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Design-Construction Interface Problems in Sustainable Construction Projects in the UAE
Al Qasem, Dana
Al Qasem, Dana
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Description
A Master of Science thesis in Construction Management by Dana Al Qasem entitled, “Design-Construction Interface Problems in Sustainable Construction Projects in the UAE”, submitted in November 2023. Thesis advisor is Dr. Sameh El-Sayegh. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).
Abstract
unique demands of sustainable construction projects, necessitating distinct management techniques, specialized materials, and novel building practices, present challenges in efficiently navigating project scope, time, and cost. High cooperation among key stakeholders of sustainable construction projects is considered critical for project success, which is often hindered by design-construction interface problems. These problems arise due to the increased complexity in the design stage and the diversity of requirements, activities, agents, and tools related to sustainability. In this research, interface is defined as the relationship between two interdependent project phases carried out by two different organizations. While several research studies have examined the problems related to the design-construction interface, none has specifically focused on sustainable construction projects. Therefore, this research aims to identify and assess design-construction interface problems in sustainable construction projects in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Twenty-five design-construction interface problems were identified through extensive literature review. To assess these design-construction interface problems, a survey was distributed among the UAE sustainable construction stakeholders, where sixty-three responses were collected. The survey data was then analyzed using the Relative Importance Index (RII). Additionally, the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was applied to evaluate the strength of relationships amongst the different stakeholders and between local and international companies. The results of the study indicate that the most significant interface problems in sustainable construction projects of the UAE include “change orders” (RII of 16.65), “lack of proper coordination between various disciplines of the design team” (RII of 15.94), “extensive and slow decision-making process” (RII of 15.02), “material changes during the construction phase” (RII of 14.56), and “poorly written contracts” (RII of 14.38). Among the provided recommendations, the enhancement of communication and collaboration among the construction parties through the shift towards the integrated project delivery method is emphasized. This research fills the identified research gap and provides the UAE sustainable construction practitioners with the most significant design-construction interface problems.