wastes relies on clay-based buffers and barriers to isolate spent fuel canisters in boreholes deep underground in specially constructed tunnels and caverns. Current thought on the principal methods of containment of high-level radioactive wastes is presented in this book. The authors proceed to discuss the processes and mechanisms involved in the development of long term properties and performance of clay-based buffers and backfills. The procedures and methodologies used to undertake predictions and performance assessments of these materials are also examined.This is an invaluable reference for professionals, researchers, academics and regulators engaged in the development of radioactive waste sites.
1 855 kr
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Buildings and infrastructure represent principal assets of any national economy as well as prime sources of environmental degradation. Making them more sustainable represents a key challenge for the construction, planning and design industries and governments at all levels; and the rapid urbanisation of the 21st century has turned this into a global challenge.This book embodies the results of a major research programme by members of the Australia Co-operative Research Centre for Construction Innovation and its global partners, presented for an international audience of construction researchers, senior professionals and advanced students. It covers four themes, applied to regeneration as well as to new build, and within the overall theme of Innovation: Sustainable Materials and Manufactures, focusing on building material products, their manufacture and assembly – and the reduction of their ecological ‘fingerprints’, the extension of their service lives, and their re-use and recyclability. It also explores the prospects for applying the principles of the assembly line. Virtual Design, Construction and Management, viewed as increasing sustainable development through automation, enhanced collaboration (such as virtual design teams), real time BL performance assessment during design, simulation of the construction process, life-cycle management of project information (zero information loss) risk minimisation, and increased potential for innovation and value adding. Integrating Design, Construction and Facility Management over the Project Life Cycle, by converging ICT, design science engineering and sustainability science. Integration across spatial scales, enabling building–infrastructure synergies (such as water and energy efficiency). Convergences between IT and design and operational processes are also viewed as a key platform increased sustainability.