http://hdl.handle.net/2117/3837 2013-05-24T17:47:56Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18774 Title: Model for enhancing integrated identification, assessment, and operational control of on-site environmental impacts and health and safety risks in construction firms Authors: Gangolells Solanellas, Marta; Casals Casanova, Miquel; Forcada Matheu, Núria; Fuertes Casals, Alba; Roca Ramon, Xavier Abstract: Certifiable management-system standards apply similar management techniques and principles, but each system still tends to have a separate structure in construction companies. Research and practice have demonstrated that management tasks may be duplicated when standards are implemented in parallel. Consequently, integrated management systems are strongly advocated. However, existing literature demonstrates that the integration of planning and control instruments involves a high level of uncertainty. This paper presents an innovative model to enhance the integration of environmental- and health and safety – management systems in construction companies, focusing on the subsystems for identifying, assessing, and operationally controlling environmental aspects and health and safety hazards and using risk as an integrating factor. The findings of this study have direct implications for both designers and contractors because the model helps to explicitly consider on-site environmental impacts and construction-worker safety during the design process and offers on-site guidance to eliminate the remaining impacts and risks or reduce them to acceptable levels. A case study is reported to illustrate the practical use of the proposed model and its benefits. 2013-04-11T14:36:42Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18738 Title: Influence of building type on post-handover defects in housing Authors: Forcada Matheu, Núria; Macarulla Martí, Marcel; Fuertes Casals, Alba; Casals Casanova, Miquel; Gangolells Solanellas, Marta; Roca Ramon, Xavier Abstract: Clients’ lack of involvement in defining quality requirements for dwellings built by developers leads to a perception of poor quality at the time of purchase. The research presented in this paper aims to broaden previous research on defects by analyzing the defects that remain in the post-handover stage, which usually lasts 12 months after the handover period, and identifying the factors that influence the appearance of these defects, determining whether a significant difference exists in the quality of the two main residential building types built by developers: flats and detached houses. It also analyzes and discusses the areas and elements in which the defects were detected. The data were obtained from client complaint forms completed after the handover of 95 dwellings in Spain. The data were then statistically analyzed using a t-test analysis, a Pearson’s parametric correlation, and a chi-square test. The research reveals that clients detect more defects in flats than in detached houses. The lower quality of the materials used in flats and the tighter schedule to which flats are subject may cause these differences. 2013-04-09T14:50:53Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18416 Title: Assessment of residential defects at post-handover Authors: Forcada Matheu, Núria; Macarulla Martí, Marcel; Love, Peter E.D. Abstract: In Spain, the Ley de Ordenación de la Edificación (Building Regulation Act) has established compulsory warranties to ensure that buildings meet basic requirements with regard to functionality, general safety and structure, fireproofing, and use and habitability. Despite the requirements of this regulatory body, defects in newly built dwellings remain a pervasive problem, which has resulted in a plethora of complaints to the Instituto Nacional del Consumo (National Institute for Consumers ’ Protection), which deals with consumer protection in Spain. In this paper, a total of 2,351 post-handover defects derived from four Spanish builders and seven residential developments are classified according to their location, subcontract, and element. The research reveals that the most common defects identified by customers at handover were incomplete tile grouting and incorrect fixtures and fittings in toilets. In addition, failure to apply second coats of paint to walls was deemed a problematic issue. Typical surface/appearance defects were found to include floor or wall unevenness, stains, mess, and small cracks and marks, primarily caused by lack of protection. In areas where fixtures, fittings, and finishes were of a similar nature, such as the kitchen and bathroom, defect types also arose. Determining the location, subcontract, and element where defects occur in residential buildings can provide invaluable knowledge about areas where builders are likely to make errors or mistakes or take deliberate shortcuts during construction. Thus, emphasis on quality control and supervision of subcontract trades, especially in the identified areas, and during the final stages of residential construction, are critical to ensure that defects are reduced. 2013-03-19T16:04:48Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18138 Title: On the design of a survey to measure effective communication in building Authors: Serrat Piè, Carles; Rodriguez, Sonia; Forcada Matheu, Núria Abstract: Although effective communication is identified as a key indicator of project performan ce, communication aspects on contractors’ evaluation are not yet included. This paper aims to review the most relevant contributions on the specific literature in order to design a survey to test for the parameters that affect effective communication among Construction Agents (CA), i.e. PM’s, builder, designer and other professionals participants, during the construction process of the project. The survey will be based on the experience and perceptions of the corresponding professionals in Spain. The availa bility of these par ameters is crucial and it represents basic information for developing procedures and tools for the evaluation and selection management of CAs. 2013-03-07T14:44:23Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/17362 Title: An ontology-based approach for on-site integrated environmental and health and safety management Authors: Gangolells Solanellas, Marta; Casals Casanova, Miquel Abstract: Este artículo tiene como objetivo favorecer la implementación de sistemas integrados de gestión ambiental y de seguridad salud en empresas constructoras, centrándose en el subsistema de control de los impactos ambientales y los riesgos de seguridad y salud en obra. La gran compatibilidad que presentan los requerimientos vinculados al control operacional establecidos en la normas ISO 14001:2004 y OHSAS 18001:2007 así como las interacciones existentes entre impactos ambientales y riesgos de seguridad y salud (Gangolells et al., 2009, Gangolells et al., 2010) han motivado el desarrollo de una ontología que permite construir un modelo integrado para el control operacional en obras de construcción. La aproximación desarrollada está fuertemente influenciada por la metodología de Noy y McGuiness (2001) y modela los conceptos clave y las relaciones del dominio de forma estructurada, extensibe, flexible, reutilizable y compartible. Esta aproximación basada en ontologías ha sido implementada mediante Protégé 3.4 beta y correctamente evaluada utilizando cuestiones de competencia, verificaciones internas y entrevistas de validación con expertos. Este artículo desarrolla la primera aproximación que permite representar, compartir, reutilizar y gestionar el conocimiento relacionado con el control operacional integrado en obra de las incidencias medioambientales y de seguridad y salud y sienta las bases para poder superar la mayoría de las barreras que las empresas constructoras deben afrontar durante el proceso de implementación de un sistema de gestión integrada. Description: Article publicat originalment a "Revista ingeniería de construcción", vol. 27, núm. 3, Desembre 2012, p. 103-127. ISSN 0716 - 2952. http://www.ricuc.cl/index.php/ric/article/view/417/pdf 2013-01-14T19:49:14Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/17220 Title: Resilience to increasing temperatures: residential building stock adaptation through codes and standards Authors: Gangolells Solanellas, Marta; Casals Casanova, Miquel Abstract: The resilíence of the current Spanish residentia[ building stock to increased temperatures is modelled. Homogenized dai[y temperature data recorded at 50 Spanish meteorological stations for the periods 1950-1979 and 1981-2010 were used to investigate anticipated dimate warming on the Spanish residential building stock by means of the degree-day method. Impacts on residential buildings were investigated for three different future time periods (2011-2040, 2041-2070 and 2071-2100) for three representative Spanish provincial capitals. Future dimate change scenarios comprising two statistical downscaling methods, three general circulation mode[s and two carbon emission scenarios were used to project [ocal dimate. Results show that 72% of current residential building stock in Spain is thermally unprotected. In addítion, the energy demand for heating the building sector in Spain is expected to decrease by between 30% (Barcelona, B2 scenario) and 36% (Valencia, A2 scenario) by 2100, while the respective energy demand for cooling could increase by between 107% (Valencia, B2 scenario) and 296% (Madrid, A2 scenario) by 2100. To inerease resilience to higher winter and summer temperatures, strategies for modifying the built environment are needed, particu[arly for the role of building codes and standards. 2013-01-08T19:27:20Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/16949 Title: Energy and sensitivity analysis of Spanish dwelling stock Authors: Hernández Sánchez, Juan Manuel; Roca Ramon, Xavier Abstract: The main aim of this paper is to know how household and dwelling related independent variables affect dependent variables: energy consumption and expenditure on energy. It is also an aim to know how energy prices and income levels affect energy consumption. Therefore, sensitivity analyses of both variables have been performed. Finally, energy price sensitivity is used to predict energy consumption for the Spanish dwelling stock in 2030. Data are extracted from the household budget survey for the period 2006 to 2010, with a sample size of around 24 000 households per year. The independent variables which have a greater effect size on the dependent variables are: energy source for heating, type of household, useful floor area, size of municipality, type of residential area, type of tenure and monthly level of net household income. Energy consumption is sensitive to energy prices, and each energy source has a different degree of sensitivity. If the price per kWh were raised one euro cent, this would result in an increase of 6.9% in electricity and decreases of 6.5% in natural gas, 5.5% in liquefied gas and 15.5% in other liquid fuels. The significant increase in electricity consumption in recent years masks its real sensitivity to its price. Reduction of income would result in a reduction of energy consumption. If income were reduced by 10%, energy consumption would fall by 3.5%. Based on predicted energy prices by 2030 and on energy price sensitivity, electricity consumption will increase by 26% and natural gas, liquefied gas and other liquid fuels consumptions will reduce by 38.4%, 23.4% and 59.8%, respectively 2012-11-19T14:50:46Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/16813 Title: Knowledge management perceptions in construction and design companies Authors: Forcada Matheu, Núria; Fuertes Casals, Alba; Gangolells Solanellas, Marta; Casals Casanova, Miquel; Macarulla Martí, Marcel Abstract: Knowledge management (KM) has been studied extensively in recent years. Some consider knowledge to be the most strategically important resource for any company, but the fragmented, project-based and task-oriented nature of construction work makes it more difficult to implement KM in this sector. This paper presents a survey of perceptions of KM implementation in the Spanish construction sector and compares the results obtained from design and construction firms. Data were collected from the leading civil engineering companies in Spain. The survey found that the Spanish construction industry is aware of the benefits of KM but that systematic KM is not generally implemented. The findings clearly demonstrate that changes in organizational culture are critical to successful KM. The survey also revealed some distinctions between the KM perception of design firms and that of construction firms. 2012-10-29T15:03:28Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/14482 Title: Identifying potential health and safety risks at the pre-construction stage Authors: Gangolells Solanellas, Marta; Casals Casanova, Miquel; Forcada Matheu, Núria; Roca Ramon, Xavier; Fuertes Casals, Alba; Macarulla Martí, Marcel; Vilella, Quirze Abstract: Previous researches have demonstrated that decisions made during the pre-construction stage have a big influence on the construction worker safety. This paper introduces a systematic approach for dealing with health and safety risks during the pre-construction stage. The developed methodology helps designers to calculate the safety-related performance of their residential construction designs, providing a consistent basis for comparisons between them. In order to avoid a typical shortcoming in the evaluation of health and safety risks, indicators are based on quantitative data available in the project documents. Significance limits are statistically obtained with the analysis of 25 new-start construction projects 2012-01-12T09:19:49Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/14114 Title: Monitorización y salud estructural: aplicación de la fibra óptica distribuida (OBR) en estructuras de hormigón Authors: Villalba Herrero, Sergi; Casas Rius, Joan Ramon Abstract: El uso de la fibra óptica Optical Backscatter Reflectometer (OBR), es una tecnología de sensores de medición prometedora para la monitorización estructural (SHM) “Structural Health Monitoring”, ya que ofrece la posibilidad de un seguimiento continuo de la deformación y la temperatura a lo largo de la fibra. En la presente investigación se muestra el uso de la fibra OBR en losas de hormigón armado demostrando la potencialidad de la detección de fisuras, así como la compatibilidad de la adherencia de la OBR en las superficies de hormigón. Los resultados obtenidos en los ensayos realizados hasta rotura, muestran el éxito de los sensores. La exactitud de los resultados obtenidos valida el uso de esta técnica de monitorización para la detección de la aparición prematura de fisuras, así como su evolución y comportamiento prematuro. Asimismo mediante el uso de esta técnica no sólo se es capaz de detectar microfisuras, sino también medir correctamente los niveles de carga que producen fisuras con aperturas superiores a 1 mm. 2011-11-29T15:39:50Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/14113 Title: Diseño y validación experimental de uniones mediante superposición con lazos en viaductos de hormigón de sección transversal evolutiva Authors: Villalba Herrero, Sergi; Aparicio Bengoechea, Ángel Carlos; Casas Rius, Joan Ramon Abstract: En este trabajo se estudia el diseño y la posterior validación experimental de una unión estructural de longitud limitada, basada en la superposición a través de lazos de armaduras yuxtapuestas, confinadas en su interior mediante armadura transversal, para materializar el enlace de dos elementos estructurales ejecutados en distintas fases de hormigonado. En la presente investigación se analiza la respuesta y el comportamiento frente a flexión simple de 16 losas de hormigón armado, cuya totalidad, engloban dos campañas experimentales, una primera frente a carga estática, seguida de una segunda frente a carga cíclica. Los parámetros de longitud total del lazo proyectado y del diámetro empleado son analizados y comparados frente a la capacidad última resistente. Asimismo, los valores obtenidos son cotejados con los obtenidos mediante las losas de referencia (sin dispositivo de unión) para validar su aplicabilidad. 2011-11-29T15:28:15Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/11891 Title: Assessing concerns of interested parties when predicting the significance of environmental impacts related to the construction process of residential buildings Authors: Gangolells Solanellas, Marta; Casals Casanova, Miquel; Gassó Domingo, Santiago; Forcada Matheu, Núria; Roca Ramon, Xavier; Fuertes Casals, Alba Abstract: The most common challenges and obstacles encountered by construction organizations during the process of implementing and using environmental management systems are related to the inherent peculiarities of the construction sector. Several studies have shown that one of the issues involving the greatest level of uncertainty is the identification and assessment of environmental impacts. In order to improve the identification of the significance of environmental impacts of construction projects and sites, which will lead to greater efficiency and robustness in environmental management systems, this paper extends the systematic approach for identifying and assessing potential adverse environmental impacts at the pre-construction stage presented in Gangolells et al. (2009) by introducing the assessment of the concerns of interested parties. By considering concerns amongst internal and external interested parties, one can assess the significance of environmental impacts taking into account not only the severity of the impacts but also local perceptions and international challenges, thereby ensuring that the determination of the impacts’ significance is appropriate to the particular socioeconomic and biophysical environments surrounding construction sites. In order to quantitatively measure concerns among internal and external interested parties for each of the 37 environmental impacts related to a construction project, we developed corresponding indicators and assessment scales with the help of a panel of experts. A series of χ2 tests conducted over 76 new-start construction projects clearly revealed that the severity of environmental impacts is not correlated with the concerns of interested parties. The development of a formal quantitative method and the subsequent definition of a threshold make it possible to obtain advance knowledge of the significance – and, therefore, the acceptability – of each potential environmental impact for a particular construction project. A total score for each construction project alternative is also obtained, so the improved methodology provides a consistent basis for comparing construction companies and construction sites. Finally, two case studies are presented in order to demonstrate the benefits of the improved methodology. 2011-03-16T15:47:34Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/10245 Title: Guía de actividades docentes para la formación en integración e igualdad de oportunidades por razón de discapacidad en las enseñanzas técnicas: accesibilidad universal y diseño para todos Authors: Guasch Murillo, Daniel; Corbalán Fuertes, Montserrat; Dotras Ruscalleda, Pilar; Llinares Fité, Montserrat; Aguado Roca, María Teresa; Bestraten Castells, Sandra Cinta; Bordas Eddy, Marta; Casals Casanova, Miquel; Catala Roig, Neus; Salán Ballesteros, Maria Núria; Ruiz Vela, Inmaculada; Román Jiménez, José Antonio; Roca Ramon, Xavier; Lamich Arocas, Manuel; Jaen Fernandez, Carles; Hormias Laperal, Emilio; Gangolells Solanellas, Marta; Ferrán Gonzálvez, Carlos; Esquerra Llucià, Ignasi; Simó Mezquita, Ester; Usandizaga Calparsoro, Miguel M. Description: Estudio financiado por el MEC, Programa Estudio y Análisis 2010-11-10T13:54:54Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/10180 Title: Knowledge management and e-learning for underground construction projects Authors: Fuertes Casals, Alba; Forcada Matheu, Núria; Casals Casanova, Miquel; Gangolells Solanellas, Marta; Roca Ramon, Xavier; Ballester, Francisco; Diego, Ruben; De la Horra, Jose Manuel Abstract: This paper describes a Knowledge management system (SGAC - Active Knowledge Management System) to manage the knowledge generated in a research project. This system aims both at organizing project information during the project and at transferring this knowledge to other researches from the same scientific domain so as to enhance e-learning. This paper approaches the problem of knowledge transfer from a case study angle.The system is developed inside "The Multidimensional City" project, which is a multi-disciplinary research project that promotes the development and implementation of Spanish technological innovation in undergrond construction. The SGAC system aims at achieving full integration of large set of contents created in research projects related to underground construction sites. Then, the project has developed several types of metadata for tagging and enriching contents. All this enriched information becomes the base of different e-learning courses in underground construction, promoting an updated education in this knowledge area and the dissemination of the results generated in the research project. 2010-11-08T15:38:46Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/9304 Title: Identifying potential environmental impacts at the pre-construction stage Authors: Gangolells Solanellas, Marta; Casals Casanova, Miquel; Gassó Domingo, Santiago; Forcada Matheu, Núria; Roca Ramon, Xavier; Fuertes Casals, Alba Abstract: This paper introduces a systematic approach for dealing with potential adverse environmental impacts at the pre-construction stage. The proposed methodology serves as an assessment tool for construction projects to measure the environmental performance of their construction activities. It also provides a consistent basis for comparisons and for future eco-labelling and environmental benchmarking among construction companies and constructies sites. Within the methodological framework, nine categories of environmental aspects are proposed: atmospheric emissions; water emissions; waste generation; soil alteration; resource consumption; local issues; transport issues, effects on biodiversity; and incident, accidents and potential emergency situations. The methodology includes twenty performance indicators developed with the help of a panel of experts. In order to avoid a typical shortcoming in environmental assessments methods, these environmental project documents. Significance limits for environmental aspects are also developed based on a statistical analysis of 55 new-start construction projects. Two case studies are provided to illustrate the practical use of the proposed methodology. 2010-10-04T18:21:36Z