The main task of contractors' estimators is to predict the likely costs involved in executing a future project. This is an onerous job as any errors made can undermine project success and ultimately reduce the contractors' profit margins. The inherent uncertainty of most construction work,...

A key issue in implementing water supply projects based on the build, operate and transfer approach is risk allocation. Project risks should be allocated to the best competent party through proper contractual arrangements or through government support so as to achieve a low water tariff. The...

Bespoke precast concrete products are particularly designed and custom made for a construction project. The production planning of these products is complicated that considers important concerns, i.e. the reliability of the product delivery programme, the short lead-time competitiveness, and the...

The research uses a sociological perspective to build an improved, context specific understanding of innovation diffusion within the UK construction industry. It is argued there is an iterative interplay between actors and the social system they occupy that directly influences the diffusion...

Engaging in business process re-engineering (BPR) efforts could prove to be highly rewarding for construction companies in Saudi Arabia. However, BPR is risky and could be disastrous if not properly approached. To enable sound BPR efforts and increase success chances, thorough investigation of...

Spatial planning authorities have a pivotal role in shaping the built environment, through the production of development plans and the operation of the development control system. Previous research shows that the needs of women have not been given as much attention as those of men in the...

Why do more women in Bangladesh study civil engineering than in Thailand, but fewer Bangladeshi women take employment in construction companies? The primary data for answering this question were drawn from questionnaire surveys with 204 professional engineers, in-depth interviews with 80...

The term 'hybrid concrete construction' (HCC) is used to describe the combination of concrete construction methods, e.g. in-situ concrete and precast concrete, with one another or with other materials, e.g. steel. Although it could be argued that most buildings employ such combinations, HCC is...

Scholars usually agree that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) active in construction are not very innovative when compared with large-size construction enterprises. This is particularly evident in the case of adoption and diffusion of innovation associated with information and...

An unprecedented boom in Taiwanese residential unit production is described and explained as a supply side phenomenon. Unit construction tripled from 1991 to 1993 and maintained that level for two years before falling back to normal levels. The existence of a peak in real production is...