Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Applied Sciences Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry, Second Edition

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Published Papers

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2025 | Viewed by 9105

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Bożena Hoła

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Materials Engineering and Construction Processes, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Interests: safety and health protection in construction processes; modeling of accidents; phenomenon analysis of the causes of accidents; accident assessment; risks and hazards; construction management; modeling deterministic and probabilistic construction processes; the use of artificial intelligence methods in solving decision problems in construction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Rapid economic development, which is also noticeable in the construction industry, generates many new scientific problems that must be addressed, e.g., in order to meet the requirements of the modern economy. The avenues of scientific research are not only aimed at the continuous improvement of the technology used to erect new facilities, increasing the level of occupational safety, and reducing construction time and costs, but also at increasing the durability of existing structures from different stylistic periods.

These goals can be achieved by various means, including the use of modern technologies in construction projects, the automation and robotization of construction processes, the use of modern information technologies, and the development of modern methods of planning, organizing, and managing construction processes. This Special Issue aims to present the latest developments in this area.

We welcome original manuscripts concerning, but not limited to, the following:

Modern solutions concerning devices that are used in the construction industry, including the automation and robotization of construction processes, with particular emphasis on the risks and hazards associated with them;
Modern technological and organizational solutions in the construction industry, including research methods and ways of securing structures and building objects from different stylistic periods;
The latest information technologies addressing the various problems that occur in the investment process;
Interdisciplinary research related to occupational safety, including accident modeling, occupational risk assessment, risk management, and occupational safety, as well as the impact of automation and robotization on occupational safety;
Applications of virtual reality (VR) technology for research and training purposes;
Methods used in forecasting processes, events, and phenomena that may occur in the future in the construction industry.

Prof. Dr. Bożena Hoła
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (11 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

18 pages, 5790 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Network Analysis-Based Approach for As-Built BIM Generation and Inspection

by Wei Hu, Zhuoheng Xie and Yiyu Cai

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(15), 6587; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14156587 - 28 Jul 2024

Viewed by 435

Abstract

With the rapid advancement in Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology to strengthen the Building and Construction (B&C) industry, effective methods are required for the analysis and improvement of as-built BIM, which reflects the completed building project and captures all deviations and updates from the initial design. However, most existing studies are focused on as-designed BIM, while the analysis and inspection of as-built BIM rely on labour-intensive visual and manual approaches that overlook interdependent relationships among components. To address these issues, we propose a network analysis-based approach for managing and improving as-built BIM. Networks are generated from geometric attributes extracted from Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) documents, and network analytical techniques are applied to facilitate BIM analysis. In addition, a practical dataset is utilised to verify the feasibility of the proposed approach. The results demonstrate that our method significantly enhances the analysis and comparison of as-built BIM from model analysis and matching. Specifically, the innovative contribution leverages global information and interdependent relations, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the as-built BIM for effective management and optimisation. Our findings suggest that network analysis can serve as a powerful tool for structure and asset management in the B&C industry, offering new perspectives and methodologies for as-built BIM analysis and comparison. Finally, detailed discussion and future suggestions are presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry, Second Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

32 pages, 1268 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Selected Lean Manufacturing Tools to Improve Work Safety in the Construction Industry

by Tomasz Małysa, Joanna Furman, Szymon Pawlak and Marek Šolc

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(14), 6312; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14146312 - 19 Jul 2024

Viewed by 410

Abstract

Shaping safe and hygienic working conditions is the basic obligation of the employer. Employers are still looking for methods, tools, and solutions to improve work safety. The study reviews the literature on solutions aimed at improving occupational safety in construction. For this purpose, bibliometric analysis was used, consisting of the exploration and analysis of scientific studies in the field of occupational health and safety, including the possibility of using the LM tool to improve working conditions on construction sites. The study presents the possibility of implementing Lean Manufacturing (LM) tools in the construction industry. Their strengths and weaknesses were identified, and the benefits and possible barriers related to their effective implementation/use were identified. The result of the analyses was a summary of benefits for the construction industry (strengths and opportunities) as well as areas requiring improvement (weaknesses and hazards) regarding the LM tools used. Based on the conducted analyses, it was found that it is possible to use the tools of the LM concept to improve work safety and organize tasks performed on construction sites. The implementation of LM tools, such as 5S/6S, Poka-Yoke, and Standardization, enables risk reduction through a direct impact on the area being analyzed, in which occupational hazards have been identified. It is also noted that there is a need to simultaneously use LM tools (VM, Gemba-Walk, DHM) as solutions aimed at reducing risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry, Second Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 6086 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Fly Ash and Graphene Oxide in Cement Mortar Considering the Local Recycled Material Context

by Nga T. T. Nguyen, Thuc V. Ngo, Khai K. Nguyen, Vuong Q. Vu, Ye Xia, Minh Q. Tran, Huyen T. Dang, José Matos and Son N. Dang

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(14), 6140; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14146140 - 15 Jul 2024

Viewed by 508

Abstract

Construction materials are at the forefront of global economic development as they provide the foundation for the infrastructure of other industries, with cementitious materials being predominantly used in construction projects. To promote sustainable development, alternative materials are added to cement mortar to increase durability and reduce emissions. In this regard, graphene oxide (GO) and fly ash (FA) are two alternative materials commonly used in cement mortar, which are readily available or are just the waste from other local material production. With different ratios, the amount of GO and FA can affect the properties of cement mortar positively or negatively. This study aims to determine the effects of GO and FA on cement mortar mixtures under material conditions. Research results show that 10 wt% FA and 0.036 wt% GO will give cement mortar the best physical and mechanical properties while ensuring other necessary properties, such as workability. When increasing FA to 30 wt% or GO to 0.05 wt%, the strength of the mortar mixture tends to decrease. Another issue is that the specific surface area of graphene is very high, which poses a significant challenge when uniform dispersion in the cement paste mixture is required. Polycarboxylate combined with a specific mixing sequence has demonstrated good dispersibility and high stability. Through this research, it is demonstrated that the addition of GO and FA has the potential for sustainable development of the construction industry by considering the contexts of the local recycled cementitious replacement materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry, Second Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 7504 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Compressive Strengths of Cube vs. Cored Specimens of Cement Stabilized Rammed Earth Compared with ANOVA

by Hubert Anysz, Łukasz Rosicki and Piotr Narloch

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(13), 5746; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14135746 - 1 Jul 2024

Viewed by 488

Abstract

Cement-stabilized rammed earth (CSRE) is a variation of the traditional rammed earth building material, which has been used since ancient times, strengthened by the addition of a stabilizer in the form of Portland cement. This article compares the compressive strength of CSRE determined from specimens cored from structural walls and those molded in the laboratory. Both types of specimens underwent a 120-day curing period. The tests were conducted on specimens with various grain sizes and cement content. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on the obtained results to determine whether it is possible to establish a conversion factor between the compressive strength values obtained from laboratory-molded cubic samples and those from cored samples extracted from the CSRE structure. The study revealed that the compressive strength of CSRE increases significantly over the curing period, with substantial strength gains observed up to 120 days. The results indicated no statistically significant difference in the mean unconfined compressive strength (UCS) between cubic and cored specimens for certain mixtures, suggesting that a shape coefficient factor may not be necessary for calculating CSRE compressive strength in laboratory settings. However, for other mixtures, normal distribution was not confirmed. These findings have implications for the standardization and practical application of CSRE in construction, highlighting the need for longer curing periods to achieve optimal strength and the potential to simplify testing protocols. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry, Second Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

29 pages, 4911 KiB

Open AccessArticle

BIM Policy Trends in Europe: Insights from a Multi-Stage Analysis

by Ewelina Mitera-Kiełbasa and Krzysztof Zima

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4363; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114363 - 21 May 2024

Viewed by 828

Abstract

This study offers a detailed analysis of building information modelling (BIM) policy and implementation across Europe, significantly contributing to the sector’s digital transformation. By collating data from governmental, academic, and industry sources, it identifies key trends and evaluates the effectiveness of BIM policies in advancing technology within construction. A systematic literature review and text mining across major databases revealed an increasing focus on sustainability, particularly “life cycle assessment” and “energy efficiency”, aligning with the Industry 5.0 initiative. The research shows that 35% of European countries have or plan to introduce BIM mandates, highlighting BIM’s crucial role in enhancing construction practices and influencing policy frameworks. Insights from this study are valuable for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, guiding the adoption and operationalization of BIM and emphasizing the need for thorough market preparation, including funding, training, and standardization. Additionally, the study suggests a correlation between a country’s economic development and its propensity to enforce BIM mandates. Future research could explore regional policy variations and delve into the theoretical aspects of policy adoption and innovation diffusion to further understand BIM uptake dynamics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry, Second Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 6238 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Validation of a Novel Surface Defect Index (SDI) Method for the Effective Quality Evaluation of Concrete Surfaces

by Fatima Zohra Badi, Salah Eddine Bensebti, Abdelhafid Chabane, Cherif Belebchouche, Tien Tung Ngo, El Hadj Kadri and Slawomir Czarnecki

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3828; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093828 - 30 Apr 2024

Viewed by 859

Abstract

Concrete defects have a significant impact on concrete constructions. These defects should be considered not only aesthetic defects but also structural defects. In this study, a novel Surface Defect Index (SDI) method was developed to quantify the defect volume according to liquids’ penetrating properties by applying ready-mixed plaster (RMP). The SDI refers to the volumetric proportion of all apparent and unapparent defects in a given area of concrete, and it is expressed as a percentage of the total volume affected by defects. The proposed SDI method was validated and tested under various controlled defect configurations. Regardless of the specific characteristics of each defect configuration, the SDI method consistently demonstrated a high level of consistency, repeatability, and reproducibility, with coefficients of variation (CVr and CVR) below 5% and with correlation coefficients of R² = 0.9968. The method succeeded in assessing the surface quality levels through the SDI, demonstrating a significant correlation between this index and the volume of defects. The proposed index was tested on real concrete surfaces, affirming its efficacy in accurately quantifying the volume of surface defects; thus, it can provide an important metric for quality control. Moreover, it provides an excellent evaluation of the quality of concrete surfaces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry, Second Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 18456 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of Innovative Connector for Steel–Concrete Composite Structures

by Anna Derlatka, Piotr Lacki, Paweł Kania and Shan Gao

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(7), 3003; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14073003 - 3 Apr 2024

Viewed by 728

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of the innovative connector for manufacturing a steel–concrete composite beam. The connector consists of a corrugated metal sheet in the shape of a dovetail and shot nails. The nails are shot through the sheet fold into the flange of the steel I-section. Experimental studies of push-out tests were carried out. The conducted tests proved that the proposed solution can be applied as the fastener for steel–concrete composite beams for the construction of ceilings in utility public buildings with small beam’s span. Considering the criteria presented in the Eurocode 4 standard and the results of the experiments, it was proven that all analyzed types of fasteners are ductile. The connector made of sheet with a thickness of 1.00 mm and 2 nails is characterized by a breaking load of 30.83 kN. The load-bearing capacity of the fastener can be adjusted by changing the corrugated sheet thickness and changing the number of nails shot in the single fold of the sheet. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry, Second Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 24520 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modelling Prefabricated Construction Safety

by Rehan Masood

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 1629; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14041629 - 18 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1151

Abstract

Prefabricated construction is expanding and taking over traditional construction with more intervention of prefabricated building elements. Despite prefabricated construction reducing health and safety risks compared to conventional construction, there is still a risk that needs to be addressed. This article aims to investigate prefabricated construction safety through accident analysis. The accident data was retrieved through governmental resources and covered accident claims, safety costs, vulnerable occupations, and injuries (including type, cause, prior activity, and site of injury). Prefabricated construction safety is then simplistic and predictively modelled. The most common trend has been reported with graphical representation and relevant discussion. Furthermore, the trends are forecasted by using the ARIMA model (p, d, q) based on key performance parameters. The conclusion has been driven by the current status of prefabricated construction safety. This study is a pioneer in modelling prefabricated construction safety to enhance understanding of accidents and forecasting through optimization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry, Second Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 4403 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of the Mechanical Performance of Grid-Reinforced Concrete Beams with Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Polymers

by Haoran Li, Yujun Qi, Yifei Li, Sai Bao and Zhongzheng Song

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 1099; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14031099 - 28 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 828

Abstract

Basalt fiber-reinforced polymers (BFRPs) can reduce construction costs and mitigate corrosion-related issues associated with steel-reinforced concrete structures. There is limited research on completely substituting steel cages with composite material grid structures. Combining BFRP grids with concrete is an effective solution to address the issue of poor corrosion resistance; BFRP grids also have a good bond with steel-reinforced concrete. Therefore, this paper introduces a novel BFRP grid-reinforced concrete beam. Flexural tests indicate that grid frameworks with 3 mm and 5 mm thickness combined with concrete exhibit higher flexural load-bearing capacity. Shear tests show that the shear load-bearing capability is influenced by the shear span ratio. Shear load-bearing capacity decreases when the shear span ratio rises, but only up to a certain point. Theoretical calculations for grid-reinforced concrete beams are made to demonstrate good conformity with test values. Based on the research findings, design recommendations and precise measurements for the internal grid frameworks for composite material grid-reinforced concrete beams are provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry, Second Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 697 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis and Evaluation of the Influence of Selected Factors on the Occurrence of Defects in Polish Housing Construction Using the Example of the Lower Silesia Region

by Bożena Hoła, Mariusz Topolski, Karol Pochybełko and Tomasz Nowobilski

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(1), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14010079 - 21 Dec 2023

Viewed by 849

Abstract

In literature relevant to this topic, attention is mainly paid to the qualitative and quantitative identification of defects in housing construction, and the factors that cause these defects. There is a research gap regarding the quantitative relationships between factors and defects, and the identification of factors that have a decisive impact on the occurrence of defects. The authors’ contribution to research regarding quality management in construction investments involves the identification of defects in residential buildings, identification of factors that generate construction defects occurring at various stages of the investment process, and also the assessment of their discriminatory power. This analysis used the results of technical inspections of buildings carried out in Poland in 2017–2020 in the Lower Silesia region. The study of the factors that influence quality in housing construction was carried out using the diagnostic survey method and the survey technique. Discriminant analysis was used for the calculations, with a number of influence factors being found. The following factors have the greatest discriminatory power: C1—a lack of internal control of design documentation before the start of the construction of the facility; C15—a lack of stability of the team (high staff turnover) that conducts contract tenders; C30—a lack of executive potential for preparing the facility for technical acceptance. Identifying the relationships between factors and quality, measured by the number and type of defects, will constitute the basis for developing procedures for conducting and controlling construction works and taking appropriate preventive actions in the form of employee training. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry, Second Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1322 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Critical Uncertainty Analysis of the Application of New-Generation Digital Technology in China’s Construction Industry—A Study Based on the LDA-DEMATEL-ISM Improvement Model

by Hui Li, Yanpeng Sun, Jingxiao Zhang, Die Liu, Zhengji Han and Yu Li

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(1), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14010057 - 20 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 810

Abstract

As the main driving force for the digital transformation of the construction industry, the uncertainty of digital technology in the application process has seriously hindered the high-quality development of the construction industry. In order to promote the wide application of digital technology in the construction industry and clarify the key uncertainties in its application process, this paper identifies the uncertainty index system of digital technology application based on the LDA topic model and literature analysis; the DEMATEL-ISM method is used to construct the multilevel hierarchical structure model of the uncertainty indicators in the application of digital technology to study the mutual influence among the indicators and to find the key uncertainty indicators. The research results show that the uncertainty indicators of the application of digital technology in the construction industry are divided into five levels: policy, industry, personnel, economy and law, and that the perfection of the policy guarantee system is the key uncertainty indicator for the investment return period of digital technology application. The standard contract model for digital technology is a direct uncertainty indicator for the application of digital technology in the construction industry. The results of this study help researchers and practitioners to focus on the key barriers and provide a list of key elements for construction companies to promote the application of next-generation digital technologies to improve digitalization of the construction industry. This study also provides a policy reference to further promote the digital transformation of the construction industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry, Second Edition)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Current Technological, Methodological, and Organizational Research Trends in the Construction Industry, Second Edition

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Published Papers (11 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI