There has been an increase in research on risk management practice in the construction industry. However, little research has been conducted to systematically investigate the overall aspects of risk management on the perspectives of various project participants. This paper reports the findings of an empirical Chinese industry survey on the importance of project risks, application of risk management techniques, status of the risk management system, and the barriers to risk management, which were perceived by the main project participants. The risk management strategies adopted in the Three Gorges Project were also studied. The study reveals that: Most project risks are commonly of concern to project participants; the industry has shifted from risk transfer to risk reduction; current risk management systems are inadequate to manage project risks; and lack of joint risk management mechanisms is the key barrier to adequate risk management. Future studies should be conducted to systematically improve the risk ...

The Lancang–Mekong River basin, as an important transboundary river in Southeast Asia, is challenged by rapid socio-economic development, especially the construction of hydropower dams. Furthermore, substantial factors, such as terrain, rainfall, soil properties and agricultural activity, affect and are highly susceptible to soil erosion and sediment yield. This study aimed to estimate average annual soil erosion in terms of spatial distribution and sediment deposition by using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) and GIS techniques. This study also applied remote sensing and available data sources for soil erosion analysis. Annual soil erosion in most parts of the study area range from 700 to 10,000 t/km²/y with a mean value of 5350 t/km²/y. Approximately 45% of the total area undergoes moderate erosion. Moreover, the assessments of sediment deposition and erosion using the modified RUSLE and the GIS techniques indicate high sediment erosion along the flow direction of the mainstream, from the upper Mekong River to the Mekong Delta. The northern part of the upper Mekong River and the central and southern parts of the lower Mekong River are the most vulnerable to the increase in soil erosion rates, indicating sediment deposition.

Partnering and its principles have increasingly been introduced to the construction industry to improve the efficiency of project delivery. However, little research outlines the mechanism behind its application. This paper presents the findings of a study that was conducted to develop and test a partnering model that reveals the relationships between the critical success factors (CSFs) of partnering and demonstrates their importance to construction. With support of data collected from the Chinese construction industry, this study has revealed strong correlations among partnering CSFs, risk management, total quality management (TQM), use of incentives, and project performance. It is concluded that project success is the outcome of the interaction between a variety of techniques, and that partnering, associated with incentives, is a basic management method through which risk management and TQM can be strongly improved.

The engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) method is gaining more acceptance worldwide as a project delivery strategy due to the construction efficiencies gained through making one organization responsible for integration of the processes of design, procurement, and construction. Such EPC projects are not without their difficulties—for example, the time pressures frequently brought by overlapping design, procurement, and construction increase uncertainty and complexity in managing the multiple interfaces between different interacting stakeholders. This paper aims to quantitatively and systematically examine how trust, openness, and communication interrelate to improve interface management performance in international EPC projects. A conceptual model is developed and tested with data collected from a questionnaire survey and interviews. The path analysis demonstrates that trust not only can be directly conducive to interface management but also has a positive impact on interface management through enhanced interorganizational openness and communication. Social network analysis visualizes contractors’ industrial relations and reveals different impacts of stakeholders in trust and interface networks of international EPC contractors. This study advances previous research by developing a systematic framework on the basis of trust for understanding and promoting interface management. Understanding the in-depth underlying interrelations of trust, openness, and communication can contribute to improving alignment between stakeholders and to appropriately applying interface management in practice.

Engineering-Procurement-Construction (EPC) method has become commonly adopted in international construction markets, in which contractors bear enormous risks. Previous studies suggest the need to improve contractors’ risk management by partnering with project participants and enhancing their organizational capability. Nevertheless, limited research has systematically and quantitatively addressed the causal relationships among them. This study quantifies the relationships among these themes via the development and validation of a conceptual mediation model. With supporting data from Chinese contractors, this research outlines the statuses on contractors’ risk management, application of partnering, and their organizational capability. Path analysis validates that partnering not only effectively facilitates risk management via promotion of contractor capability but also directly enhances risk management. Canonical correlation analyses further reveal the different degrees to which partnering critical ...

Green buildings (GB) have been globally adopted for sustainable development by enhancing the resource efficiency, reducing the operation cost, and improving the building environment for users. However, little research has systematically explored the key issues of GB in developing countries. This study has revealed the green technical capabilities and barriers to GB in Thailand from the perspectives of consultants, architects, and engineers, using a questionnaire survey and a case study. The results show experience in meeting the combined requirements of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the green building rating system that Thailand developed in 2010, Thailand’s Rating of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (TREES), and “skilled in energy systems” to be the top two most important green technical capabilities. Barriers to GB mainly arise from financial pressure, technical limitations, and inadequate promotion. “Lack of motivations from owners” and “high initial cost” are ranked as the top two barriers to green building. The results collectively reveal that market demand and technological advancement are fundamental drivers for the GB industry, and the government, economic conditions, education, and corporate social responsibility are the other stimuli for the industry. The findings can help project participants adopt appropriate strategies to boost GB in emerging markets in developing countries. Future policies should focus on increasing market demand, encouraging green technology innovation, and reducing the cost of development and construction of GB.