Sabah Alkass

Construction delay analysis techniques

Construction projects continue to suffer delays. Things go wrong and the projects completion date gets pushed back, with someone to be blamed for it. In practice, attempts are made to identify the causes of delays and schedules are modified to incorporate revised duration and new project time. The analysis itself is usually complex and can be aided by a computerized approach. This paper discusses different delay analysis techniques that are currently used by practitioners in the construction industry. It also discusses a proposed new delay analysis technique called the Isolated Delay Type (IDT). These techniques were tested against a case example and their strengths and weaknesses highlighted. The new technique can be used as a standalone module for delay analysis or could be incorporated within a computer system for construction delay analysis and claims preparation called Computerized Delay Claims Analysis (CDCA) that integrates different software including an expert system and management software such...

Computer aided construction delay analysis and claims preparation

Delays are the most common and costly problem encountered on construction projects. Analysing construction delays has become an integral part of the projects construction life. To prepare for litigation, schedule documentation proving responsibility must be prepared. With present methods of tracking projects, the preparation of such schedules can be time consuming and costly. The analysis itself is usually complex and can be aided by a computerized approach. This paper describes the introduction of a computer system for delays claim analysis called computerized delay claims analysis (CDCA). The system utilizes the isolated delay type (IDT) technique. Part of this system can use existing software such as project management, cost control, database management and spreadsheets. In addition to these, an expert system tailored to the specific expertise of construction claims has been used to facilitate the decision making process. CDCA is tested against a real case study of a building project to demonstrate it...

Web-based integrated project control system

This paper presents a system that supports project time and cost control in an integrated manner. The system utilizes object‐oriented modelling to represent the process of project delivery. A set of control objects is designed to map the process of project control. Eighteen key indicators are considered to represent the resources utilized in each control object and serve as sensors to highlight problematic areas associated with unfavourable performance. A Three‐Tier Client/Sever computer system is designed to implement the developed system. Daily, weekly, monthly and/or yearly, period‐by‐period, and cumulative to‐date project performance reports are generated to provide the status at project, control object and resource levels. An example drawn from the literature is analysed to allow for comparison with the results obtained using the proposed methodology. The example also serves the purpose of demonstrating the use of the proposed system and illustrating its essential features.

An algorithm for mobile crane selection and location on construction sites

This paper presents a newly developed algorithm for selecting and locating mobile cranes on construction sites. The algorithm is incorporated into a computer system that integrates a selection module and three databases, dedicated respectively, for cranes, rigging equipment, and projects’ information. This paper focuses primarily on the selection module and its algorithm to support an efficient search for most suitable crane configurations and their associated lift settings. Data pertinent to crane lift configurations and settings are retrieved from the databases and processed to determine the near optimum selection of a crane configuration. The developed selection module features powerful graphics capabilities and a practical user‐friendly interface, designed to facilitate the considerations of user imposed lift and site constraints. The selection algorithm has been implemented within the crane selection module using MS‐Visual Basic programming language. A case example is presented in order to demonstrate the use of the developed selection module and to illustrate its essential features.

Decision support method for multi‐criteria selection of bridge rehabilitation strategy

Bridge management is the decision‐making process for selecting and prioritizing the actions necessary to maintain a bridge within acceptable limits of safety and serviceability. The current decision‐making approach for bridge management is based on optimizing the life cycle cost of the structure. This is a single criterion decision‐making process which does not include the indirect impact of the maintenance, repair and replacement actions. Sound bridge management decisions should be made through balanced consideration of multiple and conflicting criteria. This requirement motivated the development of a multi‐criteria decision support method for bridge deck management. The method is based on a modified analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to evaluate and rank alternative bridge rehabilitation strategies. The modified AHP provides an effective analytical tool to deal with complex decision making and has the following features: (1) multi‐criteria decision‐making process; (2) accounts for the uncertainty associated with the pairwise comparison values; and (3) provides a sensitive evaluation of consistency in judgements. The proposed decision support method is a rational decision‐making technique for bridge management. The method practicality and validity is demonstrated using a real case study from the industry.

A multi‐attribute ranking method for bridge management

Purpose – A bridge network is a major capital asset that requires continuing investment in order to maintain the network within acceptable limits of safety and serviceability. Ranking and prioritizing procedures have been widely used by several departments of transportation to select bridges for intervention and to distribute the available funds among competing projects. The available ranking and prioritizing procedures have various drawbacks, and an improved, rational ranking and prioritizing procedure is needed. The paper aims to address these issues.Design/methodology/approach – The requirements and characteristics of an innovative ranking and prioritizing method are identified during interviews with professionals involved in bridge management. Based on these requirements, multi‐attribute utility theory (MAUT) is selected to develop the method. A technique to develop utility functions based on the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is discussed. A hierarchy structure that captures the decision‐making e...

Internet‐based database management system for project control

Purpose – The objective of this paper is to develop an efficient project management system to track and control construction activities for contractors and/or project managers.Design/methodology/approach – The work package model is utilized to break down project data into activities and work tasks. The data structure of a project is represented using the entities‐relationship methodology. A relational database stores all of the project data. The earned value method calculates the cost and schedule variances. The internet‐based platform with three‐tier client‐server architecture is chosen for system implementation.Findings – The developed project database stores all of the project data necessary to perform project control functions. The implementation of the project database management system is efficient. The developed system provides real‐time data sharing and a collaborating environment in support of project control.Originality/value – Time and cost control are essential management functions for achievi...

Construction contractor's claims analysis: An integrated system approach

In practice, attempts have been made to identify the cause of delays and to modify schedules, to incorporate revised durations and determine new project times. Professor of Construction Studies at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, UK, Frank Harris, and Sabah Alkass, Assistant Professor at Concordia University, Quebec, present an integrated computerized system that aids in the analysis of claims resulting from delays.

Development of an integrated system for planning earthwork operations in road construction

The objectives of existing computer programming methods of earthwork systems optimization in road construction have generally been either to minimize cost or maximize profit. However, the required computer memory needed is generally excessive and, moreover, the method demands a prior knowledge of the cost of transporting a unit of material along a given haul distance. As a consequence, the equipment resources would, by implication, have already been decided upon. Inexperienced personnel are clearly unable to reach this decision. This paper describes the development of an integrated system that combines earthwork allocation with the selection of equipment for road construction. Knowledge and experience possessed by planning engineers and equipment specialists has been captured and interpreted in a form suitable for manipulation by computer programs. The validity of the model is demonstrated by applying it to a real case study to provide an additional tool to management in deciding the earthwork allocation ...

A probabilistic methodology for bridge deck condition assessment

Condition assessment is an essential step in bridge management. Various techniques are currently used during the inspection of a bridge to assess the conditions of bridge elements. Data collected through inspection is used to make important decisions regarding needs assessment and budgetallocation. However, inspection data is at best subjective and associated with uncertainty. This tends to create problems in the decision-making process. This paper presents a methodology to minimise the effect of such problems on the assessment of bridge decks condition. A bridge deck condition index is developed based on the remaining value of deteriorated quantities. A methodology is proposed that uses the fuzzy number concept and the Monte Carlo simulation technique to rate the deck condition taking into account the subjectivity and the uncertainty issues in the inspection process. The proposed methodology benefits from the bridge deck inspections current practice. It produces a probabilistic rating that is consistent...