Vian Ahmed

Use of a simulation game in delivering blended lifelong learning in the construction industry - Opportunities and Challenges

Continuing professional development (CPD) and life-long learning are vital to both individual and organisational success. For higher education, the intensive resource requirements requisite in the development of e-learning content and the challenges in accommodating different learning styles, developing an e-learning program can be a resource intensive exercise. A blended learning program has been developed in Ireland in an attempt to address the CPD needs of Irish construction professionals. This initiative attempts to strike a balance between the considerable resources required in the development of an e-learning initiative while addressing staff concerns in integrating technology in the delivery of programs. This pilot explores the issues encountered in integrating a simulation game, called MERIT, on a module as part of this blended learning program. The key finding from this research indicates that simulation games can play a very effective role in the delivery of lifelong learning opportunities aimed at the construction industry. However, management of the integration of a simulation game into a program requires careful planning, establishing key milestone dates and encouraging online collaboration through assigning of marks for effort and use of voice over IP communications.

Lessons learned from a case study in deploying blended learning continuing professional development

Purpose – This paper seeks to propose a framework for higher education institutions facing the challenge of developing and deploying continuing professional development in the construction industry using a blended learning approach. The focus in on institutions that have not previously engaged in delivery of programmes using a combination of both traditional and distance learning formats.Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on literature on the use of technology in the delivery of lifelong learning, a case analysis of a newly deployed blended learning programme is presented.Findings – This paper illustrates that construction professionals undertaking blended learning programmes can engage with a range of ICT technologies and the integration of these technologies can make for an effective programme.Research limitations/implications – The case study is limited by its small and potentially non‐representative sample and should be viewed as a first step in the formulation of a framework for deploying continui...

Requirements Engineering for Innovative Integrated ICT Systems for the Construction Industry

Collaborative working using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) systems in construction has become a reality as many activities are performed globally with actors located in various geographical locations. Computer Integrated Construction (CIC) is the type of ICT system that binds a fragmented and geographically distributed set of construction stakeholders collaborating together. Although the concept of CIC has been the subject of research for many years, its uptake has been very limited due to the development of the technology and its effective implementation. Research in this area is still premature and does not pay much attention to the development and implementation of the prototypes in the industry. As a result, the research developments have remained as prototypes although they have captured industrial interest. However, ongoing research within the field of construction IT is stressing that it is crucial to define research methodologies for human centred and adaptive CIC developments th...

Understanding Sustainability: A View from Intra-organizational Leadership within UK Construction Organizations

There is an increasing demand from UK construction industry stakeholders to address the issue of sustainable construction. As a key sector in the delivery of a sustainable built environment, the construction industry needs to have a clear understanding of the sustainability concept in order to fully play such important role. However, intra-organizational leadership within construction organizations charged with the promotion of sustainability practices in the construction industry often describes the sustainability concept as an environmen- tal issue only. The study presents the results of a mixed method research approach involving semi-structured interviews followed by an industry-wide survey of 200 intra-organizational leaders in UK contractor and con- sultant organizations. The analysis of the results showed that, despite the understanding that sustainability incorporates environmental, social and economic issues; the environmental dimension dominates in the UK construction industry. This study provides the empirical evidence that links intra-organizational leadership and their understanding of sustainability.

A Generic Framework for the Development of Standardised Learning Objects within the Discipline of Construction Management

Abstract E-learning has occurred in the academic world in different forms since the early 1990s. Its use varies from interactive multimedia tools and simulation environments to static resources within learning management systems. E-learning tools and environments are no longer criticised for their lack of use in higher education in general and within the construction domain in particular. The main criticism, however, is that of reinventing the wheel in order to create new learning environments that cater for different educational needs. Therefore, sharing educational content has become the focus of current research, taking e-learning into a whole new era of developments. This era is enabled by the emergence of new technologies (online and wireless) and the development of educational standards, such as SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) and LOM (Learning Object Metadata) for example. Accordingly, the broad definition of the construction domain and the interlocking nature of subjects taught within this domain, makes the concept of sharing content most appealing. This paper proposes a framework developed to describe the various steps required in order to enable the application of e-learning metadata standards and ontology for sharable learning objects to serve the construction discipline. The paper further describes the application of the proposed framework to a case study for developing an online environment for learning objects that are standardised, sharable, transparent and that cater for the needs of learners, educators and curricula developers in Construction Management. Based on the framework, a learning objects repository is developed incorporating educational and web standards. The repository manages objects as well as metadata using ontology and offers a set of services such as storing, retrieving and searching of learning objects using Semantic Web technologies. Thus, it increases the reusability, sharability and interoperability of learning objects.

Addressing the Lifelong Learning Needs of Construction Professionals Using Technology Facilitated Learning

Abstract The construction industry is one of the key drivers of any economy. Continuing professional development (CPD) and life-long learning are vital to both individual and organizational success. This need has been recognized by both the construction industry and higher education. In higher education changes that can be identified are the need to become more flexible in the delivery of lifelong learning opportunities to meet the requirements of construction professionals and the need to integrate e-learning technology in the delivery of these programmes. Given the work and personal demands of busy construction professionals, accessing CPD opportunities is often difficult. The development of e-learning content and e-learning programmes, together with the challenges in accommodating different learning styles, can be a resource intensive exercise for higher education. Many initiatives in the development of e-learning fall into the trap of “one size fits all” approach, which fails to recognize individuals have different learning styles. The deployment and integration of technology facilitated learning presents staff with a number of new challenges, including acquiring new skills and changing the way instruction must be delivered. A blended learning programme has been developed in Ireland in an attempt to address the CPD needs of Irish construction professionals. This initiative attempts to strike a balance between the considerable resources required in the development of an e-learning initiative, while addressing staff concerns in integrating technology in the delivery of programmes. How this initiative addresses these challenges are outlined and the experiences to date are highlighted.

An Ontology of Construction Education for E-learning via the Semantic Web

Abstract Recent developments in technologies make the World Wide Web more intelligent and provide higher-level services to its users through the Semantic Web. The Semantic Web is an extension of the current World Wide Web, promoting information that is intended not only for human readers, but also can be processed by machines, enabling intelligent information services and semantically empowered search engines. This has a number of important implications for Web-based education, since Web-based education has become an important branch of educational technology. Although this technology is relatively new with limited use within various educational domains, its potential has not yet been explored within the construction education domain. The integration of the Semantic Web will provide platform independence and intelligence in Web-based educational applications for construction education and a solution to e-learning tools that have become redundant as a result of the fast developments in technologies. This paper gives an overview of the development of e-learning in construction, highlighting the key pedagogical and technical concepts and enablers to Semantic Web technology. The paper also describes an approach adopted for the development of ‘ontology’ within the construction domain and its integration to define the educational content, both semantically and pedagogically to enable a platform-independent architecture for both learners and educators.

Process innovation in partnering: A framework for aligning organizational cultures in the Malaysian construction industry

Partnering has been formally introduced in the Malaysian construction industry since the year 2009 as a measure to cure the industrys many diseases. Although the Public Private Partnership Unit (3PU) and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia has proposed their own models for partnering, these models do not address the need for similarity in organizational cultures among partnering organizations to ensure partnering success as suggested by several studies. In response to this challenge, and consistent with the requirements of the construction industry to perform better in terms of innovation and productivity, this paper aims to propose a framework for enabling the partnering process which meets the needs of different organizational culture within the Malaysian construction industry. The framework is based on the findings from a recent postgraduate study on the engagement of Malaysian construction firms in partnering practices. The findings concluded that although the government has made the effort in introducing partnering, the industry has not fully embraced this method due to dissimilarities in organizational culture among firms involved and several partnering enablers are yet to be present in the industry.

Leadership, culture and sustainable built environment

Purpose– Adopting sustainable construction practices minimizes the overall environmental impact of the built asset throughout its whole life. Currently, there is demand from key stakeholders in the construction industry for organization to deliver sustainable built environment, however, leaders/champions within construction organizations charged with the adoption of sustainable construction practices face many challenges. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of an investigation into the challenges facing intra-organizational leaders charged with the promotion of sustainable construction practices. Design/methodology/approach– Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interview with 15 leaders, followed by an industry-wide survey of 200 intra-organizational leaders in contractor and consultant organizations in the UK construction industry. Findings– The results revealed that increased capital cost is the most significant challenge facing construction organizations in attempt to adopt sustainability practices in the delivery of construction projects. Originality/value– This study provides the empirical evidence linking leadership within construction organizations and sustainability; filling the gap in literature and serving as a source of reference material for higher education programmes in the built environment. Keywords: Challenges, UK, Sustainable construction, Sustainability practices, Construction organizations

The future of big data in facilities management :opportunities and challenges

Purpose This paper aims to explore the current condition of the Big Data concept with its related barriers, drivers, opportunities and perceptions in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry with an emphasis on facilities management (FM). Design/methodology/approach Following a comprehensive literature review, the Big Data concept was investigated through two scoping workshops with industry experts and academics. Findings The value in data analytics and Big Data is perceived by the industry, yet the industry needs guidance and leadership. Also, the industry recognises the imbalance between data capturing and data analytics. Large IT vendors’ developing AEC industry-focused analytics solutions and better interoperability among different vendors are needed. The general concerns for Big Data analytics mostly apply to the AEC industry as well. Additionally, however, the industry suffers from a structural fragmentation for data integration with many small-sized companies operating in its supply chains. This paper also identifies a number of drivers, challenges and way-forwards that calls for future actions for Big Data in FM in the AEC industry. Originality/value The nature of data in the business world has dramatically changed over the past 20 years. This phenomenon is often broadly dubbed as “Big Data” with its distinctive characteristics, opportunities and challenges. Some industries have already started to effectively exploit “Big Data” in their business operations. However, despite many perceived benefits, the AEC industry has been slow in discussing and adopting the Big Data concept. Empirical research efforts investigating Big Data for the AEC industry are also scarce. This paper aims at outlining the benefits, challenges and future directions (what to do) for Big Data in the AEC industry with an FM focus.