Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.4
3.1
Journals
Buildings
Special Issues
Life Cycle Management of Building and Infrastructure Projects
share announcement

Life Cycle Management of Building and Infrastructure Projects

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction Management, and Computers & Digitization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 9950

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Pramen P. Shrestha

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Department, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
Interests: contract and procurement; project delivery methods; infrastructure sustainability; construction project management; construction safety; highway safety; asset management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Kishor Shrestha

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
Interests: injury prevention; construction engineering; transportation; road safety; traffic safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The life cycle management of building and infrastructure projects is an inter-disciplinary area. To initiate and complete the entire life cycle of these projects, project stakeholders must implement a combination of planning, financing, and facilities management knowledge. To aid in the planning and design of these types of projects, advanced technologies have been used, including Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Civil Integrated Management (CIM). The use of drones and robotics is revolutionizing the construction, operation, and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects. Additionally, the paradigm shift from conventional to advanced strategies benefits the construction industry in a variety of ways. To compile the existing knowledge and advanced technology used to manage entire phases of projects, Buildings invites prospective authors to submit original manuscripts to a Special Issue on the life cycle management of building and infrastructure projects. Potential topics include (but are not limited to):

  • BIM for planning, designing, constructing, and asset management.
  • CIM for planning, designing, constructing, and asset management.
  • Drones and robotics for construction and asset management.
  • Building comfort and energy simulations.
  • Procurement, contracting, and project delivery methods.
  • Legal issues and dispute minimization.
  • Life cycle cost analysis.
  • Machine learning, artificial intelligence, and neural network use for construction project management.

Prof. Dr. Pramen P. Shrestha
Dr. Kishor Shrestha
Guest Editors

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. Buildings 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 2600 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.

Keywords

  • procurement, contracting, and project delivery method
  • building information modelling
  • civil infrastructure modelling
  • building comfort
  • life cycle analysis
  • legal and disputes resolution

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

19 pages, 1654 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Building Renovation Strategies—F-TOPSIS Analysis of Solutions Applied in the Chosen European Union Countries
by Edyta Plebankiewicz and Jakub Grącki
Buildings 2025, 15(4), 607; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15040607 - 15 Feb 2025
Viewed by 592
Abstract
The article analyzes long-term renovation strategies in EU member countries using the F-TOPSIS method, focusing on chosen criteria such as CO2 emission reductions, renovation rates, energy savings, investment requirements, and overall strategy quality. High-performing countries, such as Finland and Spain, demonstrate the [...] Read more.
The article analyzes long-term renovation strategies in EU member countries using the F-TOPSIS method, focusing on chosen criteria such as CO2 emission reductions, renovation rates, energy savings, investment requirements, and overall strategy quality. High-performing countries, such as Finland and Spain, demonstrate the importance of clear targets, robust planning, and substantial financial commitments. In contrast, several countries show gaps in strategic detail or ambition, highlighting challenges in achieving EU climate neutrality goals. The methodology underscores the effectiveness of multi-criteria decision-making tools in assessing complex renovation strategies. The findings emphasize the need for harmonized metrics and innovative approaches, such as digital tools like building renovation passports. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle Management of Building and Infrastructure Projects)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 561 KiB  
Article
Assessing Factors Affecting Fall Accidents among Hispanic Construction Workers: Integrating Safety Insights into BIM for Enhanced Life Cycle Management
by Rujan Kayastha and Krishna Kisi
Buildings 2024, 14(9), 3017; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14093017 - 23 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1466
Abstract
Falls are the most common type of accident in the construction industry, and falls to a lower level are among the leading causes of fatalities. Work-related fatalities due to falls, slips, and trips have been increasing, with Hispanic workers among the highest fatalities. [...] Read more.
Falls are the most common type of accident in the construction industry, and falls to a lower level are among the leading causes of fatalities. Work-related fatalities due to falls, slips, and trips have been increasing, with Hispanic workers among the highest fatalities. This study investigated the association between fall accidents and attributes such as age, musculoskeletal pain (MSPs), sleep hours, safety knowledge, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and working hours among Hispanic construction workers involved in building construction. This study collected 220 valid responses and used nonparametric chi-square tests and binary logistic regression to analyze the data. This study found that the location of the fall, MSPs, and use of personal protective equipment have a significant effect on the likelihood of having fall accidents. The strongest predictor of fall accidents was “fall from a ladder”, followed by having two or three MSPs. The use of PPE had the highest decreasing ratio in odds of fall accidents, indicating the importance of wearing PPE properly. The results show the importance of integrating safety management strategies within construction projects’ broader life cycle management. The insights list how project engineers can incorporate these findings into Building Information Modeling (BIM) systems to enhance project planning and safety measures in reducing fall-related accidents and their severe consequences. This study highlights the importance of addressing MSPs, properly using PPE, and reducing falls from ladders in the construction industry to prevent fall accidents among Hispanic workers and minimize their severe consequences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle Management of Building and Infrastructure Projects)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1460 KiB  
Article
Evaluating Life-Cycle Unit Costs of Traditional Cement Concrete and New Polymer Concrete Manholes in Wastewater Systems
by Kishor Shrestha, Pramen P. Shrestha and Jacimaria Batista
Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2835; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092835 - 9 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1615
Abstract
Wastewater manholes are crucial infrastructure components in sewage systems. They provide necessary access points for inspection and maintenance. However, limited studies were conducted on the life-cycle cost analysis of manholes. The primary objective of this study is to compute and compare the Life-Cycle [...] Read more.
Wastewater manholes are crucial infrastructure components in sewage systems. They provide necessary access points for inspection and maintenance. However, limited studies were conducted on the life-cycle cost analysis of manholes. The primary objective of this study is to compute and compare the Life-Cycle Unit Cost (LCUC) of cement concrete and polymer concrete manholes to identify a cost-effective alternative for public agencies. To achieve the objective, this study analyzed commonly used 1.83 m diameter manhole data; 343 cement concrete manhole and 88 polymer concrete manhole cost data were collected from the Clark County Water Reclamation District (CCWRD), Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. The results show that the initial costs of polymer concrete are higher than those of traditional cement concrete. Statistical tests were conducted to determine the group differences. The findings show that the LCUCs of polymer concrete manholes are significantly cost-effective when compared to traditional cement concrete manholes. Public agencies can utilize polymer concrete manholes to save costs in future water and wastewater pipeline manhole construction projects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle Management of Building and Infrastructure Projects)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2031 KiB  
Article
Project Performance Comparison of Public–Private Partnership (P3) Highway Projects against Design Build (DB) and Design Bid Build (DBB) Highway Projects
by Bandana Shrestha and Pramen P. Shrestha
Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2622; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092622 - 24 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1352
Abstract
Public–private partnerships (P3s) have gained prominence in both developed and developing nations over recent decades. P3 contracts have been used in a broad spectrum of infrastructure sectors in the United States. However, it is important to demonstrate how P3 projects compare in terms [...] Read more.
Public–private partnerships (P3s) have gained prominence in both developed and developing nations over recent decades. P3 contracts have been used in a broad spectrum of infrastructure sectors in the United States. However, it is important to demonstrate how P3 projects compare in terms of cost and schedule to traditional project delivery methods to make more informed choices when selecting a delivery method in infrastructure construction. This research focused on benchmarking the project performances of P3 highway projects against design-build (DB) and design-bid-build (DBB) highway projects by analyzing cost growth and schedule growth for highway projects undertaken using P3, DB, and DBB project delivery. Statistical tests revealed that P3 highway projects had a mean cost growth of 2.12%, whereas DB projects experienced 8.95% growth, and DBB projects 7.27%. Furthermore, the mean schedule growth for P3 highway projects was 0.59%, compared to 37.94% for DB projects and 31.39% for DBB projects. The research results can provide valuable insights to assist decision-making processes for future projects, which can be particularly useful for government agencies, private companies, and other stakeholders involved in infrastructure development. Furthermore, the stakeholders can make more informed choices when selecting a delivery method with the identified performance comparison findings, potentially reducing the likelihood of project disputes and failures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle Management of Building and Infrastructure Projects)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 4319 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Contractor Selection through Fuzzy TOPSIS and Fuzzy SAW Techniques
by Mohammadsoroush Tafazzoli, Ayoub Hazrati, Kishor Shrestha and Krishna Kisi
Buildings 2024, 14(6), 1861; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061861 - 19 Jun 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1089
Abstract
Contractors play an integral role in construction projects, and their qualifications directly impact various aspects of a project’s success. The unbiased selection of contractors is a challenge in the construction industry worldwide, particularly in public projects where impartiality in the final selection is [...] Read more.
Contractors play an integral role in construction projects, and their qualifications directly impact various aspects of a project’s success. The unbiased selection of contractors is a challenge in the construction industry worldwide, particularly in public projects where impartiality in the final selection is essential. Numerous factors must be considered when evaluating contractors, making the selection process challenging for the human brain. This paper introduces and compares two methods for assessing contractor prequalification by applying the fuzzy theory. The idea is to facilitate using human judgments in a mathematical system for decision-making with regard to selecting contractors. The method is based on identifying a fuzzy weight for the selection criteria using the Buckley method. Fuzzy TOPSIS and Fuzzy SAW methods are then used for the qualification ranking of the contractors. The proposed models are assessed using a case study. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted to compare the two models. The introduced method is expected to improve the quality of the qualification-based selection of contractors and prevent possible losses from hiring unsuitable contractors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle Management of Building and Infrastructure Projects)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 3013 KiB  
Article
Procedures for Awarding Work Contracts in Europe
by Edyta Plebankiewicz
Buildings 2024, 14(4), 883; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14040883 - 25 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1599
Abstract
Choosing a contractor with the best competencies is particularly important, especially in construction contracts. Using data available on the opentender.eu platform, information for 2022 was compiled regarding the size of the public procurement market and the procedures used in public procurement for construction [...] Read more.
Choosing a contractor with the best competencies is particularly important, especially in construction contracts. Using data available on the opentender.eu platform, information for 2022 was compiled regarding the size of the public procurement market and the procedures used in public procurement for construction works in European countries. The most common procedure used under the European Union Directive for awarding work contracts, in most countries, is the open procedure. The largest share of this procedure, amounting to over 95% of all proceedings, is in the countries Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Latvia, and Poland. On the other hand, there are countries where the procedures proposed in the Directive are used to a small extent. In order to distinguish groups of European Union countries characterized by a similar structure of public procurement for work, the joining (tree-clustering) algorithm was used. This will provide insights into the strategies of countries in this area. Knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of the various procedures may improve the public procurement system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle Management of Building and Infrastructure Projects)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

28 pages, 5217 KiB  
Review
Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Buildings: A Scientometric Analysis
by Ieva Poderytė, Nerija Banaitienė and Audrius Banaitis
Buildings 2025, 15(3), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15030381 - 26 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 985
Abstract
The significant environmental impact of the built environment, particularly concerning energy use, carbon emissions, and material consumption, coupled with its economic and social implications, has driven the demand for sustainable buildings. Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) offers a comprehensive approach to evaluating sustainability [...] Read more.
The significant environmental impact of the built environment, particularly concerning energy use, carbon emissions, and material consumption, coupled with its economic and social implications, has driven the demand for sustainable buildings. Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) offers a comprehensive approach to evaluating sustainability performance by integrating environmental, economic, and social dimensions across the building life cycle. However, the application of LCSA frameworks in the buildings sector remains limited due to the challenges in harmonizing different sustainability dimensions and addressing methodological inconsistencies. This study employs a scientometric analysis to systematically examine the research landscape on LCSA for buildings. Bibliographic records from the Scopus and Web of Science databases (1999–2024) were systematically analyzed using science mapping techniques and tools, including VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Gephi. The analysis identifies key research trends, conceptual developments, influential academic sources, and collaboration patterns at the country level. The findings reveal a multi-faceted research landscape characterized by a predominance of environmental assessments, increasing attention to economic and social dimensions, the development of BIM-related methodologies, and emerging trend towards dynamic LCSA. Persistent barriers include insufficient standardization of methodologies, limited data availability, and the fragmented incorporation of the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability. The findings emphasize the need for advancing LCSA frameworks to achieve more effective integration of the triple bottom line, enabling robust decision-making and advancing sustainability in the built environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle Management of Building and Infrastructure Projects)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop