Friday 31 August 2012

THAILAND CONSTRUCTION DATA

DATA SUMMARY

THE 2012 CONSTRUCTION AREA : Q1/2012

The National Statistical Office has collected data on permitted area both new construction, and addition or alteration since 1966. The data use for calculating the National Account, Real estate Indicators and for policy maker on economics and social development plan.

Data presented are the permitted construction area by municipal areas and Sub–District administrative organization with in building control regulation under the Construction Control Act : B.E. 2522 in 1Q12 of the nation. The main findings are follows as;

1. Number of permitted and construction area
In 1Q12, the total permitted number of new construction building and addition or alteration were 43,432 persons, composed of 38,611 persons of construction building and 4,821 persons of civil engineering construction.

1.1 Construction building
The permitted of construction building with the floor area of about 15.8 million square meters, most of them (98.0%) were new construction and those of addition or alteration were 2.0%.

Comparing to the 4Q11, the permitted number of new construction increased by 17.0% and floor area increased by 12.8%. If compare to the 1Q11, the permitted number decreased by 6.1% and floor area decreased by 7.0%.

1.2 Civil engineering construction

For the civil engineering construction, the permitted number of about 4,821 persons, most of them (99.4%) were new construction and 0.6% was addition or alteration. In term of floor area such as the Car Park, Sport Ground, Petrol Station, Advertising Board, Swimming Pool, etc., there were totally 367,490 square meters. In term of the length of civil engineering construction such as Water-Drain, Road, Fence/Wall, Bridge, Dam etc., there were totally 445,424 meters.

Compared with 4Q11, the permitted number increased 14.1%. The floor area and the length of the construction decreased by 16.4% and 13.4% respectively.

Compared to the 1Q11 it was found that the permitted number of construction increase about

6.2% and floor area increase 28.0%. But the length of construction decreased by 27.9%

2. Type of construction building

2.1 The construction building

The Residential Buildings floor area of permitted were 10.3 million square meters (65.0%). Followed by Commercial and Office Building were 2.5 million square meters (15.8%).

The Industrial and Factory Building were 1.8 million square meters (11.6%). For Hotel Buildings

about 0.3 million square meters (1.9%). Education and Health Building were 189,698 square meters.

The overall permitted construction floor area (15.8 million square meters) increased of 12.8% from 4Q11, especially the Industrial and Factory Building increased by 133.3 %. The Commercial and Office Building increased of 37.1%. The Construction area for Residential Buildings increased about 12.1%. But the Hotel

Building decreased 74.4%, Education and Health Building decrease about 3.1%. from 4Q11.

Compared to the 1Q11 it was found that the permitted of construction floor area about 17.0

million square meters or decreased by 7.0%.

2.2 The civil engineering construction

For the civil engineering construction, the Water Drain construction was permitted about 253,248 meters (56.9%), there were 106,599 meters (23.9%) of Fence/Wall and about 76,598 meters (17.2%) of Road.

The total length (meters) of civil engineering construction permitted were 445,424 meters, decreased 13.4% from 4Q11, and decreased 27.9 % from 1Q11.

The floor area of civil engineering construction in term of the floor area such as Car Park was permitted 218,766 square meters (59.5%), Petrol Station was 29,420 square meters (8.0%).

Advertising Board was 14,946 square meters (4.1%), And Sport Ground was 17,359 square meters

(4.7%). Compared to the 4Q11, the overall permitted construction floor area was 367,490 square meters, decreased by 16.4% but 28.0% increased from 1Q11.

Source :. National Statistical Office Thailand

http://web.nso.go.th/en/survey/construction/data/const12q1_dsum.pdf

Friday 17 August 2012

PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN SUPERMARKET DEVELOPMENT -

A CASE STUDY OF SUPERMARKET PROJECT IN VIETNAM

Tran Minh Nghia

Abstract

This report studied the owner’s project management in supermarket development in design, tender and construction phase. The first objective was to analyze the problems of the project management in design, tender and construction phase. The second objective was to suggest the solutions to resolve these problems.

The study found that the owner had some problems in organizational structure, project delivery system, design management, tender management and construction management (including project time management, project cost management and project quality management). Some recommendations were suggested to solve these problems to help the owner manage the project successfully.

Executive summary

Rationale of research

This research has been conducted to identify project management process in supermarket development projects in Vietnam.

Objectives of study

To study the project management in supermarket development in design, tender and construction phase, To analyze the problems of the project management in design, tender and construction phase and suggestion of framework for the project management in supermarket development in design, tender and construction phase.

Methodology

The exploratory approach was used to understand project management process at different stages through literature review, professional journal articles, and books.

Findings and conclusion

Owner’s construction project management takes an important role in the project development process. It has a major contribution to the project’s success. The study observed the owner’s development of supermarket project in design, tender and construction phases and concluded as follows:

In design phase, the relationship between the owner and the design professional is crucial. The professional services agreement between two parties is the key document in defining this relationship as well as the owner’s goals and objectives for the project. The owner monitors design activities by reviewing and approving contract documents, progress reports and other submittals which provide the opportunity for prompt decision-making.

In tender phase, the owner formulates a selection procedure that emphasizes the evaluation of constructor qualifications. The owner evaluates these qualifications and makes a list of bidders who are most likely to be capable of completing the project successfully. Because the owner has developed a great numbers of supermarket projects, they have a list of qualified contractors to select for bid. Therefore, they can save time for make a list of pre-qualified bidders. The bid consultant assists the owner in the contractor selection process.

In construction phase, the objective is to build the project in accordance with the plans and specifications within budget and on schedule. The owner’s project management focused on time, cost and quality of the project. The project time and cost management of the owner was adequate and suitable to procedures and principles. However, the project quality management of the owner was inadequate. The owner didn’t establish the quality management system which is an important factor impacted the project quality.

Recommendations

Clearly defined and assigned roles and responsibilities
Has qualified and experience manpower in construction project management.
The selection of an appropriate form of project delivery
Contract documents that clearly define the responsibilities of team members
Provide adequate funding.

Tuesday 14 August 2012

DESIGN MANAGEMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT -

A CASE STUDY OF THE PHU MY 3 PROJECT

Nguyen Nong Truong Thanh

Abstract

Infrastructure is the key to creating a dynamic, attractive, and thriving economic climate in communities around the world. It is important to nations’ future development and plays a critical role in creating and enhancing sustainable living conditions. Therefore, the planning, design and construction of full infrastructure system is of vital importance in developed and developing countries and in rural and urban areas, as it supports and connects our communities.

In recent years, the construction market have been swiftly blooming, especially the real-estate market in Vietnam. Thousands of the residential areas have been sprouting in the metropolis. This is one of important reason, why the government and the local authorities are attempting to invest and improve infrastructure system. This reason not only creating the huge market for construction consultancies but also raising these challenges for owners for managing these ones in design. Additionally, the owners have been facing the complexity of these infrastructure projects increasingly.

However, the role, the responsibility and the involvement of owner and consultant in each phase is unclear. Additionally, the design manager is not enough skills to meet the requirement of infrastructure project. As a result, the delay of pre-construction phase and the poor quality of existing buidlings as witnessed by the process of bad design management. The main purpose of this study is to conduct an intensive exploration and into the most problematic design management areas and to seek the invovement of owner and consultant and their skills as design manager in pre-construction phase for complex infrastructure projects in Vietnam, and assist owner and consultant finding appropriate solution and precise recommendations to improve them. Analysis of a case study in Vietnam suggests that owners requires careful planning, innovative managerial approaches, attention to behavioral issues, appropriate communication and information technologies, and mutual understanding of parties' roles and responsibilities.

Executive summary

Rationale of research

This research has been conducted to identify problems in design process in infrastructure projects in Vietnam.

Objectives of study

To study the design management process and problems in the process for recommendations

Methodology

The exploratory approach was used to understand the overall role of all sides in managing design and background of important design management with which design management problems are identified. Data were employed through direct interviews with the design managers, documentary evidence including all involved companies information on the internet professional journal articles, books.

Findings and conclusion

Design management is the way of how to get things done through the organization of design process is structured appropriately for project’s objectives, requirements, and resources. With developing market in Vietnam, the changes in legal always bring huge risk and therefore research to find out the suitable process for adapting the potential risk necessarily.

This study has successfully demonstrated an intensive exploration into the importance of design management in construction firm in Vietnam. A Concentration has been on analyzing and exploring the most arising issues in design management that significantly impact project performance. The findings resulted from thorough analyses based on the role and responsibility of design manager and the lack of skills for managing design work.

A case study has also been used that reflected major real-life problems found particularly in design management under a large and complex project in Vietnam, and closely related to the findings identified throughout the study.

Recommendations

According to the above results of analysis and assessment, illustrate that the current design management process has many serious issues that need to solve immediately to repeatedly avoid critical problems in future.

A good management process will effectively support for managers. It helps managers having a whole view of project aspects; detect the arising problems in the process rapidly, so that they can make a best decision to prepare errors. There are some following solutions need to apply to reducing minimal for the above process.

· Firstly, the project manager must monitor ability of key individuals to know they can deal with their works by themselves or not in order to replace them instantly.

· Secondly, the project manager must organize weekly meeting to monitor the project progress, know the arising problems, and let key members of the project can understand what they have been facing and find out best solution for them.

· Thirdly, the project manager must avoid interrupting the project’ information. The issues and solutions must timely inform and send to key individuals via their email. If necessary, he needs to arrange an official meeting and ensure that they must participate fully.

· Finally, the company must appoint a person to keep soft and hard documents by the best method in order to any people who take part in the project can easily find when they need but do not depend on the keeper or set sharing file for them.

Monday 13 August 2012

Faculty Positions in Military College of Engineering,
National University of Science & Technology,Pakistan

Qualification: Masters, PHD in construction management

For Pakistani Candidates

Please contact:

Dr Manzoor Hussain
Associate professor
Head of Department Transportation & Geo-technical Engineering
mhussain@mce.nust.edu.pk

Saturday 11 August 2012

PROJECT OWNER’S CONSTRUCTABILITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM – A CASE STUDY OF SOUTH RACH CHIEC RESETTLEMENT AND RESIDENTIAL PROJECT

Nguyen Hong Thanh

Abstract

This report expresses the main key issues in Constructability Management System that known as an important part for any organization wants to study and develop the constructability practices.

This report, which refers to some theories and the standards system, has expressed the concept of constructability practices in construction. These constructability theories and practices are in organization, in the owner side, requires for the owner’s constructability concept and practices in construction and its benefits. The study and its concept have briefed the main factors that most effect to the specific project studied from public reports and the key points to control project constructability concept and practices from the conceptual planning stage to construction stage. This report has introduced a constructability concept to the developers for the purpose of amendment to the existing constructability management system in order to obtain a complete constructability management system for better managing project.

The case study of this report is the case study on the South Rach Chiec resettlement and residential project that established to run and deliver an international project of the Keppel Land Vietnam. Via this project case study, the findings on the existing constructability concept, constructability practices and the application from the previous part to this existing constructability management system for improvement will be the foundation of constructability management system for toward Keppel Land’ projects.

Executive summary

Rationale of research

This research has been conducted to identify constructability issues in residential building projects in Vietnam.

Objectives of study

To study current approaches to constructability practices in a complex functional project with high-rise building and commercial office, determine the methodology to improve constructability practices during conceptual planning stage, design and procurement stage, construction stage.

To study the problems occurring in constructability practices and provide the solution to adapt constructability practices and recommendations.

Methodology

Initially five key issues of constructability are considered. They are: developing the project objectives and definition, project conceptual planning stage, project design stage, project procurement stage, project construction stage. Each stage offers a very important pros & cons opportunities for constructability improvements during those phases.

Data collection and gathering information from research theories. To develop comparison and applying those theories to the existing constructability management system, in order to improve it.

Findings and conclusion

Case study mentioned the understanding of constructability concepts applied in reality with limited acknowledgement of personal capacity. However, there are some observations from findings that might need to review to improve the constructability concepts and practices.

The company should improve following matter to enhance constructability in specific project as per discussion:

1. Contract Review

2. Selection of Consultants/Contractors/Suppliers or Procurement

3. Design Review

4. Process Control

5. Coordination and Communication

6. Control of quality records

In order to conduct constructability practices in the project successfully, the company would develop proper training courses to operation level and management level to be able to acknowledge the appropriate concepts of constructability.

Recommendations

Improve constructability concept and practices in project planning stage
Improve constructability concept and practices in project design and procurement stage
Improve constructability concept and practices in project construction stage

Wednesday 8 August 2012

STRATEGIC BEHAVIOUR APPLICATION IN MEDIUM-SIZE CONSTRUCTION: A CASE STUDY OF CAMBODIAN CONTRACTOR

Vannaro Kao

Abstract

The research aimed to study the strategic behavior application in medium size contractor in term of corporate strategies, business strategies, functional strategies, project operational strategies and strategic performance. Using an applied case study methodology, one road infrastructure construction company interviewing the president, general manager, each functional manager and senior project manager readjusted the strategic behavior theory in Thai contractors applying in Cambodian contractor. Under the case, the research findings of Hastheetham and Hadikusumo could be validated in case of Cambodian contractor. Moreover, the case proposed that the leadership style should be included as another component of project operational strategy. The readjusted framework could serve as a systematical guideline to develop integrated each level of strategic behavior and suggest the way of choosing an appropriate strategy in a specific situation.

Key words: Strategic behavior, corporate strategies, business strategies, functional strategies, project operational strategies, strategic result performance, contractor.

Executive summary

Rationale of research

This research has been conducted to identify behavioural strategies of medium size contractors from Cambodia.

Objectives of study

The main objective of this research is to analyse strategic behavior application in medium size contractor in term of corporation strategies, business strategies, functional strategies, project operational strategies and strategic performance.

Methodology

The methodology for qualitative study is formed by instrument design, data collection, data analysis, and compiling the finding. Qualitative study methodology (Case study) has its purpose to fulfill the study’s objective which essays to study in medium size contractor of strategic behavior.

Findings and conclusion

The objective is to study strategic behaviour application in medium size contractor in term of corporation strategies, business strategies, functional strategies, project operational strategies and strategic performance. The literature review had been completely conducted to synthesize the key terminology related to strategic management in all level of the firm. The data analysis is purpose to validate the case of Arthasith’s strategic behaviour framework which is applied in Cambodia. To validate the data, the president and general manager of the firm ‘A’ are the key respondents to choose, to recommend, to advise, to adjust the attributes and provide more information the real firm practice.

Research Findings

The research findings under the case of Cambodian contractor are significantly valid the finding of (Hadikusumo & Hastheetham, 2011) in the theoretical framework of strategic behavior in Thai construction.

· Besides, it is keen that the case in Cambodia proposed a very logical sense that company should know itself about the internal strength and weakness. The case suggested that expanding the horizontal growth whenever it intends to maximize the strength while extending the vertical growth whenever it intends to overcome its weakness.

· Company could not implement Knowledge management as to manager the project via electronic media because of the limitation of communication infrastructure of Cambodia.

· Further to another key finding that the case proposed is leadership style should be integrated into the project operational strategy since it is one of the key important success factors in the project.

Strategic behavior application in Cambodian medium size contractor case

Key implication of environment while the attributes finding stated below are the Strategic behavior applied in each level of company’s case from the top level management to the operational level. And it ends up with strategic performance measurement. The information of each level strategy is analyzed in detail and the framework which is applied and already adjusted by the case of Cambodian contractor. The main factors found are:

· Implication of environment emphasizing on the internal and external environment

· Corporation strategy attributes are horizontal and vertical integration growth

· Business level attributes are mode and scope competition

· Functional strategy attributes include functional strategy, technology strategy, IT strategy, procurement strategy, HR strategy, and marketing strategy.

· Interestingly, the project operational level attributes includes the leadership style of the project management and followed by project focus, project structure, project manager authorization, project knowledge management, and project communication.

· The strategic performance is subjectively and objectively measured.

Monday 6 August 2012

Construction Engineering and Infrastructure Management (CEIM) - AIT

International Study Visit to Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, 1st - 5th August, 2012

Construction Engineering and Infrastructure Management (CEIM) - AIT

CEIM students, AIT, had a successful study visit to HCMC visiting following sites

- North-South Expressway (Ho Chi Minh - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Section)

- Diamond Island project (District 2)

and attended Applied Project Management course in Public Infrastructure Projects taught by Prof. Gary Griggs, who come from Standford University. This course is offered by Professional Master Program in Project Management in Construction (MPM) in Vietnam (HCMC, Ha Noi, and Can Tho)