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Cameron, I (1999) A goal setting approach to the practice of safety management in the construction industry: three case studies, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Building Engineering, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).
Farrell, P (1999) Construction site managers: an investigation into the career development and role of site managers on medium-sized construction projects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Building, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).
Smith, N J (1986) The study of criticality: An investigation based on network theory into the relationship between time and cost in civil engineering bridgeworks contracts and the measurement of the effects of change, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).
- Type: Thesis
- Keywords: construction method; bridges; duration; civil engineering; catastrophe theory; contract management; time control; cost control; measurement; operational time cost curves; simulation; validation; UK; network analysis
- ISBN/ISSN:
- URL: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.233393
- Abstract:
The study of criticality is concerned with the time and cost outturn performance of bridgeworks construction contracts carried out in accordance with the conventional admeasurement contract used for UK public works. The intrinsic nature of civil engineering work means that is likely to be subjected to change and it is the assessment and prediction of the capacity to absorb the adverse effects of change of different bridgeworks construction methods which forms the basis of the work. The format and historical performance of bridgeworks construction contracts was reviewed and some of the problems of the existing system identified. The majority of existing planning and control techniques are based on network analysis methods and hence a review of these methods was undertaken to determine the potential for assessing future contract behaviour. This work led into an investigation of time and cost relationships in construction. A study of theoretical time cost curves for construction contracts indicted the need for the reassessment of this type of information in a more practical form and the concept of the operational time cost curve was developed. This curve presents a chronological sequence of the different options and the associated costs of the alternative methods of reducing contract duration by increasing resources during the progress of the contract. The behaviour of the conventional contract, which can be regarded as a complex system influenced by key variables, is not clearly understood. The inexact science application of catastrophe theory was introduced to provide dimensionless mapping surfaces upon which behaviour of this type could be investigated. The criticality of the contract was shown to be a key component in the system. Using site data taken from the construction of the River Coquet Bridge and River Trent Bridge, operational time cost curves for a number of alternative designs at these sites were prepared. Using these curves and the simulation of a series of typical bridgeworks delays a measurement of criticality was obtained in terms of outturn time and cost. The rankings obtained from the criticality measurement were compared with the predicted outturn from integrated cost models and the work was shown to demonstrate progress in the measurement of criticality, although a complete validation was not possible due to lack of data. The practicability of incorporating the criticality measurement into existing contractual procedures was further investigated.