Valerijs Bitenieks – From a Student of Riga Polytechnic Institute to a Construction Contractor in the Independent Latvia

A paper on Valerijs Bitenieks, a graduate (1986) of the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering of Riga Polytechnic Institute (RPI), reflects on the daily life of the Soviet students in the 1980s, the work of a young engineer while he was trying various opportunities in the labour market and the engineer’s growth as a successful contractor in the independent Latvia in the 21st century. It traces the life of V. Bitenieks from his childhood to the present day, paying attention to his professional activities. The research provides an insight into students’ internships and extracurricular activities during the Soviet era. Unpublished photographic material unknown to the general public has been obtained.

A Case Study of a Negotiated Tender within a Small-to-Medium Construction Contractor: Modelling Project Cost Variance

This research explores the failure of competitively tendered projects in the UK construction industry to procure the most suited contractor(s) to conduct the works. Such work may have equal relevance for other developed nations globally. This research seeks to teach clients and their representatives that “lowest price” does not mean “best value”, by presenting a case study of a successfully negotiated tender undertaken by a small-to-medium enterprise (SME) contractor; SME studies are relatively scant in academic literature. By applying the “lessons learnt” principle, this study seeks to improve future practice through the development of a novel alternative procurement option (i.e., negotiation). A mixed philosophical stance combining interpretivism and pragmatism was used—interpretivism to critically review literature in order to form the basis of inductive research to discuss negotiation as a viable procurement route, and pragmatism to analyse perceptions of tendering and procurement. The methods used follow a three-stage waterfall process including: (1) literature review and pilot study; (2) quantitative analysis of case study data; and (3) qualitative data collection via a focus group. Our research underscores the need to advise clients and their representatives of the importance of understanding the scope of works allowed within a tender submission before discounting it based solely on price. In addition, we highlight the failings of competitive tendering, which results in increased costs and project duration once the works commence on site. These findings provide new contemporary insight into procurement and tendering in the construction industry, with emphasis on SME contractors, existing relationships, and open-book negotiation. This research illustrates the adverse effects of early cost estimates produced without first securing a true understanding of project buildability and programming. Our work concludes with a novel insight into an alternative procurement option that involves early SME contractor involvement in an open-book environment, without the need for a third-party cost control.

The main issue working with migrant construction labor: a case study in Thailand

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study and prioritize the problems impacted on construction work together migrant laborers, by using the Delphi technique. The case study is construction work in Bangkok and metropolitan zones, Thailand.Design/methodology/approachThe framework of the perceived issues caused by working with migrant construction labors especially migrant construction laborers from neighboring countries were identified from literature reviews. The issue list was sent to 162 experts seeking for their opinions. Subsequently, a questionnaire was created from 58 items of suitable issue lists according to expert's opinions. The questionnaires were then submitted to 147 respondents from construction contractor companies. Their responses were calculated and prioritized by means of the Delphi techniqueFindingsThe polling data showed its constancy on the second round of survey. There were 34 out of 58 items passed consensus criteria. The issue “Foreman obtained incompetent or inadequate trained migrant labors when relocate them from/to other site or job” ranked 1st in priority ranking with the average score of 4.56. Subproblems were appropriately prioritized according to their mean scores.Practical implicationsThe results of this research were expected to facilitate construction operators in making appropriate decisions and primary solution concerning main issue factors in working with migrant labors, in order to help even more increasing competition efficiency in Thai construction industries.Originality/valueThe research provides a list of main issue occurred in the case study. These outcomes are also expected to provide important information for other case studies on the issue working with migrant construction labor.

Issues of Cooperation between a Customer and a Construction Contractor in Fulfillment of a State (Municipal) Contract

The article draws a conclusion about the privileged position of a public participant in certain types of civil law relations (including the contract system in the field of procurement for state and municipal needs). Based on 10 years of experience in the field of public procurement and the analysis of judicial practice in recent years, the author identifies the most problematic aspects of the interaction of the parties to the contract regulating the relations of the construction contract: 1) issues related to the transfer of technical documentation; 2) going beyond the budget; 3) the difficulty of quickly resolving issues in the course of work; 4) signing of the necessary documents when accepting the work. The ways of solving the problems included in each of these categories are analyzed. Information is provided on the decisions of the antimonopoly and financial authorities affecting these areas. Special attention is paid to the arguments that can prove the correctness of a bona fide contractor (including in the context of the creditor’s delay, the customer’s failure to fulfill the obligation to cooperate within the framework of the contract).

THE IMPACT OF LOGISTICS ON THE COST OF PREFABRICATED CONSTRUCTION

The aim of the paper is to emphasize the need for logistics planning in prefabricated construction in Slovakia. A construction contractor can achieve profit and efficiency of a construction project through well-managed resource logistics. Moreover, it helps to ensure the competitiveness of prefabricated construction compared to traditional on-site construction. In the case study of a wood-based family house, the construction cost and the transport cost are analysed in relation to available logistics chains. Three variants of wood-based construction systems are adopted in the study: the column-beam construction system, the construction system based on Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) and the panel construction system. The results of the study found that the transport cost does not represent a large share of the total construction cost of the wood-based family house. This applies to all three variants of the construction system. A well-planned logistics of resources – people, materials, machines – can help to achieve an efficient and rational construction cost and construction time of a project. Thus, a client of a wood-based prefabricated building does not have to worry that the transport cost related to the transport of large, prefabricated components will make the construction of the building markedly more expensive.

Changes in the accounting of property of a construction contractor

This article studies the impact of changes in the accounting of property of organizations in connection with the new regulations in the field of accounting, and the convergence of Russian accounting with international standards. These changes are considered on the example of accounting for tools and inventory in a construction contractor. The conclusion is made about the significant impact on the financial statements of the limit for accepting fixed assets for accounting established in the Accounting Policy, and the need to justify the choice of such a limit by the accountant.

Comprehensive bim system for control of construction production and resource support

Subject of research is analysis of the possibilities for the development of integrated management systems for construction production using BIM technologies in the field of resource provision of the construction site. Objectives: study the features and problems of the modern approach to control over the distribution of material resources and construction management in terms of the implementation of design solutions. Research into the implementation and use of information technologies to improve the organization of construction production at the construction site of an industrial facility, preparation for construction at the design stages and before design. Results: the obsolescence of the classical approaches and methods of construction control and the effectiveness of the use of complex programs that combine all the tools for effective construction management have been proved. The main directions in the field of improving the tools for monitoring the resource provision of construction are identified. A methodology for organizing a calendar schedule and monitoring the sufficiency of materials and resources through the concept of “ assignment ” for a construction contractor is proposed . Conclusions: using of integrated computer systems already in 2020 allows for effective construction control, especially in matters of accurate, correct and timely provision of the construction site with the necessary materials. An important conclusion that was obtained as a result of the research is that the creation of a unified software system for the control system for construction production is a priority task in the field of organizing construction production. Simplicity, comfort of use even in the most remote areas of construction makes such systems indispensable and greatly facilitate the work of construction management.

Digitally-Enabled Design Management

Calls for the digital transformation of the construction sector in part revolve around a need for productivity improvements, with a focus upon project time and cost enhancements. The purpose of this work is to provide a state-of-the-art analysis of design management (DM) usually employed to oversee design quality by coordinating design information, typically on behalf of a construction contractor. DM methods, activities, and processes with respect to the potential and underutilisation of building information modelling (BIM) are discussed. A synthesis of recent research efforts is provided identifying further emerging, disruptive, but underutilised digital tools and technologies, which when integrated with BIM, are capable of supporting DM processes. This chapter will aid practitioners and researchers in the design, implementation, and management of digital tools, and provide greater support to the DM function on modern construction projects. It will also be of use to students for a grounding in BIM and BIM-related technologies.

Design and Construction Challenges of a Roped Insulated Pipeline

Thermally insulated hot buried pipelines pose a unique set of challenges. This paper discusses those challenges and how they were met during design and construction of the 150 km long Husky LLB Direct Pipeline, the longest thermally insulated oil pipeline in Canada. Thermal insulation materials are soft and can be easily damaged during construction and backfilling, and by large restraining forces at bends when the pipeline is operating at high temperatures. The large temperature difference between pipeline installation temperature and maximum operating temperature leads to large axial compressive forces that can cause movement at bends, crush insulation, increase temperatures at ground surface, cause loss of restraint, and in the worst case, lead to upheaval buckling and loss of containment. Special design and construction features to deal with these challenges, including insulation specifications, insulation of pipe bends, pipeline pre-straining, long radius bends, deeper burial, and pipeline roping, were therefore necessary. After pipe has been insulated with polyurethane foam it cannot be bent in standard field bending machines used for uninsulated pipes because the foam is too soft. The induction bends and cold bends that are shop insulated after bending are expensive. The Project minimized the number of these expensive insulated bends by using an engineered ditch bottom profile. This meant that shop bends were only needed to reduce excavation depth at sharp changes in ground surface elevation where the roped profile required excessive grading. Care was therefore necessary in the selection and development of specifications for the insulation system and shop fabricated bends, and to design and construct a ditch profile to minimize forces on the insulation and control upheaval buckling. Close co-ordination with vendors and the construction contractor was crucial for a successful and timely completion.