Emlyn Witt

Comparing Risk Transfers under Different Procurement Arrangements

Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) may be considered to represent a range of procurement routes characterized by the integration of many project elements into a single contract with an output-based pricing mechanism. At the other end of the same continuum of procurement routes are less integrated arrangements with more input-based pricing (‘traditional’ procurement). Risk transfer from the client to the contractor should vary with procurement route attribute values: with greater integration and more output-based pricing an increase in risk transfer would be expected. The more risk transferred to the contractor, the greater the incentive for the contractor to deliver the project efficiently. The paper proposes indicators of risk transfer and delivery efficiency which are then used in modeling the relationships between risk transfer, efficiency and procurement route attributes. The proposed model enables the mi croeconomic assumptions which underlie PPPs to be tested with data from historical construction projects in order to cast light on the effectiveness of the PPP approach.

A Framework for Managing Post-disaster Housing Reconstruction

Abstract The built environment is becoming progressively more complex and dynamic. These changes impose growing challenges on construction professionals in terms of disaster risk reduction. Construction innovations also have the potential to positively contribute to promoting disaster resilience and mitigating climate change. This initial investigation of the case studies from the literature focuses on the development of a general framework for the effective organisation and management of post-disaster housing reconstruction. The framework developed enables data collection for further investigative studies in order to improve management practices in future housing reconstruction programmes.

Towards Nearly Zero-energy Buildings through Analyzing Reasons for Degradation of Facades

Abstract Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings offer one way to reduce energy use in the built environment and thus contribute to mitigating global climate change. This paper is focused on analyzing the reasons for degradation of External Insulation Composite system facades in order to develop sustainable and cost-effective solutions for dwelling stock renovation. While several reasons for degradation of the facades have been studied in depth, the impact of building technology and site management have received undeservedly little attention. This paper systemizes the factors affecting facade quality and proposes a research plan for on-site surveillance in order to measure the weight of different degradation factors.

Mapping Construction Industry Roles to the Disaster Management Cycle

Abstract The construction industry is central to the promotion of disaster resilience through building procurement, design, construction, etc. It plays a key role in responding to disasters - dealing with collapsed and damaged buildings and infrastructure and providing temporary shelter and services to affected communities - and also in post-disaster reconstruction efforts. This research identifies the disaster resilience roles of construction professionals on the basis of the literature and maps these to the disaster management cycle in order to draw on the emerging framework to determine potential construction industry education and research opportunities associated with the pursuit of societal disaster resilience.

Comparative Analysis of Current Guidance for the Evaluation of Building Retrofit Investments

Abstract The built environment must adapt to a rapidly changing context and, since buildings have relatively long lives, this must primarily be achieved through retrofitting the existing building stock rather than by replacing it. We therefore need robust approaches to evaluating the cost-effectiveness of retrofit investments.Some guidance for performing investment appraisals of building retrofit proposals is available for specific types of retrofit, for example, the economic evaluation procedure for energy systems in buildings in the form of the EN 15459 standard. In this preliminary study, three existing evaluation methods are reviewed and compared. On this basis, recommendations for the development of a robust, general approach to the financial and economic evaluation of building retrofits are made.

Towards a framework for closer university-industry collaboration in educating built environment professionals

Recent reports suggest that even the current industry skills needs are not being adequately met with graduate capabilities falling short of industry expectations. If higher education institutions (HEIs) are to respond effectively to the current and future challenges, a robust conceptual appreciation of the education-industry skills context is required in order to support recommendations and, ultimately, interventions. A conceptual framework aimed at addressing the ‘mismatch’ between the skills requirements of industry and the competences of graduates in the built environment sector was derived. A series of surveys was undertaken on the basis of the derived framework. It was intended that the findings from the surveys would enable the framework to be refined and validated. However, some of the findings suggest that the originally derived conceptual framework does not adequately represent the complexity of the professional learning context and it is not feasible to refine it. This paper describes the conceptual framework which was derived, highlights selected findings from surveys which indicate its inadequacy and then draws on the contemporary literature of higher education futures to discuss the implications for a more representative framework. Recommendations for a closer representation of the education-industry context and for further research directions are made.