Building Information Modeling (BIM) is widely used in the AEC industry. With BIM, project stakeholders can coordinate and manage the information using 3-dimentional models throughout the project lifecycle. To apply BIM, innovative measures need to be implemented at the company and project level, and such measures may include the reengineering of the process and business structure, the establishment of hardware and software infrastructure, and training of their employees. China’s construction market has continued to grow and its construction industry accounts for a large portion of China’s gross domestic product (GDP). There are currently no BIM application standards or regulations for Chinese construction companies, however, the Chinese construction industry and the government have realized the benefits of BIM and are actively promoting the application of this technology. This research aims to gather data from the construction management team of the Tianjin Chou Tai Fook Finical Center project, standing 530 m tall as the eighth tallest building in the world in Tianjin, China, to identify the benefits, challenges, and experience for implementation of BIM in the project.

Today more houses are being built to rely solely on air conditioning as the only means of cooling a home. This research study explored methods available that may help minimize energy consumption and reduce reliance on mechanical cooling through passive cooling while focusing on retrofit options for existing residential buildings and energy-saving considerations for new residential construction in the United States of America. The data of this research was collected through literature review, a combination of an online survey and interviews on individuals' experiences with air conditioning, and an interview with an electrical energy provider managing weatherization home improvements.

The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the challenges faced during the project definition, design, construction, and maintenance phase of mechanical systems projects for new Data Centers or existing Data Centers. Construction industry professionals, design professionals, data center management, and engineering personnel were surveyed. The survey questionnaire comprised of 27 questions and focused on the following themes: general information and respondent's area of knowledge and experience, overall management challenges in data centers, challenges specific to data center mechanical systems, standard management practices and processes employed in data center mechanical projects and recommendation and suggestions to arrive at best management practices in mechanical systems projects for data centers. The results of the survey were evaluated to arrive at best management practices to better assist in building reliable data centers.

The construction industry in North America is faced with the ongoing task of incorporating new technologies and management methods into their operations.New technologies and methods generally receive acceptance very slowly due to a number of factors.The risk of applying a new or unproven technology or method is sometimes perceived as being too high.Trenchless methods allow inspection, access, repair, expansion, upgrade, and installation of most underground infrastructure systems with minimum surface disruption.The tools that trenchless technologies offer range from robots to microtunneling and from closed-circuit television to cured in-place lining.The ability to select from these approaches is hinged from knowing what is available in the market that will meet each owner's particular needs.Knowing what advantages and disadvantages that the trenchless technology offers will provide an advantage to reach the right decision when selecting the appropriate approach.This research provides information on the advantages and disadvantages trenchless provides in five (5) areas, environmental, safety, traffic, business and cost impacts.

This paper explores the history behind the international movement for greater climate control and how this progression has influenced modern green building technology. From Greek Hypocaust systems to Mexican pueblos, many cultures have succeeded in manipulating their built environment. How have these seemingly simple concepts transformed modern society and the building industry as a whole? What lessons in geographical adaptive architecture have been overlooked in our desire to control our environment? How can these concepts be applied to modern technology to create a more sustainable construction infrastructure? These questions are explored to provide a greater understanding of how trends toward isolated control are exponential in relative cost and energy use. The future of climate manipulation is hypothesized to be in a melange of historical precedents and modern technology, interwoven to create comfortable but innovative solutions that require less work, money, and energy. (C) Published by Elsevier Ltd.

The RICS COBRA Conference is held annually. The aim of COBRA is to provide a platform for the dissemination of original research and new developments within the specific disciplines, sub-disciplines or field of study of: Management of the construction process • Cost and value management • Building technology • Legal aspects of construction and procurement • Public private partnerships • Health and safety • Procurement • Risk management • Project management The built asset • Property investment theory and practice • Indirect property investment • Property market forecasting • Property pricing and appraisal • Law of property, housing and land use planning • Urban development • Planning and property markets • Financial analysis of the property market and property assets • The dynamics of residential property markets • Global comparative analysis of property markets • Building occupation • Sustainability and real estate • Sustainability and environmental law • Building performance The property industry • Information technology • Innovation in education and training • Human and organisational aspects of the industry • Alternative dispute resolution and conflict management • Professional education and training Peer review process All papers submitted to COBRA were subjected to a double-blind (peer review) refereeing process. Referees were drawn from an expert panel, representing respected academics from the construction and building research community. The conference organisers wish to extend their appreciation to the following members of the panel for their work, which is invaluable to the success of COBRA. Abstract This paper is based on a doctoral research that aims to investigate how women's needs can be mainstreamed into disaster risk reduction in the built environment. The paper reviews literature to emphasise the importance of gender mainstreaming in disaster risk reduction and presents the findings of the study's literature review and its pilot interviews. Methodology of the overall research is briefly explained in addition to the methods used to prepare this paper. Literature suggests that women face different conditions in disasters due to their different social roles and responsibilities and as a result, women have different needs in disaster risk reduction. In fulfilling the needs of women in disaster risk reduction, the built environment performs a significant role. In this context, it is identified that gender mainstreaming can integrate a gender perspective into disaster risk reduction in the built environment and identify the varying needs and vulnerabilities of women. The paper presents its findings to indicate that …

This research involves creating and testing a standard “kit design” containing framing materials and instructions necessary to build sustainable houses for the indigenous Gnobe people of Panama. In previous research, ***** University Master of Building Construction students initially developed a tube steel framed sustainable house design for the Gnobe people. The structure utilized steel tube framing supported by shallow concrete footings, a concrete slab, a pitched metal roof, and the flexibility to choose various wall materials. This initial design was constructed in Cieneguita, Panama in May 2017 by a collaborative service team of missionaries and students enrolled in a service learning course at ****** *******. Following the construction of the initial steel frame design in Panama, a succeeding *** student refined the construction details of the aforementioned tube steel house and developed a “kit design” for ease and expediency of construction. A prototype of this refined structure design was assembled at a location near ******, *******. Construction of the prototype allowed to learn lessons on constructability, explore environmental barriers, and finalize the list of components and instructions for the kit. The completed structure also provided hands-on training for *** Construction Management students and mission teams who will later construct these houses in Panama. Students in future service learning classes in **’s program will implement the sustainable housing kits in Panama with the help of local mission teams. Several churches hope to build 50 houses over the next five years for the Gnobe people by implementing these economical and sustainable kits. In addition to these advantages provided by these housing kits, they also provide higher quality compared to current building practices in this region of the jungle. By repeating the same basic construction assembly, the students, mission teams, and Gnobe people will gain efficiency in construction, providing the people of Panama with more housing compared with other means of construction.

Many study abroad classes typically provide opportunities for students to travel and learn about different cultures in developed countries. The overwhelming majority of American students study abroad in Western Europe and Australia. However, the cost, duration, and timing of these classes, often prevent some students from being able to participate during their undergraduate education. In order to help alleviate these common barriers, two faculty members at XXXXX University designed and implemented a 10-day Service-Learning class to Quito, Ecuador. An international Service-Learning class is defined as: "A structured academic experience in another country in which students (a) participate in an organized service activity that addresses identified community needs; (b) learn from direct interaction and cross-cultural dialogue with others; and (c) reflect on the experience in such a way as to gain a deeper appreciation of the host country and, an enhanced sense of their own responsibilities as citizens, locally and globally" (Bringle et al 2011). The class was designed to appeal to students who would not have otherwise considered studying abroad. In order to minimize the cost and curriculum disruption, the program fee was limited to $2,500 and the 10 days coincided with the students’ academic spring break. Academic credit was not offered in the 2010 initial class, but since 2012 – 2017, the class has been offered as a construction elective within the xxxxxx curriculum. The students and faculty typically work with a community construction project, usually an after school care center for 200-350 underprivileged children, consisting of a 4-story, 30,000-sf concrete framed building. Students are given the opportunity to work on an Ecuadorian construction site using rudimentary tools and methods in order to serve an underprivileged population. This paper describes the design, implementation and evolution of this International Service-Learning class and international experience offered in the construction management curriculum.