Massey Research Online - Browsing by Author "Wilkinson S"

Browsing by Author "Wilkinson S"

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A Conceptual Framework for Implementing Lean Construction in Infrastructure Recovery Projects
(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2022-03-01) Rad MH; Mojtahedi M; Ostwald MJ; Wilkinson S
Natural hazards can have substantial destructive impacts on the built environment. Providing effective services in disaster areas is heavily reliant on maintaining or replacing infrastructure; thus, post-disaster reconstruction of infrastructure has attracted growing attention. Due to the complex and dynamic nature of infrastructure recovery projects, contractor companies engaged in this work have typically experienced poor performance. Furthermore, from a commercial perspective, the post-disaster reconstruction environment is characterized by fierce competition and market uncertainty, challenging the organizational resilience of companies undertaking this work. One approach for improving contractor performance is the implementation of lean construction, but the literature lacks consensus on its capability to affect organizational resilience. To respond to this problem, a conceptual framework applicable for lean implementation in infrastructure, which explicitly addresses organizational resilience, is required for recovery projects. In parallel, contributing components to effective implementation of lean-recovery and supportive theories for justifying the conceptual framework must be identified. Consequently, this paper proposes a conceptual framework to implement lean practices for the enhancement of organizational resilience. The framework is developed using a systematic research method, wherein 110 research documents were discovered initially, and following processing, 18 relevant documents were identified and analyzed. Through this process, contingency and Transformation-Flow-Value (TFV) theories were identified as an appropriate foundation for a framework to implement lean construction in infrastructure recovery projects.
A taxonomy of pedestrian evacuation infrastructure for urban areas; An assessment of resilience towards natural hazards
(IOP Publishing Ltd, 2022-01-01) Fathianpour A; Jelodar MB; Wilkinson S; Evans B
Many people in the world live in hazardous environments and are susceptible to disasters. In the time of a destructive event, a resilient community must be prepared to mitigate the event and quickly respond. An effective mitigation plan can lead to fewer fatalities and damages. One of the most critical tasks for mitigation is the evacuation process. Wherein short notice time, overcrowding, bottlenecks in infrastructure and challenging terrain and topography may worsen the situation. Amongst other things, the evacuation process encompasses transportation infrastructures referred to as corridors, signs, pedestrian footpaths, and/or shelter infrastructures for keeping people safe. Evacuation infrastructure can also become damaged after the event; therefore, it's imperative to have a robust assessment of different evacuation infrastructures. This study will investigate the characteristics of the available evacuation infrastructure and outline the general drawbacks. A systematic methodology for reviewing articles has been implemented to understand how vulnerable cities can be more prepared, especially for pedestrian evacuation. An evacuation scoring system for pedestrians will be developed to investigate evacuation infrastructure in terms of different resilience features, such as redundancy, safe to fail, readiness, capacity. The most practical evacuation system will be estimated, with a final output being to provide the features of a successful pedestrian evacuation system for future policy use.
Achieving design-stage elemental cost planning accuracy: Case study of New Zealand
(2017) Adafin J; Rotimi JOB; Wilkinson S; Windapo AO
An evaluation of risk factors impacting project budget performance in New Zealand
(Emerald Publishing Limited, 3/03/2021) Adafin J; Rotimi JOB; Wilkinson S
Purpose There has been a lack of research, particularly within the New Zealand (NZ) context, focusing on the identification and assessment of risk factors for construction projects, leading to a wide variation between design-phase elemental cost plans (ECPs) and the outturn tender sums (OTS). Still to be investigated is how risks interact to produce such variability. This study aims to determine the risk-influencing factors, identified through risk measurement, during design development. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted literature review and online questionnaire survey. The literature review was used to identify the factors affecting project budgetary performance, which was used to design the questionnaire survey culminating in data analysis. The questionnaire was administered to 64 practising project managers (PMs) in NZ. Their responses were analysed using descriptive statistics, mean ranking analysis, degree-of-risk measure and correlational analysis, to find the top-five risk factors impacting the variability observed, through ranking the mean and degree of risk values that produce such variability. Findings Significant risk factors were identified from the questionnaire survey analysis, such as changes in project owner/stakeholder requirements, experience of project team, site condition information, competency of consultants and information flow and quality. These provided some insights in explaining the variability between the design-phase ECPs and OTS based on risk impacts from PMs’ viewpoints. Research limitations/implications Findings revealed a drift of 23.86% in budgeted costs (inflated risks), which seems significant. Prioritising top risk factors may provide handy information for researchers on the variables that could be relied upon for the development of a forecasting model for application in NZ. Practical implications The study findings have implications for PMs seeking to provide information on mitigation strategies by using risk management approach, considering the influence of development risks on building project delivery and, consequently the project owner’s financial position. To guard against wide variation between design-phase ECPs and OTS, the main contribution of this study is to raise consultants’ awareness of the important risk factors for their planning at the outset, thus assisting PMs in pro-actively managing their clients' budgets. Originality/value This study creates value by synthesising literature on construction project budgeting and highlighting areas for further research. By giving adequate attention to key risks associated with budget overruns in commercial projects, variability between ECPs and OTS, a common phenomenon in NZ, can be controlled to achieve cost savings. Based on this, further study suggests the development of a model that could assist the stakeholders in NZ to more reliably predict OTS from the design-phase ECP and pro-actively avoid unfortunate budget/cost overruns, disputes and even project abandonment.
Building Urban Resilience for Coastal Urban Communities: The Surprise of Tsunamis with Consideration of Human Factors
(Routledge, 2024-05-31) Fathianpour A; Jelodar MB; Evans B; Wilkinson S; Toivonen S; Heinonen S; Verma I; Castaño-Rosa R; Wilkinson S
Frequent and intense multi-hazard events are occurring more frequently, making it crucial to prepare in advance and build resilience. Tsunamis, which are massive waves triggered by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, are particularly devastating and pose significant risks to coastal areas and human life. Therefore, it is essential to be well-prepared for such events. Once the appropriate response to tsunamis is determined, it becomes important to anticipate different scenarios and take proactive measures. The study of evacuation process resilience is considered vital for effective disaster management, with current research and practice placing significant emphasis on the use of simulation models to evaluate tsunami responses. This chapter focuses on the development of an evacuation simulation tool known as MSEM (Micro-Simulation Evacuation Model), which aims to assess the resilience of the evacuation process by considering different evacuation scenarios in the case of tsunami risk. The tool provides insights into long-term planning and suggests improvements for infrastructure and land use. By analysing the simulation outputs, such as survival rates, indicating the number of people who would be safe when the tsunami reaches the shore, the tool helps identify the resiliency level of a city in the face of tsunamis. Napier City, New Zealand, which is vulnerable to various natural hazards, including liquefaction, earthquakes, flooding, volcanoes, and tsunamis, has been chosen as the case study. Based on the city's spatial characteristics and built environment, recommendations are made regarding land use planning and infrastructure upgrades to boost the resiliency level. MSEM can assist decision-makers underscore the need to enhance the transportation system to accommodate mass evacuations effectively. Additionally, it emphasises the importance of educating individuals on the optimal course of action to take during such situations.
Classification of rework root causes in the design stage of projects for contract assessment
(IOP Publishing Ltd, 2022-01-01) Asadi R; Rotimi JOB; Wilkinson S
Rework is one of the leading causes of cost and time overruns that primarily affect project performance. The performance of construction projects can be elevated with the implementation of rework moderation strategies. Identifying rework root causes is the first step of rework management followed by a mitigation approach, reducing or preventing strategy. As the contract is the core connection between clients and contractors, using a rework management approach in the contracting process allows participants to be aware of rework impacts before the project's commencement. Selecting the best approach for rework mitigation depends on rework causes and their classified roots. Thus, the paper classifies rework root causes in the design stage of projects to provide a platform for contract documents assessment. The method used to classify the identified rework causes into five categories was designed on the literature. Results from collecting secondary data indicated all categories in the design stage, consisting of technical, human resources, process, material/equipment, and other general factors. The next step of the study is to assess contract documents through a questionnaire based on these classified factors in search of a connection between rework, contractual claims, and clauses of the contract. The paper recommends that assessing contract documents can be used as a new approach for rework management.
Collaborative procurement on the rise
(2006) Wilkinson S; Shestakova Y
Comparative Analysis of Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort Standards in School Buildings across New Zealand with Other OECD Countries
(MDPI AG, 2024-05-15) Arya V; Rasheed E; Samarasinghe D; Wilkinson S
Comprehensive Indicator Bank for Resilience of Water Supply Systems
(Hindawi Publishers, 2021) Baghersad M; Wilkinson S; Khatibi H
Appropriate indicators are required to measure the resilience of water supply systems (WSSs). However, it is challenging to identify appropriate indicators since there is no comprehensive database of indicators to measure its resiliency. This study will establish a comprehensive bank of indicators to assist water corporations and decision-makers in selecting appropriate indicators for their particular system. The suggested indicator bank is comprised of three layers such as dimension, attributes, and the number of indicators resulting from 12 different indicator codes that the study has analysed. In addition, this paper presents instructions on how the indicator bank can be used and integrated with water enterprises, enabling decision-makers to pick the relevant indicators. The proposed indicator bank is an exploratory approach that should be validated in a real work setting since resilience is a challenging concept, and WSSs are complex due to their dependencies to other lifelines such as power networks with too many variables that may affect the actual outcomes.
Cyclone resistant housing in Fiji: The forgotten features of traditional housing
(Elsevier Ltd, 2022-11-01) Elkharboutly M; Wilkinson S
Fiji housing stock suffers extensive damage during the annual cyclone season, leading to high costs in repairing and reconstructing the damaged properties. Historically Fijian houses were resilient, and the communities could self-recover from natural hazards. The country's more recent disasters have been beyond the country's ability to self-recover. Reasons for this include reliance on international aid, new housing types and materials, population changes and the loss of traditional building methods. Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016 led to over 30,000 damaged houses, and many villages were totally destroyed. Navala was one of the damaged villages in the inner west, where most of its houses were constructed mainly as traditional houses. In this village, fifty percent of houses survived the cyclone. This study investigates Navala traditional houses, their constructability, and the apparent ability of its houses to resist cyclone hazards. The study's main findings show that traditional knowledge of building traditional houses still exists. Also, traditional houses, especially those with central posts, performed well during the cyclone and complied with the internationally recommended cyclone-resistant structural features. The study analysed the construction of traditional houses and highlighted the unique cyclone-resistant features that could be recommended for regional implementation in future constructed houses.
Decision making in reducing carbon emissions for building refurbishment: Case studies of university buildings in New Zealand
(Elsevier B.V., 2023-07-05) Bui PTP; Wilkinson S; MacGregor C; Domingo N
The refurbishment of existing buildings offers the greatest opportunity to maximise carbon reduction within the built environment. Although the conceptual framework of the refurbishment process incorporating various methods, tools, and systems to support decision making in reducing whole-of-life carbon emissions exists in the literature, empirical research reporting on how and why the decisions are made in current industry practice is lacking. This paper aims to address this knowledge gap by investigating the decision-making process of building refurbishment considering whole-of-life carbon reduction using three real-life case studies that incorporate decarbonisation decisions. The important findings emerged from an interactive analysis between theoretical propositions and cross-case synthesis. The study sheds a new insight into (1) the effective adoption of building rating systems, (2) the required whole-of-life carbon reduction targets, (3) the importance of establishing a dedicated financial budget for carbon-reduction refurbishment solutions, (4) the need for adaptable refurbishment designs and long-term strategies, (5) holistic design reports, (6) the promotion of early contractor involvement (ECI) approach, (7) government funding and incentives, and (8) the availability of supply chains and data. The originality of the paper is providing a new understanding of the decision-making practices and challenges faced in the refurbishment process, in which lessons learnt for improving the implementation of building refurbishment towards zero carbon are recommended. The research expands theoretical knowledge and practical experience in whole-of-life carbon analysis and performance estimation for building refurbishment. The insights gained from this study offer practitioners and researchers a streamlined interdisciplinary guide to better deliver refurbishment projects towards zero carbon.
Digital technologies and data-driven delay management process for construction projects
(Frontiers Media S.A, 2022-12-21) Radman K; Jelodar MB; Lovreglio R; Ghazizadeh E; Wilkinson S
One of the main challenges of construction projects is managing delays; there is still a lot to overcome to reach near-zero delays (mitigation of delays) in all construction projects. Technology and different platforms are applied to support a high volume of data flow acquired from multiple resources during the construction project life cycle; how can these automated and digital progress tracking systems be considered for more effective construction delay management? The aim is to investigate the current state of real-time technologies and their applications and assess how specific attributes of these disruptive technologies can significantly alter delay management in construction industries. Therefore, this study presents a new process-based framework for using technologies with a data lifecycle viewpoint. This research uses a four-step systematic literature review involving identification, screening, extortion-eligibility check, and selection-inclusion. Furthermore, it is followed up by a thematic content analysis on using new technologies to mitigate delays in construction projects. Key trends, themes, areas of concern for research, and limitations identified in previous literature as research gaps and future needs were documented and structured. This work presents a novel process of comprehensive classification of real-time technologies that are being used in the construction industry to acquire data, screen/analyses data, and present information through an Industry 4.0 application: IoT technologies such as sensors, RFID etc., smartphones, planning/scheduling tools (Ms Project, Primavera), and Building Information Modelling (BIM). The developed process-based framework is served as a roadmap to 1) centralise real-time communication between technologies to collect, analysis and presentation data in construction phase, 2) prepare timely reports for project managers to take proper action against those problems delaying project.
Environmental factors in tsunami evacuation simulation: topography, traffic jam, human behaviour
(Springer Nature, 2024-06-07) Fathianpour A; Evans B; Babaeian Jelodar M; Wilkinson S
The risk a tsunami, a high-rise wave, poses to coastal cities has been highlighted in recent years. Emergency management agencies have become more prepared, and new policies and strategies are in place to strengthen the city's resiliency to such events. Evacuation is a highly effective response to tsunamis, and recent models and simulations have provided valuable insights into mass evacuation scenarios. However, the accuracy of these simulations can be improved by accounting for additional environmental factors that affect the impact of a tsunami event. To this end, this study has been conducted to enhance an evacuation simulation model by considering topography that impacts traffic mobility and speed, traffic congestion, and human behaviour. The updated model was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of Napier City's current evacuation plan, as it can realistically simulate both pedestrian and vehicular traffic movements simultaneously. The simulation demonstrated in this paper was based on a scenario involving an 8.4 Mw earthquake from the Hikurangi subduction interface, which would trigger a tsunami risk in the area. Based on this event, the final evacuation time (time between after the shake is felt and the arrival of the tsunami wave at the shoreline of Napier City) is considered to be 50 min. The results of the MSEM model are presented within two categories, (1) survival rate and (2) safe zone capacity. The evacuation simulation model used to examine the environmental factors in this study is the Micro-Simulation Evacuation Model (MSEM), an agent-based model capable of considering both pedestrian and vehicular interactions. The results showed that the steep pathway to the safe zone would markedly decrease the moving speed and reduce the survival rate, highlighting the need to have supporting vertical evacuation to reduce the number of evacuees heading to steep routes. Additionally, the modelling and assessment of mass evacuation by vehicles has highlighted regions of severe congestion due to insufficient network capacity. Through highlighting such regions, the model aid policy makers with a more targeted approach to infrastructure investment to improve flows of traffic in mass evacuation scenarios and increase survival rates.
Flood risk management in New Zealand: A case study of the Northland urban community
(IOP Publishing Ltd, 2022-01-01) Auliagisni W; Wilkinson S; Elkharboutly M
The Northland river is characterised by having a short stream and large catchments. Heavy rains in the region trigger the rapid rise of the water levels and causes flooding, affecting the urban community in the flood plain with flash floods and river overflow as double threats. The government-initiated programs to protect urban communities such as 'predict and mitigate' but primarily focuses on physical infrastructure protection. While providing infrastructure is beneficial, developing a resilient community comprises more holistic strategies. There is a need for improving the local capacity to enhance resilience. A resilient, human-focused mitigation strategy which includes the affected communities, as well as the existing infrastructure, can reduce flood risks more efficiently. This paper explores the ways the Northland communities follow to mitigate existing flood risks, including their perceptions of the current flood protection strategies. This study investigates also the social and cultural elements that influence responses to flood risks. The main recommendation, of the study advocates a community-based risk management plan to complement the government's strategy to efficiently mitigate flood risk in the urban Northland.
Investigating the relationship between reworks and contractual claims: The salience of contract conditions
(American Society of Civil Engineers, 1/02/2022) Asadi R; Rotimi JOB; Wilkinson S
Statistics show a high rate of contractual claims in construction projects, impacting the construction industry's progress negatively. Rework is one of the main underlying factors that generate contractual claims. Rework and contractual claims follow a mutual routine. Despite a large number of studies on the causes and impacts of rework on project performance, there has been limited research examining the relationship between claims and rework on the basis of contract documents. The paper first attempts to expose the sources of rework through a systematic literature review and then assesses rework causes that fail to be addressed in construction contract documents. The review results identified 37 root causes as the most common rework contributors to construction projects classified into five groups. The list of rework causes served as a starting point for searching the contractual issues through a questionnaire survey. Accordingly, a relative importance index was used for analysis of the primary data collected from the survey. The result first prioritized the importance level of rework causes in generating contractual claims, preceding rework causes that are not addressed adequately through standard form of contract conditions in construction projects. Findings of the investigations revealed that the general conditions of contract do not address the causes of rework adequately. Therefore, contract documents need improvement to cover contractual claims incidences due to rework. Lack of addressing rework causes in the general conditions of contract triggers recommendations for revising the contract clauses that ultimately lead to improved claim handling and dispute avoidances.
Learning from Floods—How a Community Develops Future Resilience
(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2022-10-01) Auliagisni W; Wilkinson S; Elkharboutly M
Settlements close to rivers, the sea, and hills are among those most vulnerable to floods. The hilly terrain region experiences higher rainfall than the lowlands due to the orographic effect. As a result, excessive rains feeding major rivers cause a rapid rise in water level resulting in frequent breaks of the riverbanks. The flood hence covers the inhabited lowlands with water and silt, causing loss of lives and properties. The affected communities need practical coping alternatives to deal with the intensity and the increasing exposure to floods. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG6) identify the sustainable management of water and sanitation as one of their key objectives. This study identifies resilience in practice focusing on how communities create resilience and develop sustainable river catchment management. A qualitative method was used, involving observations, interviews, and community surveys with one of the most flood-prone populations, the New Zealand Northland community. A desktop study containing government publications and flood records compliments the thematic analysis result and strengthens the discussions. Social connections, participation in self-protection training, and maintaining the catchment were among the main findings of the study. This study recommends for community-led response plans integrated with infrastructure improvements and collaboration with councils to reduce the risk of future floods.
Mixed-Method Approach to Evaluate Rework Provisions within New Zealand Construction Contracts
(2023-12-21) Asadi R; Wilkinson S; Rotimi JOB
Rework in construction contracts is an interesting topic as it influences contractual claims and disputes. Changes in design, scope, and construction turn into rework and then affect project completion time, performance, and contract sum. Addressing the rework provision in a well-defined contract before the work commences will safeguard the project against unforeseen circumstances Contractual rework provisions are difficult to trace as they are often written indirectly or in a complex context. Therefore, a list of rework causes from the literature is used in this study to investigate rework clauses and identify the relevant provisions in the general contract conditions. Rework provisions in the New Zealand standard contract are reviewed first and the identified contract clauses are then evaluated based on the result of the questionnaire survey and professional interviews. The mixed method, both quantitative and qualitative approach, is utilized for data collection and analysis. This research revealed that only five significant causes of rework, involved in the categories of process, materials and equipment, are adequately addressed in the contract conditions, so the remaining causes of rework require further investigation. The result also identified five contract clauses related to rework provisions. The study suggests the contract parties review the rework provisions ahead of time during the negotiation of the contract. This approach enables the parties to manage their obligations under rework events by addressing other causes of rework. Properly addressing the causes of rework in the contract provisions reduces contractual claims, disputes, and improves the overall project performance.
Navigating Climate Change Challenges through Smart Resilient Cities: A Comprehensive Assessment Framework
(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2024-03) Khatibi H; Wilkinson S; Sweya LN; Baghersad M; Dianat H; Giorgi E; Garau C; Venco EM
The rapid increase in the global population is contributing to the urgent challenges we face in ensuring the sustainability of our planet. This demographic shift, which gained momentum in the 1990s, is closely linked to a surge in natural disasters, both in terms of their frequency and severity. The quest for resources and improved quality of life, including the need for housing and essential services, has compounded these challenges. With the world’s population projected to double by 2050, and approximately two-thirds of this population expected to reside in urban areas, we are facing a complex web of interconnected issues that will significantly magnify the impacts of climate change-induced disasters. It is imperative that we build resilient cities capable of withstanding and adapting to these changes. However, the growing complexity of urban services and the necessity for integrated management raise questions about the preparedness of these resilient cities to comprehend and address the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change. In response to these critical concerns, this study endeavors to address the intersection of resilience and climate change. We propose the development of a Smart Resilient City Assessment Framework, comprising two core components: resilience re-evaluation and smartness evaluation. Each component consists of eight essential steps. The culmination of these steps results in a semi-quantitative index that accurately reflects the city’s position regarding resilience and smartness in the face of climate change-related disasters. To demonstrate the framework’s practicality and suitability, we present results from a hypothetical scenario focusing on water supply management, a critical aspect of climate change adaptation. The framework equips city managers with the necessary tools to re-evaluate their cities’ resilience, evaluate their capacity to address climate change-induced challenges, and make informed decisions on integrating resilience and smart solutions to pave the way for a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.
New Zealand's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of its governance on the construction industry
(IOP Publishing Ltd, 2022-01-01) Mirhosseini SF; Wilkinson S; Babaeian Jelodar M
The global COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the construction industry. The pandemic caused wide international disruption to employment, supply chain, costs, skills, and other aspects, and it caused huge uncertainty. Around the world, governments dealt with the crisis in different manners. This study investigates the ways New Zealand responded to this pandemic and examined the effects of its governance on the construction industry. This is done through examining and analysing government records and guidelines in response to COVID-19 at different stages and alert levels. Relevant government information portals and websites such as "Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment", "Construction Sector Accord", and "Covid.govt.nz"are investigated to find guidelines and information to help the construction industry respond to the impacts of COVID-19. These guidelines and information were compared to understand how similar these recommended responses were. The findings show the mitigating implications and solutions to the construction industry's current disruption and demonstrate the similarity of the recommended solutions.
Real-Time Project Productivity Tracking System: Practical Case in Smart Construction Projects
(School of Built Environment, Massey University, 2022-02-17) Radman K; Babaeianjelodar M; Lovreglio R; Wilkinson S; Ghazizadeh E; Shahzad WM; Rasheed EO; Rotimi JOB
Motivation: The productivity and progress tracking systems are currently used in construction projects to acquire the site works data and converting to various digital reports. Knowledge gap: To date, capturing and transferring data processes are slow or inefficient because significant human errors occur in the process. Therefore, project managers can omit critical information, and no timely decision can be made related to delay and unproductivity. Aim and objectives: The purpose of this paper is to encompass a real-time project productivity tracking system to register data and manage delays related to an Electrical and Instrument service trade involved in smart construction projects in New Zealand. Research method: The paper aimed to review industries delay reports, use expert judgment experience, and compare the proposed method with current ones. Preliminary or anticipated findings: The finding shows the proposed method uses a combination of smartphone and Ms Project real-time monitoring software to optimise the current site reporting procedure and workflow of productivity managing. Research significance: The presented method should help construction decision-makers enhance time and cost-effectiveness and manage delay better alongside more effective decisions. Meanwhile, hours booked to collect data and update programs and models dropped by 24%.

Browsing by Author "Wilkinson S"

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