Demand surge phenomenon as a result of shortages of human resources needed for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction can be detrimental to recovery outcomes. To quantify the impact of human resource constraints on the recovery of an urban environment, this research introduces a novel Dynamic Stochastic Queuing (DSQ) model, revealing such dynamic interplays over time. Central to this model is the incorporation of a spectrum of socioeconomic factors to formulate optimal recovery strategies under different dynamic resource mobilisation patterns. A recovery efficiency index is defined and employed as a proxy to facilitate comparisons across diverse recovery strategies. A case study is presented to illustrate the application of the model by simulating the building recovery of a portfolio of residential buildings in New Zealand following the 2010-2011 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence (CES). The findings indicate that proactive resource mobilisation strategies can significantly enhance both recovery efficiency and speed. It becomes possible to shorten the post-disaster recovery time significantly by strategically sequencing repairs of damaged structures while taking into account resource mobilisation strategies.

Empirical data is fundamental for deriving accurate and high-resolution estimates of the post-earthquake building recovery process. To this end, a unique and extensive dataset comprising damage and recovery data from residential buildings affected by the 2010–2011 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence (CES) has been systematically compiled to introduce a novel hybrid data-driven approach for modeling post-earthquake recovery at both individual and community levels. At the individual building level, key temporal variables are modeled using their respective probability distribution functions (PDFs), which are iteratively refined through Bayesian inference with the incorporation of collected empirical data. Specifically, Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) and Empirical Bayes (EB) methods are employed to derive updated posterior distributions for these variables, offering a contextually grounded understanding of recovery dynamics within the New Zealand setting. At the community level, a suite of machine learning models, including Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), Decision Tree (DT), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), is developed to rapidly predict the recovery trajectories across residential building portfolios. The marginal posterior distributions derived from the MCMC and EB methods are directly applicable to future recovery modeling efforts, offering valuable insights into the temporal duration and inherent variability of recovery activities tailored to a region’s contextually specific socio-economic profiles and recovery practices. The findings further underscore the superior performance of the RF model in predicting community-level recovery trajectories, whereas the XGBoost model demonstrates excellence in estimating overall recovery timeframes. Consequently, an integrated approach utilizing both RF and XGBoost models is recommended to provide a comprehensive understanding of community-level recovery dynamics and overall recovery time in the aftermath of earthquakes.

The integration of automation technologies has improved the efficiency of industrialised construction (IC), yet a deeper understanding of their effects on the manufacturing and assembly stages remains necessary. This paper provides a systematic review of how various automation technologies influence these key stages in IC, analysing 53 articles. It explores the deployment of 22 technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), deep learning, digital twins, and robotics, and identifies seven benefits for IC: (1) interoperability, (2) scheduling optimisation, (3) production traceability, (4) production safety, (5) manufacturability, (6) quality assurance, and (7) constructability. To further advance automation in IC, future research should address critical challenges, including enhancing data quality, expanding empirical testing, exploring emerging technologies in depth, and integrating fragmented workflows. This article underscores the need of strategic technology deployment to seamlessly integrate various processes in future construction practices, offering insights into the transformative potential of automation.

PurposeDespite extensive academic research related to digital technologies (DT), their integration into architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) projects lags in practice. This paper aims to discover DT deployment patterns and emerging trends in real-life AEC projects.Design/methodology/approachA case study methodology was adopted, including individual case analyses and comparative multiple-case analyses.FindingsThe results revealed the temporal distribution of DT in practical AEC projects, specific DT products/software, major project types integrated with digital solutions, DT application areas and project stages and associated project performance. Three distinct patterns in DT adoption have been observed, reflecting the evolution of DT applications, the progression from single to multiple DT integration and alignment with emerging industry requirements. The DT adoption behavior in the studied cases has been examined using the technology-organization-environment-human (TOE + H) framework. Further, eight emerging trend streams for future DT adoption were identified, with “leveraging the diverse features of certain mature DT” being a shared recognition of all studied companies.Practical implicationsThis research offers actionable insights for AEC companies, facilitating the development of customized DT implementation roadmaps aligned with organizational needs. Policymakers, industry associations and DT suppliers may leverage these findings for informed decision-making, collaborative educational initiatives and product/service customization.Originality/valueThis research provides empirical evidence of applicable products/software, application areas and project performance. The examination of the TOE + H framework offers a holistic understanding of the collective influences on DT adoption. The identification of emerging trends addresses the evolving demands of the AEC industry in the digital era.

Reconstruction and recovery projects after major natural disasters often face building material supply challenges, leading to schedule delays and cost overruns. However, extant studies lack a thorough investigation of these supply issues in a post-disaster environment. This paper aims to understand the factors influencing post-disaster building material supply and the mechanisms contributing to the supply problems. Thus, the authors analysed 49 publications from 2005 to 2023 and identified 42 influencing factors and 226 causal relationships. These factors were classified into three groups, namely, 1) contextual sub-system, 2) operational sub-system, and 3) stakeholder sub-system. Drawing on the data, a causal loop diagram (CLD) was developed, and numerous feedback loops were identified within and between systems. Through a network analysis of the CLD, five leverage factors were identified as systemic interventions for policymakers to consider in improving building material supply performance for post-disaster recovery, namely, regulatory arrangements and governance, competence and capability of stakeholders, stakeholder relationship, availability of local materials, and resource exploitation. However, CLD and network analysis also revealed the need for further investigation of the mechanisms and interventions related to building material supply in disaster contexts. To better understand and address post-disaster building material supply problems, ongoing studies can be further advanced by the better utilisation of extant knowledge, the application of systems thinking approaches and computational modelling methods.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to develop a new hybrid method that combines interpretative structural modeling (ISM) and matrix cross-impact multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) to investigate the influencing factors of sustainable infrastructure vulnerability (SIV).Design/methodology/approach(1) Literature review and case study were used to identify the possible influencing factors; (2) a semi-structured interview was conducted to identify representative factors and the interrelationships among influencing factors; (3) ISM was adopted to identify the hierarchical structure of factors; (4) MICMAC was used to analyze the driving power (DRP) and dependence power (DEP) of each factor and (5) Semi-structured interview was used to propose strategies for overcoming SIV.FindingsResults indicate that (1) 18 representative factors related to SIV were identified; (2) the relationship between these factors was divided into a five-layer hierarchical structure. The 18 representative factors were divided into driving factors, dependent factors, linkage factors and independent factors and (3) 12 strategies were presented to address the negative effects of these factors.Originality/valueThe findings illustrate the factors influencing SIV and their hierarchical structures, which can benefit the stakeholders and practitioners of an infrastructure project by encouraging them to take effective countermeasures to deal with related SIVs.

The successful implementation of digital technologies (DT) in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) projects necessitates workflow adjustment, crew scheduling, equipment optimization, and efficient collaboration among project parties. Understanding the digital capabilities of industry professionals is essential for the effective deployment of DT. This paper examines the competence of AEC practitioners in 14 types of DT through a questionnaire survey involving 428 participants. Descriptive statistics, including mean scores and standard deviations, were calculated to understand the competence levels of different DT. Specific inferential statistical tests, such as chi-square tests and Mann-Whitney U tests investigated disparities in competence across different business types, operational years, and company sizes. The results indicate that cloud technology, global positioning systems, and building information modeling were predominantly recognized and utilized, whereas blockchain remained underexplored. Notably, building contractors, small and medium-sized enterprises, and start-ups lagged behind their counterparts in digital competence, with large-scale enterprises exhibiting better knowledge but limited implementation of DT. The findings underscore the need for targeted upskilling efforts to harness DT knowledge effectively and manage digital resources within organizations undergoing digital transformation. The research contributes to the literature on digital competence within the AEC sector and sets the stage for further research into effective DT adoption and deployment interventions.

PurposeWith growing concern about sustainable development and increased awareness of environmental issues, digital technologies (DTs) are gaining prominence and becoming a promising trend to improve productivity, sustainability and project performance in the construction industry. Nonetheless, the uptake of DTs in the construction industry has been limited and plagued with roadblocks. This study aims to identify critical barriers for construction organisations to adopt DTs and to demonstrate relationships between organisational characteristics and the perceived DTs adoption barriers.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted an explanatory sequential design by combining the advantages of quantitative and qualitative data. Data collection methods include literature review, a pilot study, questionnaire survey, and semi-structured interviews. Questionnaire data were analysed by using SPSS and multivariate regression technique. The interview data were processed by using content analysis to validate and supplement findings from the questionnaire.FindingsBased on the survey and interview results, eight critical barriers were identified: the three top critical barriers are (1) "status quo industry standards", (2) "lack of client interest" and (3) "lack of financial need/drive for using DTs". The eight critical barriers were further classified into technical, environmental, and social dimensions to determine the major constructs that hinder DTs adoption. A theoretical framework articulating critical barriers with underlying components and root causes was also proposed. Furthermore, by using multivariate regression analysis, a model was developed to link the organisational characteristics with barriers to DTs adoption.Practical implicationsBy referring to the framework and the model developed, academics, industry practitioners, and decision makers can identify pivotal areas for improvement, make informed decisions and implement remedial measures to remove the barriers to digitalisation transformation.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on construction innovations by investigating barriers to DTs adoption holistically as well as perceptions of the impact of organisational attributes on these barriers. It establishes the groundwork for future empirical research into the strategic consolidation of movement of DTs adoption and diffusion.

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the challenges faced by the transport infrastructure sector in its civil construction material supply processes, following the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake in New Zealand.Design/methodology/approachA case study approach was adopted, which included on-site observations, semi-structured interviews and literature-based desktop reviews.FindingsThe research findings show that there were supply problems for aggregates, concrete, stormwater pipes and some specialised products for the repair and rebuild of transport facilities. Those supply problems were largely caused by (1) difficulty in predicting material requirements, (2) constrained supply capability, (3) inadequate local freight capacity, (4) legal, cultural and/or environmental considerations on resource exploitation and utilisation, (5) impacts of COVID-19 and (6) ineffective communication and coordination.Research limitations/implicationsFor future research, it is recommended that a comparative analysis of multiple disaster cases be undertaken to further explore the generalisability of the research findings.Originality/valueThe research findings will inform the development of post-earthquake recovery policies and material supply chain operation strategies, in order to expedite the recovery of transport networks if a future earthquake strikes.

To what extent does a firm's digital readiness influence its competence in implementing digital initiatives? This study employs a deep-learning-based dual-stage approach using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to demonstrate and quantify this relationship. Data were sourced from a questionnaire survey involving 428 architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms in New Zealand. The PLS-SEM analysis confirmed the positive correlation between the digital readiness of an organization and its competence towards seven types of DT, including immersive technologies, sensing technology, robotics, 3D printing, digital fabrication, artificial intelligence and big data. The ANN analysis further quantified the importance of the investigated readiness indicators in influencing digital competence. The results highlighted four most significant readiness attributes influencing the digital competence of AEC firms: (1) organizational culture, (2) perception of the leadership team, (3) hardware & software systems and (4) strategy plans. The findings can serve as a baseline for developing effective change management strategies and contribute to reducing the digital divide within AEC organizations, facilitating the effectiveness of organizational digital transformation.

As damage and loss caused by natural hazards have increased worldwide over the past several decades, it is important for governments and aid agencies to have tools that enable effective post-disaster livelihood recovery to create self-sufficiency for the affected population. This study employs a comparative case study with a mixed method to compare the critical factors affecting livelihood recovery following disasters. Data were collected following the 2013 Lushan earthquake in China and the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake in New Zealand. The results show that the common factors from the comparative case study given by the respondents from both Lushan in China and Kaikoura in New Zealand are "community safety", "availability of family support", "level of community cohesion", "external housing recovery support", "level of a housing recovery", and "availability of health and wellbeing support". Factors that are only in Lushan include "access to income generation assets", "level of community participation in decision making", and "availability of skills training programmes". Factors that are in Kaikoura not in Lushan included "effective governance", "availability of social welfare support from the government", and "distance to scenic spots". Based on the differences and similarities between different factors, this study suggests various stakeholders require more international knowledge and policy sharing, effective communicative mechanisms and the promotion of livelihood transformation process.

There are increasing concerns over building code, regulation compliance, and quality assurance issues in adopting off-site construction techniques in the construction industry related to meeting client expectations and regulatory requirements. Performance-based building regulations often allow for space for innovation but not a safe space for those who intend to introduce new construction techniques not prescribed in building regulations. Through a series of surveys conducted in Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, China, Singapore, and Australia, this study identified approaches and practices used in these countries that overcome compliance challenges when off-site construction techniques are used. The findings showed that manufacturer self-certification is the predominant approach for meeting code compliance requirements. A fit-for-purpose regulatory compliance system also warrants fair allocation of risks and liabilities to anyone involved in the supply chain. However, a healthy and functional regulatory system for off-site compliance requires third-party certification for products and factories and traceability. It is hoped that the lessons learned from this study can help policymakers introduce changes in product standards and legislation in order to improve the compliance and performance of off-site construction. This study concluded that a chain of custody approach is necessary in order to address quality concerns surrounding the adoption of prefabrication technology in countries that are increasingly exploring greater use of manufacturing in construction.

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of buildings plays an important role in affecting building occupants' comfort, health and well-being. However, there is limited understanding of the critical IEQ factors that affect occupants' work productivity in university office buildings. By surveying 204 people (72 university staff members and 132 postgraduate students) in a tertiary education institution in New Zealand, this research aimed to identify and rank the critical IEQ factors concerning their perceived productivity and how the perceived importance of these factors differed between staff and student cohorts. Statistical analysis identified a total of 16 IEQ factors as important in affecting work productivity, and 15 of them, except cleanliness of the office, could be grouped into four categories: (1) thermal comfort and lighting; (2) acoustics and privacy comfort; (3) spatial comfort and (4) aesthetics and views. Based on the identified critical IEQ factors, a framework was developed and can be used by building facility managers and designers in the tertiary education sector to optimize design solutions to improve building performance that is more conducive to their occupants. The findings from this research can inform the inclusion of design features that will enable staff and students using these buildings to achieve better productivity.

The health and wellbeing effects of climate change events have gained much attention from decision makers and academia over the past decade. Using a systematic review approach, this paper aims to present an improved understanding of how different climate change events have impacted on people's health and/or wellbeing. A thorough review of 93 articles following a PRISMA and SALSA protocol revealed nine climate change events, of which heat waves and extreme ambient temperature were found to be closely associated with the most cited illnesses, including physical problems and failure of one's circulatory and respiratory systems. Age and gender are the critical factors among others that differentiate the effects of climate change on health. Although the formulation of heatwave response plans has been adopted in many countries, the findings of this study suggest that design for climate-adaptive built environments is of paramount importance. This paper provides insights into climate change adaption strategies from a health perspective. The findings can be used by disaster risk reduction (DRR) policymakers and practitioners to identify the areas to target in their climate change agenda in order to enhance the adaptive ability of communities.

With a plethora of digital technologies, and some having high capital and running costs, it is critical to know which of these give architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms a comparative advantage. Comparative advantage is measured using these metrics: higher project quality (Y1), productivity (Y2), ability to win tenders (Y3), and reputation (Y4), compared to AEC firms' nearest competitors. This study investigated which specific digital technologies give rise to a comparative advantage for adopters in the AEC sector. The research design was an online survey using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected from AEC professionals in Singapore. The research found that the adoption of five digital technologies is significantly associated with higher project quality, productivity, and reputation compared to AEC firms' nearest competitors. These 'super technologies' are cloud-based technology, design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA), Internet-of-Things (IoT), robotic technology, and artificial intelligence (AI). The study discovered some digital technologies that are not correlated with any comparative advantage metrics. The contribution to knowledge is the creation of the digital technology adoption model that potential adopters may use to help them decide which specific digital technologies to adopt to achieve comparative advantage. For firms that are already adopting digital technologies, the adoption model serves as a benchmarking tool to measure comparative advantage. The implication for practice is for potential adopters to zoom in on the 'super technologies' and eschew those that do not provide comparative advantages.

How are the indoor environment factors affecting the work productivity of office users in university buildings? Statistical analyses were undertaken on data probing building usage and self-reported indoor environment quality (IEQ) perception from a survey of 157 postgraduate students and 89 staff members at a university in New Zealand. Results of the partial least squares structural equational modelling confirmed the positive correlation among the IEQ within an office, the wellbeing and comfort as well as three dimensions of work productivity. IEQ factors relating to aesthetics and views were found to have the strongest effect on wellbeing and comfort as well as productivity for postgraduate students, whereas factors related to spatial and cleanliness are the most important for staff members. For both cohorts, the wellbeing and comfort in the office have significant direct effects on contextual performance, which indirectly further affects office users' ability in time management and task performance. The findings highlight the importance of the inclusion of design features that are productivity and wellbeing oriented across the building and the need for appropriate consultation with university office building users (e.g., students and staff) to achieve optimised design solutions.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to elicit the expectations for resilient post-disaster rebuilds from Caribbean project end-users. In anticipation of future climatological, meteorological, hydrological or geophysical disasters disaster, key stakeholders can articulate and incorporate strategies for resilience development, thus leading to improved end-users’ satisfaction and confidence. Design/methodology/approach This paper engages the results of a systematic literature review that identified 24 empirical resilience factors for post-disaster reconstruction projects. These factors informed a semi-structured questionnaire to elicit the perspectives of Caribbean end-users on a seven-point Likert scale. The quantitative analysis of both factor ranking and principal component analysis was performed to identify correlations and provides further interpretations on the desires of the end-users for resilient rebuilds. Findings The results presented in this paper highlight the collective perspectives on the Caribbean end-users on what they perceived to be aiding more resilient reconstruction projects. They identified reconstruction designs mindful of future hazards, policies that aid climate change mitigation, active assessment of key structures, readily available funding sources and ensuring stakeholder’s unbiased interest as the top-most empirical factors. Factor analysis suggested collaborations with inclusive training and multi-stakeholder engagement, critical infrastructure indexing and effective governance as the critical resilience development factors. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is first of its kind to explore the perspective of the Caribbean people regarding disaster reconstruction projects. It addresses developmental avenues for measurement indicators towards resilience monitoring and improvement. Additionally, the perspectives can provide construction industry professionals with tools for improved operational resilience objective-setting guidance, for Caribbean construction.

Life safety has been a primary design requirement in codes and standards for the built environment. However, over the past several years, better building performance goals that consider acceptable recovery times and continued functionality following major disasters have been advocated. Functional recovery, a new design philosophy that establishes holistic performance goals, and focuses on the robustness of structures, enhanced safety, and, specifically, fast return to operation post-disaster, has been introduced in earthquake engineering to govern future building designs. This article utilised the systematic review procedures as a tool to provide a state-of-the-art review of functional recovery research within the built environment. A critical review of 78 publications was conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. The evolution of paradigm shifts from seismic resilience to functional recovery in earthquake engineering research has been discussed in detail. Two frameworks, namely the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) P-58 and Arup's Resilience-Based Earthquake Design Initiative (REDi), have been recognised as the most commonly utilised frameworks for modelling the functional recovery of buildings post-earthquake due to their effectiveness and widespread adoption. However, it is essential to acknowledge that recently developed frameworks, such as the F-Rec framework, ATC-138, and TREADS, which explicitly formulate functional recovery calculation procedures, have the potential to replace FEMA P-58 and REDi and advance functional recovery research in the future. Moreover, aligned with modular-based characteristics of existing frameworks, indicators required in functional recovery analysis have been extracted and classified into four distinct categories: 1) hazard analysis, 2) structural response analysis, 3) damage analysis, and 4) recovery analysis. This categorisation enables a comprehensive and systematic approach to understanding the multifaceted aspects of functional recovery in a structured manner. Detailed investigation of frameworks and indicators offers insights for future research exploration. These include (a) expanding the fragility library of components to permit more widespread recovery analysis, (b) comparing, validating and optimising existing frameworks and models, (c) enhancing the modelling of interdependencies between the building and its adjacent buildings and services, (d) improving the capability for uncertainty analysis, and (e) acquiring empirical data to enable predictability of the existing frameworks and models for functional recovery.

The dynamics of construction processes pose significant challenges for workers to perceive, understand, and anticipate hazards on sites. Maintaining an adequate level of situation awareness (SA) is critical for safety. Recent years have seen increasing research interests in SA and digital technology (DT) in the construction safety field. However, there lacks a systematic review that elucidates the impacts of DT on workers’ cognitive processes involved in hazard identification. To fill the research gap, the paper aims to conceptualize the role of SA and DT in construction safety management and provide a theoretical basis for the future development of technology-enabled situation-aware construction safety management systems. This study employed a five-step systematic review approach with a scientometric analysis to provide an unbiased and comprehensive overview of research concerning SA in construction safety. The results suggested that current research on the cognitive processes related to hazard identification has been fragmented and has caused theoretical confusion. There is a need to develop a cognitive framework for hazard identification. Four specific research directions were recommended: (1) develop and validate a real-time SA measurement, (2) identify SA information requirements, (3) develop a cognitive model of hazard identification, and (4) develop a technology-enhanced SA system. By synthesizing the current literature, this review paper identified and analyzed the theoretical roles of SA and DT in worker hazard identification, shedding light on the potential for developing a technology-enabled situation-aware construction safety management system. It also offered a valuable perspective to review and re-design safety management practices.

Despite the benefits of digital technologies (DT) to enhance the performance of the construction industry, the implementation of DT in construction practice has lagged behind. Existing studies have extensively investigated the readiness of single DT, but with limited types of DT and a lack of practicability for construction practitioners. Based on a questionnaire survey, we developed a readiness model and a self-assessment tool for assessing DT readiness for construction companies. Among the 15 indicators of DT readiness surveyed, 'organizational culture', 'leadership and top management support' and 'top management's perception' were identified as the three most critical indicators. Using factor analysis and fuzzy synthetic evaluation approaches, the readiness model incorporates 15 critical indicators within two groups, quantified weightings, membership functions and criticality indices. The self-assessment tool was developed and validated to assess DT readiness for construction companies based on objective weightings, pinpointing where changes are needed in response to technological disruptions and digitalization transformation. This study incorporates both individual and organizational indicators in a novel organizational DT readiness model and provides a self-assessment tool for construction organizations when adopting multiple DT. The research outcomes can assist the decision-making resources for construction companies to plan and monitor their DT adoption process.