VOLUME XXVIII JULY - SEPTEMBER 2013 NUMBER III

CONTENTS
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Visualisation Of Execution Schedule To Facilitate Construction Project Planning 5-13
V. K. Bansal and Mahesh Pal
Sustainability Criteria Using Spectral Methods 15-23
Vivian W. Y. Tam and Khoa N. Le
Efficient Bid Process Management For Project Success 25-32
Devanshu Pandit and S.M. Yadav
Stakeholder's Responsibility In Mitigating Project Cost Escalation 33-41
Satish Kumar V., B. S. Shivaprasad and Pradeep Aggarwal
Optimization Of Construction Equipment Utility Using Neural Networks 43-50
Jyoti. S. Trivedi and Rakesh Kumar
Lignin : A Promising Partial Replacement Of Phenol For Making 51-59
Value Added Composite For Building Applications
Amita Kumari and S. P. Agrawal
COMMUNICATION
Vertical Integration As An SCM Strategy To Ensure Supply Confidence : 61-64
A Case Of An Indian MNC
Vilas Mahajan
BOOK REVIEW
A Short Guide To Risk Appetite 65-66
NICMAR
JOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
1
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, India.
2
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India.
Email: vijaybansal18@yahoo.com
Visualisation Of Execution Schedule To
Facilitate Construction Project Planning
V. K. Bansal
1
and Mahesh Pal
2
Abstract : Bar charts and Critical Path Method (CPM) schedules used in the
construction industry provide answers to 'what' component is to be
constructed and 'when'. Most of the commercially available scheduling
tools such as Primavera and Microsoft Project used to generate such
schedules fail to provide the information about 'where' the component
will be constructed, which require spatial aspects of a project. This
paper addresses the spatial and temporal characteristics of the project
that facilitate the visualization and understanding of the construction
schedule. A methodology using Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
was developed to represent spatial aspects of the construction progress
graphically by synchronizing it with the construction schedule. The
spatial aspects corresponding to each activity in the CPM schedule
(generated in Microsoft Excel) were depicted by 3D model developed
in the AutoCAD. The spatial and scheduling information were linked
together in a GIS environment (ArcGIS) to provide the answer to 'what',
'when' and 'where' of the construction planning.
Keywords : Construction Planning, Visualization, GIS, 4D CAD
1
School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics, University of Western Sydney, Australia. Email : vivianwytam@gmail.com
Sustainability Criteria Using Spectral Methods
Vivian W. Y. Tam
1
and Khoa N. Le
1
Abstract : Sustainable construction can turn built assets into a profitable and
competitive industry. This can enhance life quality, offer customer
satisfaction, and maximize the efficient use of resources. This paper
develops a set of sustainability criteria for the local residential buildings.
Questionnaires and structured interviews were conducted. Spectral methods
were introduced for analysis of the data collected from the survey. It
was found that the "gas boosted solar hot water system", "parking area
for cycles", "degree of noise in operation", "quality of interior air" and
"emission of greenhouse gas" are the top five sustinability criteria for
improving sustainability performance of the local residential environments.
Keywords : Sustainability Criteria, Sustainable Construction, Residential, Australia
1
Associate Professor, Faculty of Technology, Centre for Environmental Planning & Technology (CEPT) University,
Ahmedabad, India. Email: devanshu@cept.ac.in
2
Professor, Civil Engineering Department, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat, India.
Efficient Bid Process Management
For Project Success
Devanshu Pandit
1
and S.M. Yadav
2
Abstract : The projects often get delayed and show time and cost overruns as a
consequence. The importance of bidding documents, good bidding
process and the selection of contractors are some of the important
prerequisites for the successful completion of a project. The aim of the
study was to identify factors in the bid process management that may
lead to project success. Subsequently, these factors were ranked by
experts for their importance and ability to influence the project results.
Two brainstorming sessions were organised for identifying factors, one
with a government organization which executes a large number of
public projects mainly through cost based selection and second with a
private developer organization which hires contractors through quality
based selection process. Twelve factors were shortlisted through this
process and they were given importance ranking by experienced professionals.
The mean value and the descriptive statistics were worked out to rank
the factors. Top five factors in the bidding process, identified by using
this process are specifications, special conditions of contract, overall
and similar experience, award criteria and estimates.
Keywords : Bid Process, Bid Documents, Selection Criteria, Project Success
1
Scientific Officer-D,
2
Sr. Project Engineer and
3
Chief Engineer (C-1), DCS & EM, Department of Atomic Energy, Anushakti
Nagar, Mumbai. India. Email : satish.dae@gmail.com
Stakeholder's Responsibility In Mitigating
Project Cost Escalation
Satish Kumar V.
1
, B. S. Shivaprasad
2
and Pradeep Aggarwal
3
Abstract : Time and cost overruns in projects are found to influence the successful
completion of a project in Indian scenario. Cost escalation accounts for
a substantial part of construction cost especially in mega projects where
the uncertainty is extended over larger duration. General risk management
process involves finding risk factors, allocating risk to the stakeholders
and overcoming the same by proper strategies. In this study, around
70 escalation factors are identified based on the literature review. Survey
& interviews with construction industry experts resulted in identifying
responsibility of stake holder(s) for each escalation factor. The findings
resulted in indentifying stake holder's responsibility in mitigating cost
escalation in projects.
Keywords : Escalation, Management, Responsibility, Stakeholders
1
Assistant Professor, Centre for Environmental Planning & Technology (CEPT) University, Ahmadabad, India.
Email: jyoti@cept.ac.in
2
Associate Professor, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat, India.
Optimization Of Construction Equipment
Utility Using Neural Networks
Jyoti. S. Trivedi
1
and Rakesh Kumar
2
Abstract : Management of construction resources and time scheduling requires
optimization, which focuses on assessment of the best possible utilization
of equipments that are needed to achieve a predetermined goal. This
study describes the performance optimization of hydraulic excavator
equipment considering four variables i.e. class of the material, depth
of the cut, cycle time and size of hauling equipment units at port
construction for three distinct projects/scenarios. A three layer feed
forward Neural Network (NN) model having four input neurons, two
output neurons and five hidden neurons was developed in MATLAB
(Visual Basic Compiled Programs) environment. The proposed model
uses the productivity and operating cost that is subjected to multiple
objective optimizations in order to predict output neurons. The learning
of NN model was accomplished by back propagation algorithms and
validation with remaining 25% of data sets. It was found that Pareto
optimal solutions as compared to basic MS Project base scheduling were
reduced relatively by 7 %. The explicit solution is a relatively simple
means of predicting temporal variation of equipment use in port construction
projects and may be further used by the researchers. The proposed
formulation can also be used for identification of optimal operational
scenarios.
Keywords : Construction equipment, Productivity, Multiple objective optimizations,
Neural network
1
Project Assistant,
2
Chief Scientist, Organic Building Materials Division, Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, India.
Email : subodhpagrawal@gmail.com
Lignin : A Promising Partial Replacement Of
Phenol For Making Value Added Composite
For Building Applications
Amita Kumari
1
and S.P. Agrawal
2
Abstract : The paper describes the synthesis of lignin formaldehyde that will help
in potential reduction in use of phenol. The physical and chemical
properties of lignin phenol formaldehydes resin obtained are studied
by using FTIR of lignin extract, lignin phenol and phenol formaldehyde
for main groups and reactions taking place during conversion. Physical
properties of prepared composite using the lignin formaldehyde resin
for density, moisture content, water absorption, tensile strength etc.
were determined with the physical properties of lignin formaldehyde
for viscosity using Brookfield Apparatus. The wood particle-lignin composite
was found to be a good and sustainable economic alternative to the
composites produced by using phenol formaldehyde along with industry
waste. A composite made by using the lignin formaldehyde with eucalyptus
wood particles was found to be better when compared to the composites
made by using phenol formaldehyde resin in terms of mechanical properties
including density, moisture content, tensile strength, water absorption
and swelling in water.
Keywords : Lignin, Phenol, Formaldehyde, Composite, Alternative Building Materials
Vertical Integration As An SCM Strategy
To Ensure Supply Confidence :
A Case Of An Indian MNC
Vilas Mahajan
Abstract : Supply Chain Management is now globally recognized as a concept
having potential, not only for cost reduction but substantially for enhanced
customer value. It is because of this recognition that in many a corporate
there is now more emphasis being given to applications of Supply Chain
Management (SCM) strategies. These successful leaders in their domain
treat their supply chain as a powerful tool for achieving competitive
advantage through effective delivery of customer value. Emphasis throughout
Supply Chain Management is on Integration of its various sub functions
in a systematic way to ultimately ensure supply confidence, along with
cost effectiveness.
One of the strategies followed to ensure Supply Confidence relates to
Vertical Integration. This concept of Vertical Integration is adopted by
many corporate entities all over the world. The Vertical Integration can
be in directions, forward and backward and/ or combination of both.
The present paper examines the concept and analyses its pros and cons.
The concept, its applications and benefits are exemplified by way of a
case of an Indian MNC. This organization had an enviable growth and
achieved fifth position in the world in its sector, in a very short time
span of a decade, that too starting from scratch. The company attributes
its success substantially, to adoption of vertical integration strategy.
Keywords : Supply Chain Management, Supply Confidence, Strategic Management,
Cost Benefit Analysis
Associate Professor, National Institute of Construction Management And Research, Pune, India. Email : vmahajan@nicmar.ac.in
COMMUNICATION