All Issue

2023 Vol.14, Issue 1 Preview Page

General Article

The effect on cost when utilising modular construction techniques - The impact of weather on labour productivity
David Roberts1*
,
Kenneth Park2
,
Nii Ankrah3
,
Ki Pyung Kim4
1PhD Candidate, Department of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom
2Reader, Department of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom
3Senior Lecturer, Department of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom
4Senior Lecturer, UniSA STEM, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
*Corresponding Author
31 March 2023. pp. 77-95
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

The Main running ain of this paper is to explore the impact weather will have on labour productivity costs associated with construction activities that would be replaced by using modular production techniques. Weather is a cost variable that is often ignored during pricing of construction projects and is rarely recorded as a cost impact, and yet the impact can be considerable if not planned appropriately. Modular construction is a form of off-site construction that creates a three-dimensional section if a building in a factory and transports it to site, the quantity of the build that is replaced with the modules can vary and so assumptions have been made on the elements of traditional construction that have been replaced. The weather impact has been based on UK weather data and the focus has been on those that will affect labour productivity in particular, such as high temperatures, low temperatures, precipitation, and wind. The paper has analysed the impact start date and length of project will have on particular weather types occurring during a project and applying those to assumed productivity reduction that comes from those weather types.

Keywords
weather
modular
construction
cost
productivity
References
1
P. Ballesteros-Perez, Y. Rojas-Céspedes, W. Hughes, S. Kabiri, E. Pellicer, D. Mora-Melià, and M. Campo-Hitschfeld, Weather-wise:A weather-aware planning tool for improving construction productivity and dealing with claims. Automation in Construction. (2017), pp. 81-95. 10.1016/j.autcon.2017.08.022
2
A. Joseph, Environment Security and the question of quantification. 2, s.l. : International Journal of Sustainable Building. 4 (2001). 10.1504/IJSD.2001.001551
3
W. Pan, L. Chen, and W. Zhan, PESTEL Analysis of Construction Productivity Enhancement Strategies: A Case Study of Three Economies. 1, New York : American Society of Civil Engineers. 35 (2019). 10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000662
4
A.S.M. Moohialdin, F. Lamari, M. Miska, and B. Trigunarsyah, Construction worker productivity in hot and humid weather conditions. 1, Bradford : Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management. 27 (2019). 10.1108/ECAM-05-2018-0191
5
R.E. Smith and I. Rupnik, Productivity, innovation and disruption a study of off site construction in the United States. [book auth.] J Goulding and FP Rahimian. Offsite Production and Manufacturing for innovative construction. People, process and technology. 2020, Oxon: Routledge. 10.1201/9781315147321-10
6
M. Farmer, Modernise or Die: The Farmer review of the UK Construciton Labour Model. London: Construction Leadership Council, 2016.
7
S.H. Han, Z. Lei, U. Hermann, A. Bouferguene, and M. Al-Hussein, 4D-based automation of heavy lift planning in industrial construction projects. Canadian journal of Civil Engineering. 48 (2021), pp. 1115-1129. 10.1139/cjce-2019-0825
8
T. Salama, O. Moselhi, and M. Al-Hussein, Overview of the Characteristics of the Modular Industry and Barriers to its increased Market Share in Canada. International Journal of Industrialized Construction. (2021), pp. 30-53. 10.29173/ijic249
9
Meriam-Webster. Online Dictionary. Online Dictionary [Online], Meriam-Webster, 16 July 2020. Available at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/labour-intensive [Accessed 16/7/2020].
10
P.Y. Hsu, M. Aurisicchio, and P. Angeloudis, Risk-Averse Supply chain for modular construction projects. Automation in Construction. (2019). 10.1016/j.autcon.2019.102898
11
P. Ballesteros-Pérez, M.L. del Campo-Hitschfeld, M.A. González-Naranjo, and M.C. González-Cruz, Climate and Construction Delays: Case study in Chile. Engineering, Construciton and Architectural Management. (2015), pp. 596-621. 10.1108/ECAM-02-2015-0024
12
W. Hughes, Procurement in the Construction industry. 2006, London: Routledge.
13
L.D. Nguyen, J. Kneppers, B. García de Soto, and W Ibbs, Analysis of Adverse Weather for Excusable Delays. Journal of Construcition Engineering and Management. (2010), pp. 1258-1267. 10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000242
14
Y. Liu, C. Mao, and X. Wang, Offsite Construction drivign forces - a reflection of Hofstedes national Culture model. [book auth.] J Goulding and FP Rahimian. Offsite Production and Manufacturing for Innovative Construction. 2020, Oxon: Routledge.
15
S. Taylor, Offsite Production in the UK Construction Industry - Prepared HSE, A brief overview cited in GouldingJ and Rahimian FP (2020) Offsite Production and Manufacturing for Innovative Construction. People, Process and Techniques. 2020, Oxon: Routledge
16
M.M. Rahman, Barriers to Implementing modern methods of construction. s.l. Journal of Management in Engineering. (2014), Vol. Jan/Feb. 10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000173
17
G. Pan and Dainty. Leading UK House builders utilization of modern construction methods. 1, s.l. : Building Research and Information. 36 (2007). 10.1080/09613210701204013
18
M. Kamali and K. Hewage, Life Cycle Sustainability performance assessment framework for residential modular building: Aggregated sustainability indices. s.l. : Building and Environment. 138 (2018). 10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.04.019
19
D. Lopez and T.M. Froese, Analysis of costs and benefits of panelised and modular prefabricated homes - International Conference on sustainmable design, engineering and construction. s.l. : Procedia Engineering. 145 (2016). 10.1016/j.proeng.2016.04.166
20
National Audit Office. Homebuilding: Measuring Construciton Performance. 2007, London: National Audit Office.
21
M. Lawson, R. Ogden, and C. Goodier, Design for Modular Construction cited in Goulding J and Rahimian FP (2020) Offsite Production and Manufactiuring for innovatice Construction. People, Process and Technology. 2014, Oxon: Routledge.
22
T.J. van vuuren and C. Middleton, Methodology for Quantifying the benefits of offsite construction. 2020, London: CIRIA.
23
M.F. Mohammad, A.S. Baharin, M.F. Musa, and M.R. Yusof, The potential application of IBS Modular system in teh construction of housing Scheme in Malaysia. s.l. : Procedia Socail and Behavioural Sciences. 222 (2015). 10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.05.189
24
C.T. Haas, J.T. O'Connor, R.L. Tucker, J.A. Eickmann, and W.R. Fagerlund, Prefabrication and Preassembly trends and effects on the construction workforce. s.l. : Centre for Construction studies. 14 (2000).
25
W. Hseih, D. Norman, and D. Orsmond, Supply side issues in the housing sector. s.l. : Reserve Bank of Australia. 2012, Vols. Bulletin, Sept (2012).
26
Urbis. National Dwelling cost study. Australia : National Housing Supply Council. (2011).
27
M. Sutrisna, C.D.D. Ramanyaka, and J.S. Goulding, Developing work break down structure matrix for managing off site construction projects. 5, s.l. : Architectural Engineering and Design Management. 14 (2018). 10.1080/17452007.2018.1477728
28
A.G. Gibb, Standardization and pre-assembly-distinguishing myth from reality using case study research. 3, s.l. : Construction Management Economics. 19 (2001). 10.1080/01446190010020435
29
H. Jang, H .Jang, S. Roh, and Y. Ahn, Analysis of embodied Carbon Emissions for a relocatable modular steel building in South Korea. 2, s.l. : International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development. 12 (2021). 10.3390/buildings12010051
30
KPMG (Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler). Smart Construction: How offsite manufacturing can trasnform our industry. 2016, London: KPMG LLP.
31
ILO (International Labor Organisation). Prevention: A global strategy: Promoting Safety and Health at Work. Geneva: International Labor organisation. (2005).
32
S.J. Schuldt, M.R. Nicholson, Y.A. Adams, and J.D. Delorit, Weather-Related Construction Delays in a Changing Climate: A systematic State of the Art Review. Sustainability. (2021). 10.3390/su13052861
33
P.-Y. Hsu, M. Aurisicchio, and P. Angeloudis, Optimal Logistics Planning for Modular Construction Using Multi-Stage Stochastic Programming. Transport Research. (2020), pp. 245-252. 10.1016/j.trpro.2020.03.187
34
MetOffice. Our Seasons. Met Office. [Online], 2022. Available at: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/met-office-for-schools/other-content/other-resources/our-seasons [Accessed: 6/10/2022]
35
Agency, Weather Insurance. Rain amount Guidelines. Weather Insurance Agency [Online], 2022. Available at: https://weatherins.com/rain-guidelines/ [Accessed: 1/12/2022]
36
C. Clark, Downward Trend in the Frequency of Destructive Hailstorms and Maximum Hailstone Size in England and Wales. Bruton, Somerset : s.n., 2020, Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, pp. 57-70. 10.4236/gep.2020.84005
37
NWS (National Weather Service). Estimating Wind Speed. National Weather Service, Oregon [Online], 2022. Available at: https://www.weather.gov/pqr/wind [Accessed: 6/10/2022]
38
BBC. Why is it so hot. BBC [Online], 2022. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zbwq47h [Accessed: 2/10/2022]
39
RICS. NRM2 october 2021. RICS [Online], 2021. 2nd October 2022. Available at: https://www.rics.org/globalassets/rics-website/media/upholding-professional-standards/sector-standards/construction/new-rules-of-measurment/nrm-2_october-2021.pdf.
40
MetOffice. Daily Weather Summary December 2018. Met Office [Online], 2022. Available at: https:// digital.nmla.metoffice.gov.uk/IO_79dd8935-39af-45d4-9a5a-26cf0e2e848e/ [Accessed: 2/10/2022]
41
Aecom. Spons Architects and Builders Price Book. Abingdon : CRC Press, 2019. 10.1201/9781003053675
42
construction News. UK ranked as 'worst major market for profit margins'. Construction News [Online], 2022. Available at: https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/financial/uk-ranked-as-worst-major-market-for-profit-margins-22-07- 2021/ [Accessed: 22/7/2022]
Information
  • Publisher :Sustainable Building Research Center (ERC) Innovative Durable Building and Infrastructure Research Center
  • Publisher(Ko) :건설구조물 내구성혁신 연구센터
  • Journal Title :International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development
  • Volume : 14
  • No :1
  • Pages :77-95
  • Received Date : 2023-01-02
  • Accepted Date : 2023-03-28
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.22712/susb.20230007
Journal Informaiton International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development
Online Submission
  • scopus
  • NRF
  • KOFST
  • KISTI Current Status
  • KISTI Cited-by
  • crosscheck
  • orcid
  • open access
  • ccl
  • isc
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close