Infrastructure Engineering - Research Publications

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    Current Operational Battery Energy Storage Systems in Australia and Their Intended Project Objectives on Grid Operational Issues: A Literature Review
    Hui, KP ; Yap, L (IEOM Society International, 2024-02-12)
    As energy companies look to diversify their portfolio in renewable energy, the demand for electrification will continue to increase. There will be increasing demands on the electrical grid infrastructure. Distributed energy resources (DER) such as solar photovoltaic (PV) on rooftops and electric vehicles will experience a host of operational issues such as hosting capacities, overloads, reverse flow, phase balance, frequency drift and voltage variation. Battery energy storage systems can help mitigate some of these problems. In this paper, the literature and public available information on operational battery storage systems in Australia are reviewed and discussed. It is found that both small batteries and large batteries both fundamentally address grid operational issues. As Australia moves towards high DER penetration and high renewable energy generation, there will be a need for more battery energy storage systems to offset operational issues. The lack of private funding especially for smaller batteries may possibly cause PV DER to lag the overall demand for electrification.
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    How to improve the effects of knowledge governance on individual learning across projects: From the perspective of relational capital
    Zhang, X ; Shen, W ; Tang, W ; Duffield, CF ; Hui, FKP ; Zhang, L ; Lou, C (Elsevier BV, 2024-01)
    Supportive knowledge management and good relationships are both important aspects for enhancing individual learning across projects, however little research has presented a systematic theory on the cause-effect relationships between the above themes. With support of data collected from the industry survey, this study has established and validated a conceptual model that maps individual learning outcomes on knowledge governance, learning intention and relational capital from a holistic view. The results reveal that a supportive knowledge governance system could significantly promote individual learning across projects, and this effect is mainly achieved by inspiring individuals’ learning intention. This study also demonstrates that the relational capital can enhance the relationship between knowledge governance and individual's learning intention. The outcomes advance the theory of knowledge management by presenting the conceptual model that helps answer the question: "How can knowledge governance and relational capital improve individual learning across projects?" The results can also guide participants to have superior project performance with assistance of experience and knowledge from different projects in practice.
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    Whole-life baseline carbon assessment of residential building stock – A Victorian case study
    Chan, M ; Foliente, G ; Seo, S ; Hui, K ; Aye, L (Australian Life Cycle Assessment Society (ALCAS), 2023-07-19)
    Assessing residential building decarbonisation opportunities requires a whole-life approach, given the increasing share of embodied carbon as housing becomes more energy efficient. Since most of the projected housing stock would consist of existing buildings, emissions from renovation should also be included in determining both embodied and operational carbon in the residential building sector. A bottom-up typology framework was developed to estimate carbon emissions for existing and new housing up to 2050, scalable from local government area (LGA) to state-level jurisdiction which allows for granularity in testing scenarios for the future. Housing typologies were developed for existing, new, and renovation housing stock based on census data. Operating carbon was obtained using building energy simulation while embodied carbon data was accounted from localised life cycle construction datasets. The state of Victoria along with its corresponding LGAs was used as a case study for said framework. Heating load comprised most of the operating energy demand for most typologies while external walls and floors contributed significant embodied carbon for new residential buildings, particularly for detached houses. For Victoria, detached houses built prior to 1991 contributed most of the operational carbon, however with high construction rates set for most LGAs, new housing may contribute more GHG emissions in 2050. Brick veneer housing yielded more embodied carbon from the external wall compared to timber homes while concrete slabs used in floors also incurred a large amount of embodied carbon for the residential building stock. Renovating existing housing has the potential to reduce operating energy demand while emitting less embodied carbon, thus policies on this should be considered in developing decarbonisation pathways. Using the bottom-up typology whole-life carbon framework offers granularity in analysing individual-level carbon impact which can be expanded to LGA and state level.
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    Lean and Green: How the Synergy Can Promote Sustainable Construction
    Peiris, PA ; Herath, N ; NGO, T ; Duffield, CF ; Hui, KP ; Dissanayake, R ; Mendis, P ; Weerasekera, K ; De Silva, S ; Fernando, S ; Konthesingha, C ; Gajandayake, P (Springer Nature, 2023-08-01)
    Lean construction aims to improve efficiency through the reduction of wasteful activities. These waste reduction activities also indirectly improve the sustainability approach used by organizations. Our paper examines the definition of lean construction (LC), LC activities, and green construction as understood by academics through a focused literature review. It then examines these practices considering how these activities contribute towards enhancing the sustainability of the built environment and the organization. Our findings suggest that not all waste reduction activities have the same degree of effect on sustainability improvements. Some lean tools such as standardization and just-in-time (JIT) for production scheduling can have a better effect, especially, if the key performance indicators (KPI) specifically target sustainability indicators. “Lean and Green” is not a myth and is very much achievable in the construction industry with the current efforts towards industry 4.0/5.0. Combining these two concepts remains a challenge. This paper aims to learn from what we already know and suggests ways on how “Lean and Green” can be achieved in the future. The paper includes a discussion on leveraging lean and green concepts to achieve the sustainable development goals promoted by the United Nations.
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    How Can Decarbonisation Alternatives Be Prioritised to Achieve Carbon Neutrality in Building Projects?
    Too, J ; Ejohwomu, OA ; Hui, FKP ; Herath, N ; Duffield, C ; Soules, JG (ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers, 2023-01-01)
    The built environment generates approximately 40% of the annual global carbon emissions. To achieve the Paris Agreement target towards net-zero emissions, timely and sufficient plans for emissions reduction in the sector need to be made. One of the optimal strategies to realize sustainable structures is to select decarbonisation alternatives that will present a holistic view of environmental impacts. This research effort examined how decarbonisation alternatives are prioritised to achieve carbon neutrality in building projects. Based on extensive semi-structured interviews with experts, this research identified energy, emissions, economy, and exergy (4Es) as the four critical variables considered when making decarbonisation decisions. These 4Es were then assigned to different evaluation criteria, resulting in a total of 27 evaluation criteria. These findings will assist built environment professionals to prioritise decarbonisation alternatives across the entire project lifecycle. It will also provide policymakers with new insights for assessing potential impacts based on these four variables.
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    Production scheduling in modular construction: Metaheuristics and future directions
    Peiris, A ; Hui, FKP ; Duffield, C ; Ngo, T (Elsevier, 2023-06)
    Modular construction (MC) is an increasingly important construction technique. However, it also requires the use of sophisticated scheduling algorithms. A comprehensive literature review of different scheduling systems used for prefabricated construction, was conducted using the PRISMA methodology. Over 500 relevant papers were analysed and 59 critical applications of production scheduling metaheuristics were closely examined. However, very few of these were for modular construction. This paper provides a deep analysis of GA applications in scheduling and the newer techniques using PSO, SA and ACO. The results of the review suggest 6 directions for future research namely, (i) Consideration of added complexities, (ii) Responsiveness of the scheduling system to new tenders or work, (iii) Integrating production scheduling with Manufacturing Execution and Control Systems, (iv) Dynamic scheduling, (v) Simulation-based optimization techniques for MC, (vi) Use of AI and machine learning concepts for MC. This paper will inform better production scheduling of MC projects.
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    Digitalising modular construction: Enhancement of off-site manufacturing productivity via a manufacturing execution & control (MEC) system
    Peiris, A ; Hui, FKP ; Duffield, C ; Wang, J ; Garcia, MG ; Chen, Y ; Ngo, T (Elsevier, 2023-03-02)
    Modular construction facilities operate under tight deadlines making the monitoring of manufacturing progress and delivery for optimal factory-to-site operations a significant challenge. This paper presents an action research study that assisted in enhancing the productivity of a manufacturing execution and control system implemented at a facility in Melbourne, Australia. This system monitors production processes, and shares information for timely, well-informed decision-making using an online platform and a mobile app, developed using lean principles. The results showed significant time and cost savings, quality improvement and increased visibility of inefficiencies and will serve as a helpful reference for construction factory managers wishing to improve their manufacturing systems.
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    Integrating sustainability into higher education curricula
    Rajabifard, A ; Elisa, L ; Herath, N ; Hui, K ; Currie, G ; Kahalimoghadam, M (Engineers Australia, 2021)
    Education has been widely recognised as a key instrument to achieve sustainability. Integrating sustainability knowledge, skills and values are considered paramount to enable individuals to contribute to sustainable development. The paper presents a pilot study conducted at the University of Melbourne to investigate the links between the subjects offered by the University and sustainability. The pilot study is a part of the Sustainability in the Curriculum program, which addresses the Sustainability Plan Teaching and Learning Target 1, aimed to incorporate sustainability knowledge and values in the University's curricula. The 17 Sustainability Development Goals have been used as a framework to measure how well the curricula are linked to sustainability. A study first undertaken to establish the link between subjects and the Sustainability Development Goals is presented. The study involved data collection through published literature on Sustainable Development Goals and the University's subject handbook, followed by a survey involving the subject coordinators. The findings of the study show that the strength of linkages between subjects with sustainability varies, highlighting the challenge in some technical subjects in linking their contents with sustainability. Approaches adopted in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology in embedding sustainability in the curriculum are presented with some examples and discussions for the next steps.
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    Foreword
    Hui, K ; Ismail, S ; Hui, K ; Ismail, S (The University of Melbourne, 2022-09-27)
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    Analytical Framework for Understanding the Differences between Technical Standards Originating from Various Regions to Improve International Hydropower Project Delivery
    You, R ; Tang, W ; Duffield, CF ; Zhang, L ; Hui, F ; Kang, Y (MDPI, 2022-02)
    The international hydropower construction market is continuously growing during the past decade. The existing literature points out that contractors are facing ongoing difficulties in achieving the objectives of developing international hydropower projects, which largely arise from the misunderstanding and poor use of international technical standards. However, there is a lack of a coherent framework to help systematically analyze the differences between technical standards originating from various regions. This study establishes an analytical framework that incorporates the essential factors of technical standards, namely philosophy of standards, logical structure, completeness of standards, calculation method, equipment and material requirements, test method, construction method, and application conditions of standards, and demonstrates their relationships from a holistic perspective. With support of the data collected from Chinese contractors, the results revealed the application status of various technical standards and their differences. Hierarchical cluster analysis demonstrates that unfamiliarity with the differences between domestic and international technical standards can cause multiple problems in international hydropower project delivery, concerning applying international standards, integrated project management, design, procurement, and construction, which have broad theoretical and practical implications. The outcomes of this study can not only help contractors improve their capabilities of applying international standards for achieving superior international hydropower project performance, but also facilitate mutual recognition of the standards from various regions, thereby maximizing the effectiveness of global resources such as expertise, technologies, methods, and products.