The Power of Knowledge in Enhancing Construction Project Delivery

Dear Colleagues,

The construction industry continuously faces challenges in terms of incorporating knowledge gained from projects to effectively enhance future project outcomes. According to the National Center for Construction Education & Research, more than 40% of the existing construction workforce are expected to retire by the year 2031, leaving a gap in personnel skillset and leadership roles. For example, in the United States, the Departments of Transportation (DOTs) face the ongoing issue of more than 12% personnel turnover per annum, leading to difficulty filling the vacant roles and loss of knowledge. Lessons learned from past projects are not incorporated effectively into the industry’s processes. Such knowledge gaps are also aggravated by the hostility of construction environments, leading to disputes and claims. The total value of construction claims in the United States has more than doubled in recent years, increasing from $18.8 million in 2019 to $37.9 million in 2020. Further, the average dispute has duration of more than 15 months. Thus, knowledge management and organizational knowledge retention are contemporary issues that urgently need to be addressed through multiple angles in order to sustain and improve overall project performance.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for researchers and stakeholders to present their latest research on the use of knowledge as a tool (including, but not limited to, advancements in technology, data visualization, artificial intelligence, disputes and claims management, and claim analysis) during all the stages of construction projects—planning, design, procurement, preconstruction, construction, close-out, operations, and maintenance stages. High-quality research articles and reviews are welcome. Papers on, but not limited to, the following topics are welcome:

• Knowledge management
• Knowledge extraction
• Project performance
• Disputes and claims management
• KM for effective contract management
• Claim analysis
• Advancements in technology
• Data visualization
• Artificial intelligence
• Digital twins

Dr. Ghada Gad
Dr. Siddharth Banerjee
Guest Editors

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