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11:00   General Paper Session W65 - Innovation in construction (theories and best practices)
Chair: Hedley Smyth
11:00
15 mins 		System-search ACADEMIC/INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDING DESIGN AND REFURBISHMENT
Branka Dimitrijevic
Abstract: Keywords: Construction innovations, academia, SMEs ABSTRACT Development and efficient dissemination of innovations for sustainable building design and refurbishment are crucial for the competitiveness of companies operating in construction sector which faces the pressure to reduce levels of carbon emissions from existing and new buildings to zero. The sector is also challenged to become more sustainable regarding its other environmental, social and economic impacts. An overwhelming majority of companies operating in the construction sector in Scotland are small to medium size enterprises (SMEs) who do not have sufficient resources in the current economic downturn to undertake research in building design, products and processes that will make buildings more sustainable. A joint project of seven Scottish universities has been initiated to support collaboration with small to medium size enterprises in developing and disseminating innovation for sustainable building design and refurbishment. The project concept and methods used for efficient dissemination of the project outputs to SMEs across Scotland are explained. An analysis of the outputs of feasibility studies completed and academic consultancy provided through the project indicates the range of problems tackled and trends in the development and use of innovations for more sustainable built environment in Scotland.
11:15
15 mins 		System-search DESIGN, PROCESS, AND SERVICE INNOVATIONS TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY
Beliz Ozorhon, Carl Abbott, Ghassan Aouad
Abstract: Climate change has led to the global recognition of the need to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. In the UK increasingly demanding building regulations require contractors to use innovative products and processes in their construction processes in order to deliver the specified environmental sustainability performance levels. Cost effective innovative solutions for achieving sustainability in construction requires considerable effort and commitment. As a fragmented and project-based industry, much construction innovation is co-developed at the project level. The major objective of this study is to analyse a construction project by exploring the role of design, process, and service innovations in achieving sustainability. In this respect, the eco-friendly accommodation at Lancaster University has been investigated as a case study. The project presents a case of client-driven innovation where building regulations on sustainability were taken into account in developing design and planning the construction process. The paper discusses the leading role of the university client as well as the role of partnering approach and community engagement in the innovation process. Finally, some recommendations are provided based on the lessons learned in this project.
11:30
15 mins 		System-search IMPLEMENTATION OF INNOVATION: THE INERTIA OF IMPLEMENTING THE OPEN BUILDING CONCEPT IN PRACTICE
John van Oorschot, Elma Durmisevic, Joop Halman
Abstract: The Open Building concept has been developed half a century ago. Despite the relative potential advantages to society, this concept of Open Building has not been widely implemented in the construction industry. Consequently, it did not lead to a general new approach of designing structures. Why does the construction industry use the Open building concept so rarely among their projects? Using in-depth semi-structured interviews with the ‘founding fathers’ of Open Building in combination with literature, the inertia which obstructs the implementation of Open building in the construction industry are identified. The study shows that inertia on adopting the principles of Open Building are primarily related to the type of collaboration between firms on construction projects. Only few impediments are of technical nature.
11:45
15 mins 		System-search THE AGENT-CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM FOR PROCURING MEGA PROJECTS IN CHINA
Weisheng Lu, Anita M.M. Liu, Hongdi Wang, Zhongbing Wu
Abstract: Driven by its unprecedented urbanization plan, there is a huge demand of facilities, such as road infrastructure, schools, and hospitals in China. Heated discussions have been directed towards various innovative procurement systems such as Public-Private-Partnership (PPP), Private Finance Initiative (PFI), and Building-Operating-Transfer (BOT) that help materialise the projects and truly deliver value to the society. This research examines an agent-construction system (ACS or in Chinese Dai Jian Zhi) by relating them to China’s particular Political, Economics, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal (PESTEL) background. It is found that the ACS is promising in procuring public projects owing to two merits: (a) clearly defined right and responsibilities; and (b) appropriate allocation of resources and risks amongst parties involved. The research is particularly useful when governments worldwide are searching for innovative procurement approaches to help deliver public projects and services. It also sheds light on how to devise an innovative procurement system. A word of caution, nevertheless, is that readers should not follow this “good practice” slavishly. One ought to truly understand the essence of procurement innovation and devise suitable innovative procurement systems in a given PESTEL setting.
12:00
15 mins 		System-search EU FUNDED PROJECTS – BEST TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION SPECIALISTS EDUCATION
Paul Nowak
Abstract: Paper will present assumptions and initial results of the two innovative projects for construction industry: Leonardo da Vinci Projects (TRAIN.COM, 2010-2012) – “Augmented Reality Applied to Machinery Maintenance from Construction Sector” and Norwegian Instrument Project (NORW, 2009-2011) - “Distance learning within management in construction”. The aim of the TRAIN.COM project is to design and apply a training system in basic machinery maintenance using a new technology called augmented reality. This system will improve the basic skills of machinery operators related with a safe maintenance of their machines and not only with their operation. The Augmented Reality (AR) is the term to define a direct or indirect view of the physical environment in the real world, which elements combine with virtual elements in order to create a mixed reality in real time. So, it consists in a group of devices which add virtual information to real information. This is the main difference with virtual reality, because it doesn't replace physical reality, but superimposes virtual data on real world. This project is going to be focused in excavation works for two reasons. Firstly, because of intensive work, which emphasizes the necessity of preventive maintenance. Secondly, because of the enormous quantity of self-employers and SMEs, who own machines and are working for others companies. This project is going to be based upon the outcomes obtained in the project “Training system for mechanical digger operators”, in which one of the most important developments was maintenance training. Furthermore, it included a experimental system based on PDA of which function was to support the learning through the use of checklists. The system pretends to enhance the training of operators in the field of maintenance, through the use of Augmented Reality. To reach this aim, the project will provide a system which will allow to select maintenance operations by means of a interface easy to use by the operator. The NORW project is related to development of studies in English for construction managers in Poland and Norway (English as a language of instruction). The project will cover development of some new courses, modules and curriculum as well as modification of existing ones. New curriculums will come into being in cooperation with sector of small and medium – sized enterprises. The project will create two first courses organised in the blended learning mode of teaching: “Economy and Financial Management in Construction” and “Construction Management”. Need for the courses was confirmed during numerous research works and projects and contacts with Polish, Norwegian and other European construction companies. Operational goals of the project are: increasing the attractiveness of teaching at Universities and increasing the professionalism of construction managers running the European funded projects in construction. Detailed goals are: creation of the didactical internet platform for teaching elements of management in construction together with didactical materials and methodology, both in English and Polish. Project will be then transferred to other EU countries.
12:15
15 mins 		System-search Living Buildings and the associated R&D based manufacturers; The Revolution towards Evolutionary Construction
Hennes de Ridder
Abstract: 1. Abstract The construction industry is not sustainable. The statistics give a clear picture. Expressed in percentages of the totals in the Netherlands and when calculated over the total lifecycle, from the early start to the processing of waste after demolition, energy consumption is more than 50%, CO2 emission is more than 50%, waste production is 35 %, road transport is 25 %, failure costs is more than 15 %, average profits of construction companies are less than 2% of the turnover. The contribution of the construction industry to the GNP is 11%. The global figures will probably be worse as cooling requires disproportional more energy than heating. Practitioners and scientists all over the world agree that the construction industry with the associated structure and culture should be changed fundamentally. In this paper a great design of a sustainable construction industry is presented. Using ”attribute listing” as method, the contours of a future Construction Industry is described in 50 typical characteristics and attributes each of them in full contrast to the current situation. The result is remarkably close to the “normal” world and can be considered as Evolutionary Construction with Living Buildings. This is darwinism for construction industry. Sustainable buildings can only created by variation, selection and reproduction. Like car producers, building producers will develop new buildings from existing buildings. Each new or adapted building will contain the experience and knowledge accumulated during a long series of already realized buildings. As result, the value of buildings will be at least twice as much, the prices at least 50 % lower and the delivery time at least 50 % shorter. This seems to be a revolution but it is shown that a few early adopters have implemented already some parts of the defined changes. In this paper the basic principles and thoughts, which have been used for this design work, are presented. In 2012 a book will be published on Evolutionary Construction. 2. Introduction Practitioners and scientists all over the world agree that the construction industry shows systemic failings resulting in disappointing production, effectiveness and efficiency. The first movements aimed at substantial changes date from the early nineties of the last century and was initiated in the UK by the Latham commission (Latham,1994), followed by Rethinking Construction (Egan ,1998). After Australia and Finland also in Holland started an initiative after the big fraud affair (Tweede Kamer, 2002 and PSIB,2004). Measures were mainly aimed at change of the adversarial culture of the construction industry which manifest itself in lack of respect of its employees and uncapability of delivering for its custumers. During the last decades improvements were achieved by creating more openness, cooperation, trust, honesty, commitment and teamwork in projects (Egan,2002). In the late nineties of the last century, the notion of sustainability emerged in the world when facing the climate problems. Here, the construction sector plays a critical role, as its contribution is rather bad (Dubois &Gaddle,2002; Nam & Tatum, 1988). Expressed in percentages of the totals in the Netherlands the energy consumption during the utilization phase is 35 %, the CO2 emission during the utilization phase is also 35 %, the consumption of energy and the CO2 emission due to the production of materials is 35 %, the waste production is 35 %, road transport is 25 %, failure costs is more than 15 %, which is about 10 billion Euros per year. Moreover the average profits of construction companies are less than 2% of the turnover. These figures are rather bad when compared with the 11% contribution of the construction industry to the GNP (Lichtenberg, 2006). The global figures will probably be worse because cooling requires more energy than heating. The reason behind this bad performance is that every building is treated as a unique product. The world is covered with billions of unique buildings and unique structures. Each of them is not only the result of a unique project, but it is also developed by a unique combination of people, built under unique circumstances, delivered to a unique client, to be used by unique users, erected at a unique location, surrounded by a unique environment and constructed for a unique long lifetime. For each building the wheel is invented again and again (London & Kenley, 1999). For buildings as a whole neither learning curves, nor repetition effects can be observed throughout the supply chain (Vrijhoef & Koskela; Woudhuysen & Abley; Lansley,1994; Koskela,2003). In all, buildings and structures have an artisan character and show suboptimal performance). With the current credit crunch, the coming energy crisis and the booming construction activities in Asia, it is perhaps time for the international community in and around the construction industry to make a very fundamental change of the whole system with its associated cultural and structural aspects. In this paper a great design (a Big Picture) of a sustainable construction sector is presented. This big picture is created by a specific application of a simple design method that normally is used for innovation. 3. Methodology The method used in this paper is called ”Attribute Listing” and developed in design theory for innovation (Straker, 2003). Attribute listing, as used and adapted for this special purpose (the change of a complex and complicated system), contains 8 subsequent steps: Step 1: Take for granted that the construction industry is not a good system. Based on the figures as presented in the introduction, this starting point can easily be defended. Step 2: Make a list of typical characteristics and attributes associated with the present construction industry. This is rather difficult because this step requires a generalization of the construction industry. It is generally accepted that ”the construction industry” as a whole does not exist. Therefore this step is quite debatable and can only be based on general reports of governments (see paragraph 2). Nevertheless this step suffers to personal interpretation. Step 3: Provide each characteristic with theoretical and practical objections. These comments are essential for the directing the possible changes. These objections can be found in the general reports (see step1) Step 4: Develop, using the objections of step 3, an idea about a new system, that is not only understandable for everyone but also imaginable for everyone. Obviously the first idea used is the normal industrial market for consumer products. It fulfills the two requirements and it is far more sustainable than construction industry. A problem is that buildings should be tailor made and should also have a large lifetime. Therefore a second idea was added. That was the analogy of the termitarium. All information of the termitarium is contained in the combination building/builder. It is stored in the DNA of the termites. Each building is slightly different in shape but totally similar in structure. The structure is the most important factor, where the final shape depends on local environmental circumstances. It seems to be that termites have the disposal of build-in learning curves and build-in repetition effects. That is exactly what lacks in the construction industry. Step 5: Change the characteristics and attributes of the old system as much as possible towards associated characteristics and attributes of the newly to developed system. This is a difficult step because the construction industry has some specific characterics that are totally different frojm the normal consumer’s articles. For instance, buildings are fixed on the ground, have low value per kg material and a long lifetime. Step 6: Cluster the characteristics and attributes on mutual relations. The reason behind is that the relations imply a combined approach for change Step 7: Try to arrange the clusters of step 7 in a causal order. This is important because some changes have to be started first before other changes make a chance. Step 8: Provide the characteristics and attributes of the new system with individual examples that show those characteristics and attributes already or in a certain rate. This is an important step, because people only want to change a system when they clearly see not only advantages and benefits but also working examples (not presented in this paper). 4. The revolution in 50 issues and 8 clusters Cluster 1: The change in the organization of the competition Present situation construction industry Future situation construction industry 1.1 Owners specifies the building that he wants 1.1 Owner specifies the context in which the building should perform 1.2 Owner makes Term of Requirements for a building 1.2 Owner makes a set of wishes with respect to the desired building 1.3 Owner wants to have a pre-contractual design to be used as basis for a construction contract 1.3 Owner creates a solution space spanned by minimum requirements and boundary conditions 1.4 Price competition on fixed and specified demand 1.4 Competition on value price ratio, where value is perception of architecture, quantity and quality 1.5 Generation of additional work without generation of additional value 1.5 Generation of additional value without additional work. Cluster 2: The change in the Organization of the supply chain Present situation construction industry Future situation construction industry 2.1 Fragmented supply chain aimed at equalizing demand and supply 2.1 Integrated supply chain aimed at tuning demand and supply 2.2 Fragmented chain of advisors assisting the owner with the design of the building 2.2 Chain of advisors assisting the owner with specification of the solution space (context) 2.3 Owner adapts initial concept on basis of objections of stakeholders 2.3 Owner makes a choice out of different concepts based on participation of stakeholders 2.4 Top down design and engineering of new buildings 2.4 Bottom up development of new buildings 2.5 Design and engineering based on losse relations between fixed objects (interface management) 2.5 Development with fixed relations (structure) and variable objects 2.6 Project based fragmented supply chain with outsourcing 2.6 Company based integrated supply chain with collaboration and comakership 2.7 Design with yesterday’s technology, today’s ideas for tomorrow’s people 2.7 Development of buildings and structures that are adaptable for changing circumstances 2.8 Production on location with bring up of materials and elements 2.8 Production in factories and assembling on location with bring up of components and sub systems Cluster 3: Change in market approach Present situation construction industry Future situation construction industry 3.1 Owner looking for contractors 3.1 Producer looking for clients and consumers 3.2 Marketing contractors with profiling on segments and processes 3.2 Marketing Producers with profiling on trade marks and products 3.3 Reactive approach of contracters: make a drawing and we build it. 3.3 Active approach of producers: we have an excellent selection, take your pick 3.4 Don’t listen carefully to the owner, but act exactly what he wants 3.4 Listen carefully to the client but never deliver what he specifies 3.5 Unsolicited proposal as a contractor’s solution for an owners problem 3.5 A set of unsolicited proposals which can be combined to be a client’s solution for client’s problem 3.6 Implicit guarantee arrangements wrested by owners with delay of payments 3.6 Explicit guarantee arrangement offered by producers as additional value 3.7 Contract and delivery conditions imposed by owner 3.7 Contract and delivery conditions by producer 3.8 Owner thinks small in fragmented design work and acts big in integrated contracts 3.8 Owner thinks big in creating solution space (trust) and acts small by purchasing commodities Cluster 4: Change in characteristics of buildings and structures Present situation construction industry Future situation construction industry 4.1 Hand craft construction of unique client specific buildings 4.1 Industrial manufacturing of unique client specific buildings 4.2 Sub optimal buildings due to separation of design and construction 4.2 Optimal buildings due to R&D 4.3 Financial optimization over economical lifetime of buildings 4.3 Economic, social/cultural and ecologic optimization over technical lifetime of components and elements 4.4 Buildings as artefact and non adaptable monolith 4.4 Buildings as flexible, (de)mountable and adaptable systems 4.5 Mainly recycling, dumping and burning of waste materials 4.5 Mainly saving of materials and reuse of components and elements Cluster 5: Change in the accumulation of knowledge Present situation construction industry Future situation construction industry 5.1 Inventing the wheel again en again 5.1 Learning curves and repetition effects with industrial manufacturing 5.2 Contractors only capture implicit knowledge of their process 5.2 Producers capture explicit knowledge of product and process 5.3 Mainly pre-competitive knowledge available for all players 5.3 Mainly competitive knowledge 5.4 Building Information Modeling (BIM) aimed at project coordination and process coordination of supply chain 5.4 Parametric Knowledge Model (PKM) aimed at overall insight in behaviour of buildings and structures with respect to total lifecycle value and lifecycle cost 5.5 Design & Construct knowledge captured with a series of one shot realizations 5.5 Research and Development with respect to product families and product modules Cluster 6: Change in Quality control Present situation construction industry Future situation construction industry 6.1 Quality defined as the rate compliance is achieved with client’s specifications 6.1 Quality expressed in reliability, capacity, availability, maintainability, safety and operability 6.2 Client arranges project specific supervision 6.2 Producers arrange product certification by accredited third parties 6.3 Implicit Quality assurance by clusters ot tasks (integrated DBMO contracts with fragmented supply chains) 6.3 Explicit Quality assurance by specialized companies with integrated supply chains 6.4 Finance contract as implicit quality assurance 6.4 Long term product responsibility and liability with additional mid term guarantees 6.5 Verificatien and validation by both client and contractor. 6.5 Specific validation by Client, general validation and verification by Producer 6.6 Alliance contracts based on sharing risks 6.6 Alliance contracts based on sharing the added benefits Cluster 7: Change in Regulation Present situation construction industry Future situation construction industry 7.1 Use of resources and production of emissions are not taxable 7.1 Use of resources and production of emissions are taxable 7.2 Economical Most Advantageous Tender (EMAT) focused on process and control 7.2 Economical Most Advantageous Tender (EMAT) focused on total benefit of building or structure 7.3 Planning Procedures aimed at maintaining status quo with say of interested people 7.3 Planning Procedures aimed at change with active participation of stakeholders 7.4 Local system of licences for architecture and structural safety 7.4 Nation wide harmonization of license system with respect to architecture, structural safety, building physics and installations Cluster 8: Change of the sector Present situation construction industry Future situation construction industry 8.1 From a reactive culture towards a responsive culture (last two decades) 8.1 From a responsive culture towards a creative culture 8.2 No product innovation due to price competition on fixed specifications 8.2 Innovation as consequence of value/price competition. 8.3 Distrust due to shared responsibility for the building (specifications by client, compliance by contractor) 8.3 Trust due to separation of responsibilities (Client for context, Producer for product). 8.4 Large number of advisors and (sub) contractors) operate in between the consumers and producers of elements and components with proven technology 8.4 The client is the only player in between the consumers and producers. 8.5 Construction sector predominantly characterised by controlling project risks 8.5 Construction sector predominantly characterised by controlling company risks 8.6 One shot projects without standards on building level 8.6 The fight for setting the standards 8.7 Not sustainable with respect to People, Planet and Profit 8.7 Sustainable with respect to People Planet and Profit 5. Examples of early adopters The right columns in the tables of paragraph represent the Evolutionary Construction. It is a revolution indeed but it is a soft revolution. A minority of companies, clients, owners and scientists is busy to make steps in this direction. For big changes it is important to show that certain changes are possible by showing that some early adopters have dealt with it already. - Rijkswaterstaat organized in 1989 a value/ price competition for the Storm Surge Barrier Rotterdam (400 billion euro) and fulfilled points 1.1, 1.2,1.3,1.4. - Haasnoot Bridges (Haasnoot), De Meeuw Offices (Meeuw) and Burggraaff Housing (Burggraaff) produce products and fulfil the points 2.4,2.5,2.7, 2.8, 3.1,3.2,3.3,3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7,4.1, 4.2. 5. Conclusions When the construction industry is able to change itself in the description of the right sides of the columns, then producers and buildings together form living buildings. They belong to the set of living man-made systems. These buildings will be developed from a long series of already realized buildings. The buildings obey to Darwin’s principle of the survival of the fittest. Producers experiment with variations on existing buildings and select the best variations for multiplication. A crucial condition is that producers fill their Parametric Knowledge Models of their buildings with each delivery, inducing continuous improvement. Each building has more or less the same structure but the final form is totally different as result of the interaction with the environment. The buildings are flexible and adaptable, keeping them up to date en fit for changing purposes provided with state of the art technology. This is very important as the world inside and outside buildings changes faster then the buildings itself. Living buildings and structures are sustainable in any imaginable respect and at least doubles the lifecycle value, halves the lifecycle cost, doubles the profit of construction companies and halves the energy consumption and emissions. This will be achieved by increasing effectiveness by learning curves and increasing efficiency by repetitiveness. It is comparable with automotive and computer R&D. Each newly developed type contains all experience and knowledge of a long series of earlier types. 6. References Dubois, A. and Gadde, L.E. 2002 The construction industry as a loosely coupled system: implications for productivity and innovation Constrcution management and economics 20(7). Egan, J. (1998), Rethinking Construction: the report of the construction task force. Egan, J. (2002) Accelerating Change, Consulting Paper by Strategic Forum for Construction, London, HMSO. Koskela, L. (2003) Is structural change the primary solution to the problems of construction? in: Building Research and Information 31 (2). Lansley. P (1994) Analysing construction organizations. In: Construction Management and Economics 12 Latham, M, (1994) Constructing the Team, London. HSMO. Ligtenberg, (2006) Slimbouwen, a strategy for efficient and sustainable Building Innovation, in: Construction in the XXI Century: Local and Global challenges, Rome. London, K. and Kenley, R. (1999) Client’s role in construction supply chains: a theoretical discussion. In: Proceedings CIB Triennial World Symposium W92, Cape Town. Nam, C.H. and Tatum, C.B. (1988) Major characteristic of constructed products and resulting limitations of construction Technology Construction Management and Economics 6. PSIbouw (2004), Process and System Innovation in the Dutch Construction Industry, Project Plan for a Research and Development Programme, 2004. Tweede Kamer der Staten Generaal (2002) , Report Dutch Parliamentary Enquiry Commission, SDU. Vrijhoef, R. and Koskela, L.(2005) A critical review of construction as a project-based industry: identifying paths towards a project independent approach to construction in Kazi A.S.(ed) Proceedings CIB Combining Forces. Woudhuysen,J. & Abley,I. (2004) Why is construction so backward? Wiley, Chicester.
12:30
15 mins 		System-search DRIVERS OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Eero Kalevi Nippala, Pekka Antero Tienhaara
Abstract: Civil engineering uses copious amounts of natural resources and changes nature into a built environment. In the industry, ecologically sustainable development is everyday-life in the business and there are a range of technologies developed with a cradle to cradle philosophy. In the European Union, civil engineering projects have been a part of creating economic competition requirements and raising the so-called new member states to the level of the old ones. To reduce the negative effects of the economical downturn, the old member states have also invested in infrastructure. These examples reveal the role of civil engineering in policymaking. However, the situation is changing because new, international construction firms specialised in the realisation of demanding projects have emerged in the civil engineering industry. Once a closed market, civil engineering is now turning into a genuinely open market. Previously, forecasting the industry consisted mainly of assessing the public sector’s budget realisation, but now the industry is gradually moving over to a market-based model. This introduces an opportunity to assess the construction market by means of market research. Moreover, the opening and globalisation of the market presents additional information needs. Since 1993, the research group has gathered barometer-type information from designers and contractors for economic cycle forecasts. In addition, the group has had at its disposal realization information and information regarding changes in the companies operating environment. The goal of the research has been to distinguish from the information flood those pieces of information that best predict future development. Based on a statistical analysis, we have developed a leading indicators system for the operative planning of civil engineering industry companies and for the direction of contractors's procurements.