Architecture, Building and Planning - Research Publications
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ItemThe unintended consequences of novated design construct procurement and the impact on the education of graduate architects in Victoria(Architectural Science Association, 2023)In the practice of the building industry, Novated Design and Construct (NDC) contracts have gained widespread usage and are well-established in the Victorian market across many building classifications. This study draws insights from a comprehensive approach that includes interviews, desktop research, transcript analysis, and key takeaways from ongoing research. A notable concern arises from the bespoke nature of NDC Contracts, which demands a nuanced understanding of their contents and associated risks. This prompts a critical examination of the architecture profession's foundation, debunking the notion of the lone genius designer. Instead, the evolving role casts architects as both designers and coordinators of documentation, carrying shared liability. This paradigm shift necessitates an expanded education framework, beyond the current confines, warranting the development of a structured 'apprenticeship' model. Over the past three decades, the construction industry has undergone profound transformations, resulting in heightened complexity to construct the built environment. To comprehend this complexity, the prevailing siloed discussions and contract author-centric approaches must be disrupted. It is imperative that education, both initial and ongoing, equips professionals with the requisite skills to thrive in an evolving remodelling. This research underscores the urgency for adaptive education, ensuring that architects are adept at navigating intricate contracts and industry dynamics, thus promoting architectural practices and an improved built environment.
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ItemImproving student engagement in learning and assessment activities using peer-to-peer feedback(AUBEA, 2023)Peer review assessment feedback practices are part of the contemporary trend of active learning methodologies to improve student engagement in learning and assessment activities. With the increasing importance of active learning and the challenges posed by remote learning due to COVID-19, this research offers valuable insights into crafting efficient peer assessment systems. Concerns about students' evaluative abilities, power dynamics, willingness to engage, and resource limitations were raised. Moreover, factors such as the level of anonymity, the weighting of the assessment, and the provision of training for students need to be addressed. This research reviewed best practices in the literature to develop a framework and tested an approach using a pilot study conducted in the Master of Construction Management Program at the University of Melbourne using the FeedbackFruits software tool. Surveys and focus groups are used with students, in addition to teacher reflections, then yielded several implications and recommendations for implementing peer review assessment. These include understanding student needs, testing the effectiveness of collaborative peer review assessment, and enabling assessments to close the feedback loop by giving them incentives to use and evaluate the quality of the feedback they receive. The findings can help educators make informed decisions about designing peer-review assessment processes that meet students' learning needs.
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ItemReducing rework to enhance the sustainability of building projects(Graduate Associate Professionals, 2022-12-16)One of the definitions of rework is reported to be ‘the unnecessary effort of re-doing a process or activity that was incorrectly implemented the first time’. Construction rework contributes to time and cost overruns in building projects. The costs of rework in building projects can be calculated using different ways looking at construction contract value or based only in construction direct costs, excluding items like profits, overheads, and other management costs. This research looked at a Total Field Rework Factor (TFRF) indicator based on direct costs suggested Construction Industry Institute (CII). Looking at 437 different projects, the value of TFRF was 7.4% in average, with a maximum of 17.5% in nine Design and Construct projects. Minimising rework is a part of the quality management process, and every sustainable building project must consider it. This article aims to identify new management process to help reducing building construction rework making a contribution to improve the sustainability of the project. We reviewed and analysed the applicability and implication of Knowledge Management techniques and Lean principles specific to building construction projects. We also discuss the potential interventions in the building construction industry and practical implementations to enhance the sustainability of the buildings.
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ItemPhysical environment as a factor in schools’ performance and efficiency: A review of previous research(Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA), 2022-12-02)The physical environment can considerably influence the efficiency and functionalities of facilities and spaces. Some recent studies examining schools’ efficiency consider several factors such as human capital, parents' socioeconomic background, perceptions of teachers and parents towards schools, and financial status. However, very few studies have investigated the influences of schools' physical environment and facilities on their efficiency and students’ academic performance. This research aims to review the recent studies on factors influencing schools’ efficiency and student academic performance, and the importance accorded to physical environment. The research database, Scopus, is searched using combinations of relevant keywords and various studies that identify the influencing factors. A preliminary analysis of most of these studies indicates that the physical environment's influence on school performance appears peripheral. However, it was identified that physical environment, facilities, and services influence students’ academic performance directly and indirectly. One of the limitations highlighted was that many of the studies, which include the physical environment factors in examining schools’ efficiency, were based on a single country. The studies were mainly focused on the USA, and only a handful was based on Australia and the rest of the world. This paper identifies the need for more such studies that can contribute to bridging the knowledge on the efficiency drivers of the schools. A better understanding of the drivers for better school performance is needed to lead to an efficient allocation of funding, particularly for public schools in Australia.
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ItemRepertory Grid Methodology to Research Tacit Knowledge in Construction(IOP Publishing, 2022-01-01)Abstract Quality and buildability are important issues in construction, and both emerge at the earliest stages of design. However, neither are well-defined concepts. Our premise is that behaviour, values and culture impact on quality and buildability in the design stage, but these are also vulnerable to precise definition and difficult to investigate within a typical hypothesis-driven positivist approach. A better method may lie in a theory of personal constructs or ‘constructivism’ which takes the human experience as a whole. Qualitative research methods and data collection techniques are critically reviewed to assess those methods best fitted for purpose in approaching the research problem. Personal Construct Psychology (PCP), using repertory grids emerges as a suitable candidate and is applied in two pilot studies in Australia and Singapore. Preliminary results show the appropriateness of the approach for engaging in buildability studies.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableManaging the risks associated with remote learning project implementation(CIB, 2022)Academic institutions have faced substantial issues and difficulties since the novel coronavirus disease became pandemic. Traditional class attendance-based pedagogy rapidly became compromised, and universities were forced into alternative ways of delivering learning to students whom themselves faced restrictions, even to the point of not even being able to enter the countries where they had enrolled for their studies. In the haste to implement projects for alternative learning delivery systems, there was little time to develop proactive approaches to project risk management for such implementation. By default, delivery risks were addressed re-actively, and a “lessons learned” post-implementation approach prevailed. Two case studies have been used to explore risk management practices used in alternative learning delivery environments. The findings show emerging teaching and learning dynamics, particularly with risk-managing delivery of course learning experience and content quality. Lessons learnt are summarised, and recommendations are drawn.
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ItemBuilding circularity in infrastructure and commercial construction(Deakin University, 2021-10-28)This paper discusses issues, challenges and opportunities to engage with circularity and the circular economy in the property construction and infrastructure sectors. In particular when looking at procurement delivery methods in which operational expenditure (Opex) can offset higher upfront expenditure (Capex). Opportunities are here discussed for governments and the private sector to increase their environmental credentials and project performance. At the heart of this lies engaging with values for circularity through procurement. Two whole of life-cycle procurement methods are discussed in relation to opportunities including Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Build to Rent (BTR), each presents opportunities for Value for Money (VfM); increased project quality; and reduction of carbon footprint and waste in building and infrastructure projects. This paper concludes with an argument on business opportunities with circularity and whole-of-life-cycle (WoL) in mind. And reminds of the moral and ethical responsibility to all property, construction and infrastructure stakeholders.
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ItemAugmented Reality adoption in the Australian construction industry: A qualitative framework(Deakin University, 2021)The adoption of innovative technologies in the construction industry has provided significant benefits to the industry. In Australia, the use of innovative construction technologies has grown increasingly over the past decade and received a significant increase in the level of adoption in construction site activities due to the recent pandemic. One technology that is receiving additional attention to be beneficial to the industry is Augmented Reality (AR). However, its current level of adoption is still very limited due to several reasons the theoretically advantages are not yet well received by the practitioners. To address this gap, this study aimed at investigating the low-level adoption and widespread use of AR technology in the Australian construction industry. To this end, semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore perceptions of the use of AR technology and its limitations from end-users perspectives and managers of construction companies in particular. As a result, a model is presented to map the influential factors and barriers to the adoption of AR. Findings revealed several concepts including lack of knowledge about AR, conservative management attitudes, absence of feasibility analysis, operability and work culture as factors influencing AR adoption in the industry. Moreover, the model provides a basis to direct future research on the topic.
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ItemKnowledge Management Systems in construction: a case study in the Portuguese industry(The Architectural Science Association and The University of Adelaide, 2016)Knowledge Management Systems (KMS) are a structured framework for the retention and application of organisational knowledge. The costs of investment in KMS can be high and such systems need to be well planned to increase the likelihood of success. KMS in construction companies have been analysed in the last decade by both industry and academia to identify the best solutions for successful implementation. This research reports on a comparative case study in Portugal on the perception of KMS by construction professionals, architecture and engineering consultants and consultants in the business, information technology, and communication sectors. This comparison helped to identify the lessons learned in sectors where KMS are successfully developed and transpose this learning to the construction industry. Research data was obtained through semi-structured interviews encompassing professionals, Operational Managers, Project Managers and technical experts to ensure that a broad range of views was obtained. Findings demonstrate that for a KMS to be effective and successful in the construction industry, the system should be seen as integrated rather than external. This paper identifies the need to prepare a successful KMS in organisational culture with a strategy and identification of values of knowledge into an integrated organisational process.
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ItemMobile Communication Technologies and the Work-Life Balance of Construction Managers(Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, 2016)The work-life balance of construction managers is precarious due to long work hours and high levels of work-family conflict (WFC). The impact of mobile communication technologies (MCT), such as the mobile phones and tablets, on WFC has not been researched in construction. Research suggests that their use contributes to the blurring of work and non-work boundaries, making it easier for work to intrude on home activities. This research examined the effect of MCT usage on the WFC of Australian construction site managers. An online survey of site management staff with a national construction company ascertained WFC and MCT usage and investigated psychological attachment to work, segmentation preferences (between home and work) and segmentation supplies. Respondents who had higher levels of WFC worked longer hours and extended their work time by using MCTs at home for work. However, they did not perceive MCTs to be useful for their job and overall, a pattern of MCT devices interfering in home life was apparent. Younger workers considered themselves technologically savvy and used more MCT devices at home for work demonstrating that, if correctly configured, MCTs may allow workers to better manage their work and home boundaries. Future research in the area is discussed.