International civil engineering projects are exposed to political, financial, technical, environmental, and organisational risks that frequently interact and evolve throughout the project lifecycle. Existing risk-management approaches, including the Integrated Project Risk Assessment (IPRA) tool, fuzzy logic, structural equation modelling (SEM), and resilience engineering, are typically applied independently, limiting their ability to support integrated decision making. This study develops an integrated conceptual framework that combines these complementary approaches within a unified risk-management process. A structured literature review guided by PRISMA 2020 covered publications from January 2000 to March 2024, supplemented by a targeted literature update through August 2026. The review identified and synthesised studies addressing structured risk identification, uncertainty modelling, risk interdependencies, and resilience-based management. Within the evidence identified through these searches, no publication explicitly integrated IPRA, fuzzy logic, SEM, and resilience engineering within a single framework for international civil engineering projects. The proposed framework links structured risk identification, uncertainty-aware risk evaluation, interdependency analysis, and adaptive management through iterative information flows and feedback mechanisms. The framework provides a structured basis for supporting risk-informed decision making and establishes a foundation for future empirical validation and implementation in the management of complex international civil engineering projects.
The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sector has grown significantly over recent decades, sparking ongoing debate about its environmental impact. While advancing sustainability is essential, the sector’s role in meeting housing needs, upgrading infrastructure and restoring biodiversity remains critical to delivering safe and resilient communities. Responsible sourcing and green supply chains are increasingly recognised as key mechanisms for delivering sustainable construction. BES6001 is a certification standard for responsible sourcing, offering a structured and transparent framework for AEC organisations producing materials. However, its potential contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains insufficiently explored. This study examines the alignment between BES6001 and the SDGs, through the development of a conceptual roadmap. The roadmap was subject to expert review and identified strongest contributions to SDG-8 and SDG-12, although findings are based on preliminary validation (n = 7). By analysing BES6001’s scoring criteria and principles, the roadmap illustrates how UK organisations may support the operationalisation of SDG commitments through BES6001 certification. Recommendations include revising BES6001 to strengthen SDG alignment and holistic review of SDG targets for developed regions where current goals may lack relevance. This combined approach aims to improve uptake and drive meaningful sustainable procurement within the AEC industry.
This study investigates the factors influencing the continuous usage intention of Construction Project Management Applications (CPMApps) in Taiwan. Despite global digitalisation trends, CPMApps have seen limited long-term adoption in the local construction industry. To address this, this study employs a hybrid approach combining fault tree analysis (FTA) and Bayesian network (BN) to identify and quantify factors affecting user retention. FTA is used to build a hierarchical structure across three dimensions: APP interface, APP functionality, and customer service. This structure is converted into a BN for probabilistic analysis using expert-weighted and user-based performance evaluations data, and conditional and posterior probabilities were calculated. Results show a low overall posterior probability to continue using the CPMApps (3.8%), primarily due to poor interface usability, weak functionality, and backend inefficiencies. Contractors show higher retention intention, while supervisors report the lowest. Findings were qualitatively cross-checked against project management information system user feedback, providing supplementary contextual support for the identified failure modes. The study recommends improvements in interface design, data integration, and backend support, and calls for future research to explore external factors such as digital literacy and practices. These noteworthy findings offer practical guidance for developers and policymakers to enhance CPMApp adoption and long-term sustainability.
Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) is increasingly recognised as a strategy for improving productivity, constructability, and sustainability in construction. However, empirical evidence on DfMA adoption among design professionals in developing countries remains limited. This study examined the awareness, familiarity, and engagement of construction design professionals in Ghana regarding DfMA principles and practices. A quantitative approach was adopted using a structured questionnaire survey administered to architects and civil/structural engineers in the Ghanaian construction industry. Data from 231 valid responses were analysed using descriptive statistics, one-sample t-tests, and partial least squares structural equation modelling. Although awareness of DfMA is emerging, formal training and practical implementation remain limited. Respondents demonstrated higher familiarity and engagement with sustainability- and constructability-oriented principles (e.g. environmentally friendly material selection, standardisation), whereas advanced industrialised construction principles (e.g. modularisation, automated assembly) recorded lower implementation levels. The structural model revealed that familiarity significantly mediates the relationship between awareness and engagement, while professional experience strengthens the familiarity–engagement relationship. The study contributes to limited empirical literature on DfMA adoption in developing countries and provides practical insights for policymakers, professional institutions, and tertiary institutions seeking to accelerate industrialised construction transformation in Ghana.
Design is widely recognised as a key contributor to poor occupational safety and health (OSH) outcomes in construction, prompting the emergence of design for safety (DfS) as a practice. Although a growing body of literature examines DfS in developing countries, no study has comprehensively synthesised existing research to assess its current state, identify gaps, and chart future directions. This study addresses that void. Through a systematic literature review, this study maps the DfS research landscape in developing countries. The review reveals that most studies have concentrated on implementation factors including challenges, barriers, drivers, and opportunities alongside DfS competence dimensions such as awareness, knowledge, attitude, skills, and practice. However, areas like DfS education and the role of digital technologies remain underexplored. Methodologically, quantitative approaches dominate, with limited use of qualitative and mixed-method designs. Geographically, research is concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, leaving other developing regions underrepresented. This study proposes a future research agenda targeting these gaps, advocating for greater attention to underexplored thematic areas, particularly DfS education, and expanded geographic coverage, especially in the Middle East and North Africa, to inform policy and practice.
