EVALUATION OF THE BARRIERS TO THE USE OF APPROPRIATE CONSTRUCTABILITY PRACTICES ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Main Article Content
Keywords
Assessment, Constructability practice, Contractors, Design, Knowledge, Nigeria
Abstract
Within the Nigerian and Sub-Saharan African construction industries generally there has been a lack of research profiling the constructability practices of contractors and possible barriers to the use of appropriate methods. The aim of this study was to assess constructability practices of contractors in construction projects in this context. The objectives were to identify current constructability practices, and to examine the barriers typically affecting constructability practices. Convenience sampling was used to select 19 contractors in Lagos state, Nigeria, who were interviewed using a structured interview protocol. The data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics. Results indicated that constructability practices common to contractors include checking M & E drawings for clashes and errors; site-layout planning; and preparation of schedule/construction programmes. In-situ constructions, crane/lifting equipment, formwork technologies and external scaffolding systems were used during site operations. Barriers affecting constructability practices stem from contractors’ internal conditions, external factors, and project-related factors including design, lack of knowledge in construction methods, and
project size and complexity. The findings have important implications for policy and practice. We recommend public laws making it mandatory for projects to implement constructability reviews and analyses. We also recommend that practice-experienced constructors be employed on projects, and that professional bodies train and educate members on constructability principles and practice for the better management of projects.
Article Metrics Graph
References
Firm, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 128(2), 117-126.
Building and Construction Authority, (BCA) (2011). Code of Practice on Buildability,
Singapore: BCA.
Cheetham, D., and Lewis, J. (2001). Productivity, buildability and constructability: is work
study the missing link? In: Proceedings of 17th Annual ARCOM Conference,
Akintoye, (Ed.), 5-7 September, University of Salford, (1), pp 271-80.
Construction Industry Institute (CII) (1986). Constructability: A Primer, Austin, Texas:
CII.
Construction Industry Institute (CII) (1987). Constructability concept file, Austin, Texas:
CII.
Construction Industry Institute Australia (CII Australia) (1992). Constructability
principles File, Adelaide: CII Australia.
Construction Industry Institute Australia (CII Australia) (1996). The Development of
Constructability Principles for the Australian Construction Industry, Adelaide: CII
Australia.
Gibson, G. E., McGinnis, C. I., Flanigan, W. S., and Wood, J. E. (1996). Constructability
in public sector, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 122(3),
274-280.
Jergeas, G., and Van der Put, J. (2001). Benefits of constructability on construction
projects, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 127(4), 281-290.
Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand Incorporated, (IPENZ) (2008).
Constructability Practice Note 13. [Online]. Available at
rankings of construction systems based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process,
Journal of Architectural Engineering, 13(1), 36-43.
Liu, J. Y and Low, S. P. (2007). Enhancing buildability in China’s construction industry
using Singapore’s buildable design appraisal system, Journal of Technology
Management in China, 2(3), 264-278.
Low, S. P. (2001) Quantifying the relationships between buildability, structural quality
and productivity in construction, Structural Survey, 19(2), 106-112.
Motsa, N., Oladapo, A.A and Othman, A.A.E. (2008). The Benefits of Using
Constructability during the Design Process, Proceedings of the 5th Post Graduate
Conference in Construction Industry Development, Bloemfontein, South
Africa,16-18 March 2008, pp. 157-167. [Online]. Available at
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 127(4), 281-290.
Othman, A. A. E. (2011). Constructability for reducing construction waste and improving
building, Built Environment Journal, 8(2), 31-54.
Pocock, J. B., Kuennen, S. T., Gambatese, J., and Rauschkolb, J. (2006). Constructability
state of practice report, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management,
132(4), 373-383.
Radosavljevic, M. and Bennett, J. (2012) Construction management strategies: A theory
of construction management, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Russell, J., Radtke, M., and Gugel, J. (1992). Project-level model and approaches to
implement constructability, Austin, Texas: CII-Doc. 82.
Saghatforoush, E., Hasim, S., Jaafar, M., and Abdul Kadir, M. (2009). Constructability
implementation among Malaysian building contractors, European Journal of
Scientific Research, 29(4) 518-532.
Tatum, C. B. (1987). Improving constructability during conceptual planning, Journal of
Construction Engineering and Management, 113(2), 196-206.
Trigunarsyah, B. (2004a). A review of current practice in constructability improvement:
case studies on construction projects in Indonesia, Construction Management and
Economics, 22, 567-580.
Trigunarsyah, B. (2004b). Constructability practices among construction contractors in
Indonesia, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 130(5), 656-669.
Uhlik, F. T., and Lores, G. V. (1998). Assessment of constructability practices among
general contractors, Journal of Architectural Engineering, 4(3), 113-123.
Yu, W., and Skibniewski, M. J. (1999). Quantitative constructability analysis with a neurofuzzy
knowledge-based multi-criterion decision support system, Automation in
Construction, 8, 553-565.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
The Journal of Construction Project Management and Innovation (JCPMI) is committed to the principles of Open Access publishing and upholds the ethos of freely disseminating research findings to enhance knowledge and understanding within the field of construction project management and innovation.
In accordance with our commitment to open scholarly communication, all articles published by JCPMI are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC). This licensing agreement allows others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the original author and source are credited. The license also ensures that authors retain copyright over their work while allowing the wider community to access, use, and build upon the content.
The terms of the CC BY-NC license are designed to facilitate the following:
- Attribution: Users must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. This can be done in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses the user or their use.
- Non-Commercial: Users may not use the material for commercial purposes.
- No Additional Restrictions: Users may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
By publishing with JCPMI, authors agree to these terms and ensure that their work is accessible and reusable under the conditions of the CC BY-NC license, thereby contributing to the ongoing exchange of knowledge and information in an Open Access environment.
Creative Commons CC Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Public License