Effects due to Change in UAE Construction Projects

Globally construction works are suffering from several challenges. One of the major challenges is changes during execution of the construction work. Changes exert several negative impacts on the project performance. For effective project performance, it is necessary to understand the effects of changes. Hence, this study investigated various effects of changes occurring in construction project. Investigation was carried out quantitatively through questionnaire survey based on effect variables identified from review of literature. It involved three categories as time overrun, cost overrun and quality measured with 48 variables. 100 questionnaire sets collected against 218 questionnaire forms distributed among the practitioners were analysed statistically. From analysis results, it was found that cost overrun is major effect of changes followed by quality and time overrun. Delay in completion schedule, slower project progress and dispute between owner and contractor are reported as major drivers of time overrun. Top three variables of cost overrun in cost overrun are increase the cost of the projects, interrupted cash flow and additional money for contractor. While, major drivers of the quality in construction projects are rework of bad quality performance, changes in materials specifications and changes in material types & specifications during construction. These findings will be helpful for the practitioners in achieving project performance.

FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST EFFECTIVE BUILDING MATERIALS MANAGEMENT (EBMM) IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Building construction projects are carried out using various material resources. These materials have to be managed to enhance value, minimize waste and ensure that time and cost related goals are attained. The research looked at the factors militating against effective building materials management (EBMM) in order to identify major factors leading to material wastage in construction project delivery in the FCT Abuja, Nigeria. The study adopted purposive sampling method to distribute 100 copies of survey questionnaire to some selected professionals from both consulting and contracting firms in the study area. 86 copies of questionnaire retrieved were analyzed to know the implication of these factors on the process and delivery of construction projects. 25 identified factors militating against EBMM were ranked using RII. The finding of the study revealed that lack of compliance to materials specification and standards (RII=0.81), little knowledge on materials specifications and standards (RII=0.80), poor communication system (RII=0.79), were the top factors militating against materials management. The findings further indicate that delay and abandonment of project (RII=0.82), cost overrun (RII=0.81) and ineffective allocation of materials (RII=0.79), were the three major implications these will have on EBMM. The study concluded that for the EBMM, professional involved in building production processes should understand the importance of specifications and standards to avoid disastrous effects on building materials usage and management in the construction projects delivery.

From Thesis to Teaching: The Practice of Using Rocks in Architecture and the Challenge of "Making it Different"

About 20 years ago, the lack of knowledge of the Brazilian architects about the use of rocks as natural materials was being commented which may have contributed to the problems of the stone coatings of buildings in several cities, compromising their original features and the beauty of many works. Professionals did not seek technological data on rocks and students were not instructed on such subjects in classrooms. The choice of these materials was supposedly empirical. Between 2010 and 2012 it was possible to obtain access to information about the contents of materials teaching in the architecture courses of Brazil, and also to inquire whether or not there was knowledge by architects active in the market on the subject, interviewing 64 professionals in 13 states from the country. The architects would be authors of architectural projects of large buildings and responsible for the materials specifications. Conclusion: there is no teaching directed to the use of rocks in Architecture in the country courses and architects never learned formally about such subject, fact that justified in a doctorate thesis proposal, the creation of the first discipline on the subject in the Course of Architecture and Urbanism of the Federal University of Pernambuco, UFPE, Brazil.