Sample Dissertations | University Dissertations | Dissertation Examples
Category: Construction Management Dissertations
Our sample construction management dissertations will prove helpful in formulating your own dissertation topic, objectives, literature review, methodology and analyses. Our sample building studies dissertations are an ideal tool for any student struggling to start their own construction dissertation.
Construction is an internationally recognised field of study and there are numerous fields of construction study including architecture, planning, construction law and engineering. The construction industry is very important to a country’s economy and it encompasses a wide range of topics: Civil Engineering, Renewable Energy, Construction Methods, Timber Frame Construction, Tendering, Risk Management, Apartments, Energy Efficiency, Building Regulations, Surveying, EPC, Housing Market, Environment, Health and Safety.
Real Estate Dissertation – Impact of Services and Facilities on Dubai Property Values
Title: Real Estate Dissertation Dubai Property Values – Dubai’s real estate market has in the last decade experiential significant changes that substantially affect market prices. During the global financial crisis, this emirate saw one of the worst housing crashes across the world. While real estate prices have gradually rebound especially in the residential sector there is still significant interest among investors to enhance the value of their properties. Accordingly, this study set out to critically investigate the impact that services and facilities have on residential property prices in Dubai. Both community level and building specific services and facilities such as transit systems, recreational parks/spaces, and retail centers, swimming pools car parks and security were taken into account.
Real Estate Dissertations
A mixed method approach involving the use of both quantitative and qualitative data was adopted in the study. Qualitative data was collected from randomly selected tenants and landlords/investors in four key residential areas of Dubai. The study also finds that despite the positive impact of services and facilities property returns may be eroded by the significantly high service charges and hence the need for competitive outsourcing of property/facility management services. Some discrepancies between tenant and investor preference for services and facilities is also noted and hence the possibility of mismatched demand and supply of these amenities.
Dissertation Objectives
In consistence with the above background information, this study seeks to critically investigate the impact that services and facilities have on property values in the Dubai’s real estate market. The findings of the study will inform developers and investors on strategies that they can employ in order to ensure that their properties are optimally valued in the housing marketing and therefore profitable. In order to meet the above general aim the following specific objectives will be pursued:
To investigate the extent to which investors and tenants in Dubai are willing to pay higher prices for properties with enhanced services and facilities
To establish the influence that availability of services and facilities has on demand for residential properties in Dubai
To establish the extent to which services and facilities are major determinants of property values in Dubai
To identify and analyse the most valued services and facilities in Dubai’s real estate market
1: Introduction
Research background
Research rationale and problem statement
Research aim and objectives
Main research question
Significance and justification of the study
Overview of research methodology
Structure of the study
2: Literature Review
Relationship between services, facilities and property values
The modern urban theory
Quality of the building infrastructure and facilities
The importance of property management services
Influence of services and facilities on housing demand
Demand for services and facilities
Internal facilities and neighborhood qualities
Impact of incomes on services and facilities preference
Determinants of property values
Demand and supply
Structural and service attributes
Tenant preference for various services and facilities
3: Research Methodology
Research design
Philosophical position
Research approach
Research strategy
Choice of research instrument
Sampling method
Data analysis technique
Research ethics
4: Findings and analysis
Demographic analysis
Relationship between services and facilities and property values
The influence that availability of services and facilities has on demand for residential properties in Dubai
The extent to which services and facilities are major determinants of property values in Dubai
The most valued services and facilities in Dubai’s real estate market
5: Conclusions and Recommendations
Willingness to pay premium prices for services and facilities
Influences of services and facilities on demand for property
Most valued services and facilities in Dubai’s real estate market
Recommendations
Suggestions for future research
I do hope you enjoyed reading this post on the Impact of Services and Facilities on Dubai Property Values. There are many other titles available in the construction dissertation collection that should be of interest to construction management students and building professionals. There are many dissertation titles that relate to other aspects of construction such as project management techniques, environmental management, building and construction methods to name a few. It took a lot of time to write this post and I would be grateful if you could share this post via Facebook and Twitter. Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments section. Thank you.
Title: Health Safety Construction – This report is as an advisory document to surveyors. It provides a critical appraisal of legal, economical and ethical issues relating to health and safety, considering the role of organisations and individual employees in complying with current legislation, and specifying limitations imposed on the conduct of the property professional.
Introduction
Health and safety is an area of concern which every surveyor and property professional must address. The costs of failing to do so may be felt by the professional in question, or may be borne by the property organisation or their clients. Understanding of health and safety issues necessitates knowledge related to three specific areas of concern – strict parameters regarding legislation, and economic concerns, and the more general but nonetheless important area of ethical conduct. Legal concerns comprise statutory regulations regarding site visitation, health and safety inspection, on site conduct, and provision of safe and reliable equipment. Economic issues are related to the necessity of budgeting for health and safety training, insurance against injury, and loss of revenue resulting from legal action in cases of health and safety breaches. Ethics relates to the individual nature and integrity of property professionals, and the establishment of specific codes of conduct within organisations.
Legal Constraints
When visiting premises or sites it is compulsory for a property professional to possess appropriate legal certification. To this end, certification via a valid CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card is mandatory to gain access to all major UK construction sites (CITB, 2016). The purpose of schemes such as the CSCS is to ensure all construction professionals are competent and have the necessary training and qualifications for the work they will undertake (CITB, 2016). In addition, guidance issued by the Royal Institute of Chartered surveyors (RICS) states that, prior to any visit to a site or premises, a property professional should conduct a pre-assessment process to determine hazards that may be encountered on the visit (RICS,2011). To this end, it is important for the employer to have clearly understood procedures in place, and to provide suitable training and information for the employee (RICS,2011) This guidance should facilitate the organisation’s compliance with statutory regulations such as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002 (COSHH). Under COSHH legislation an employer must to decide how to prevent harm to health, for instance by appropriate risk assessment.
Consideration must be given to the risk associated in regards to work-related health and safety of an employee in the working environment. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) “employers must ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all employees” (HSE, 2016). Section 2 of the act specifies general responsibilities owed by an organization to its employees. For example, for the purposes of site visits, the employer is obligated to provide personal protective equipment (PPE), and the employer must ensure the PPE meets the minimum required standards and is fit for purpose. This stipulation is further supported by Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992. In terms of this legislation, employers are also obliged to provide and maintain a safe working equipment (Rics, 2011). Compliance necessitates regular inspections to certify the fitness for purpose of PPE and all other on-site equipment. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a breach of section 2 of the HSWA, and may result in prosecution, as seen the case of HSE v Zurich Management Services Limited (Zurich) and Railcare Limited (Railcare).
health and safety in construction
Another key responsibility for employers is the provision of employee health and safety training. This should be facilitated by regular attendance on training courses covering current health and safety regulations. The employer must also provide employees with all relevant information regarding the company’s specific health and safety policies and procedures. It is important to note that the employer is not solely responsible for the health and safety of the organization. HSWA section 7 describes a statutory duty for the employee “to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts of work” (Legislations.gov, 2016). Therefore, employees must follow procedures, training and policies given by their employers. If an employee is unclear on any policies, or feels they are not adequately trained to complete a task, they are obligated to communicate this to the employer. Breach of HSAW section 7, often results in litigation relating to professional negligence, as seen in the case of HSE v Barry.
Surveys and Reports
Lone working is common in the property industry. There is no legislation against this practice; however, in the absence of appropriate risk assessments provisions and procedures, lone working may be hazardous. For this reason, under the Management of HSAW Regulations 1999, assessment of risk pertaining to lone working must be conducted every day prior to work commencement. This is further enforced by the HSE regulations stipulating the responsibility of employers to ensure the safety of their works (HSE,2013); prior assessment should be supported by clearly established procedures for communicating with the lone worker, and scrupulous maintenance of records by employer and employee alike. If it is deemed overtly hazardous, lone working should not be considered, or an extensive rescue and recovery plan should be implemented to reduce risks.
Hazardous surveys must be conducted in accordance with current regulations. Rulings and standards to this effect may be obtained directly from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This means that professionals are bound by strict methodologies when conducting surveys and writing reports.
Contract Administration
When acting as Contract Administrator (CA) the property professional is obligated under the Constructions Design Management Regulations to manage health and safety risks throughout the construction process (HSE, 2015). The CA should prepare a written construction phase plan detailing the main dangers inherent in any given project, and suggesting appropriate control measures. For example, working at height necessitates a plan for the installation of gable ends, toe boards and guardrails. In general, the acting CA should have the relevant training, knowledge and experience necessary to carry out his duties safely. Again, this is supported by HSE regulations specifying the employer’s responsibility to ensure all employees are suitably trained to conduct specific tasks to which they are assigned.
Economic limitations
Legally all organisations must meet certain criteria in order to comply with current health and safety legislation. Under the Employers’ Liability (compulsory insurance) Act 1969 employees based in Great Britain are required to obtain Employers’ Liability insurance (HSE, 2012). The cost of the insurance premium is solely dependent on the nature of the business and risks associated. The nature of activities in construction-related professions means that higher insurance premiums are to be expected. Failure to meet this requirement may result in fines of up to £2500 (HSE,2012). Additionally, the HSAW act 1974 requires employers to finance the provision of information and training to ensure the health and safety at work of their employees. For instance, it is mandatory for a construction-related company to provide for employee attendance at courses covering the incidence of work with hazardous material. Further expenditure will be incurred in the provision of equipment necessary to complete work safely, such as PPE. However, the cost of meeting statutory requirements may be subsidised, on the basis that it facilitates improved standards of health and safety. According to HSE documentation, in the year 2014, 3% of workers in the construction industry sustained a work related injury (HSE,2015). This amounted to 65,000 separate incidents, resulting in 1.7 million working days lost. Increasing health and safety standards will help to minimise the potential for work related injuries, consequently, decreasing the chances of loss in working days and resultant economic burden to employers.
Breach of HSAW regulations may pose significant economic threat to an organisation, as it often results in a monetary sanction. The HSE can bring prosecutions before the magistrates’ court in which penalties of up to £20,000 per breach may be imposed (RICS, 2011). Furthermore, under HSAW (offences) Act 2008 imprisonment is also a possibility for almost any offence (RICS, 2011). In more extreme cases, persons may be prosecuted under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007. The prosecution process whether it be for minor or substantial breaches, is bound to have a negative impact on the reputation of the organisation, resulting in a loss of clients and eventual a loss of earnings.
Ethics
There are grey areas which are not governed by legislation in this case the moral integrity of an organisation or professional is relied upon. Regardless of the type of task being carried building surveyors should recognise that they have a responsibility to the public and should at all times act in a manner which affirms this (2008,).
Conclusion and Recommendations
Interpreting legislation can be problematic; ambiguous terminology such as ‘reasonable and practicable’ is often cited to summarise the necessary level of compliance to legislation. Documents such as the Surveying Safely RICS guidance note 1st edition (Gn 74/2011) provide advice on how a property professional may meet current legislation. While these guidance notes are not enforced by law, in circumstances in which allegations of legislative breaches are made against a surveyor, a court or tribunal is likely to take account of the substance of RICS guidance. By conforming to such guidance notes, a surveyor should have at least partial defence against allegations of professional negligence. Hiring a health and safety office may also be advisable to ensure that an organisation is practising in such a way as to comply with current legislation. In relation to economic issues, good practice may minimise the incidence of expenses incurred in consequence of breaches of legislation. While ethical conduct is significantly related to personal and professional integrity, appropriate ethical conduct may be further encouraged by the establishment of codes of conduct within individual organisations. Such measures allow for in-house disciplinary proceedings, and bring the added advantage of improving the public image of the organisation in question.
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (2011) Surveying safely 1st edition, guidance note. Coventry: Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. 1-13
Health and Safety Executive (2013) Working alone Health and safety guidance on the risks of lone working. London: Health and Safety Executive 1-5
Health and Safety Executive (2012) Health and safety training A brief guide. London: Health and Safety Executive 1-6
Health and Safety Executive (2016) Principal contractors: roles and responsibilities.
Health and Safety Executive (2012) Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 A brief guide for employers. London: Health and Safety Executive 1-6
Health and Safety Executive (2016) Construction industry
Role of RFID Technologies in Building Construction Supply Chain Management
RFID Tags is a technology that is currently growing in use in other industries such as manufacturing and retail (Hannon, 2007).
Any construction business relies on its supply chain for the effectiveness and the speed of construction task. An overflow of the supply can create a situation of high clutter while not enough supply can easily become the bottleneck issue for the whole construction project. For such reasons, it is extremely important for the construction companies and businesses to monitor every process of supply management and determine how the supply chain system is maintained. Supply chain management includes placing orders for the supply, estimating what quantities of the products are required for different construction tasks, and ensuring that the construction workers always have enough supply of the resources to continue the work. The supply chain management also handles the work of finding alternatives to the existing supplies in case of a dispute or supply interruption. Ensuring prompt delivery of supply and an effective monitoring system has always been a challenge to the management of supply systems. Fortunately, the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) has emerged as a perfect solution to this issue.
Background of construction technique
Any construction project follows basically the same procedure and a large part of it depends on the supply of the raw materials and the other equipment. Such items are the essential element of the whole project. The construction techniques are the traditional ways of using the supply chain management to develop the project from the scratch. While the construction project might differ in terms of techniques and the scale of the project, the supply chain method has remained utterly unchanged since the initial times. The contractors or developers initially estimate the resources required and then place it in the warehouses or at the site of construction. This makes the whole scenario very cluttered as it takes a lot of time to find the right piece of supply when it is required costing a significant amount of time in construction.
The new technique of RFID tags on the supply resources puts an advanced approach to the whole thing as it gives the task an enhanced process of knowing what goes where. Many projects depend on the small building blocks and with the help of RFID tags, the construction engineers can make it very easy to find the right piece of supply when it is needed. This is a method that saves great amount of time and also increases the accuracy of the whole construction task.
Advancement of the RFID technique
Nowadays a number of big and small construction firms are making use of RFID tags in the process of construction, locating the supply and resources and in placing the building blocks to their right place. The technology of Radio Frequency Identification tags have made great advancement in recent times and have been proved highly useful in various construction tasks. With constant development in this field, the RFID tags are now more versatile, reliable and cheaper than before. Now it is possible for a construction business to make use of RFID tags in the resources it is using and to tag every building block with help of RFID tags without putting a financial overhead on the organization. This technology doesn’t cost a lot these days and it is a onetime investment only that remains beneficial in all of the construction tasks. The construction companies can use these tags in placing the building blocks in their right places, finding the blocks and other tools easily when needed with help of tag readers. This whole approach increases the convenience of supply chain management tasks and improves the speed and efficiency of the task.
The shortcomings of the existing techniques
Even though the RFID technologies provide the potential benefit to construction industry for tracking the construction components, several limitations related to practical applications can be identified (Jang, 2007).
The development of RFID technique in the construction tasks was required due to the number of shortcomings that exist in the present situation of developing a construction projects. It is true about every large scale construction project that due to large number of resources available on the site, there is always a great deal of clutter present. Finding the right resource at the right time becomes extremely difficult, and it costs a lot of time sometimes to find the right resources when needed. This is a real situation in almost all the construction tasks and it slows down the construction process. Most companies keep some time in the estimated construction time reserved for this purpose only.
Most construction plans make use of small building blocks that go on in the actual building to finish the construction task. Putting these building blocks in the right place requires some efforts and is essential for the construction project. However, finding the building blocks and then identifying their right place in the project takes a lot of time with the current manual techniques. The site manager may need to search through every building block to find the desired one, and in a large scale construction task, there might be thousands of blocks that could take a great amount of time. To overcome these shortcomings, the construction companies need a different approach or technology that can speed things up and they have got it with the RFID tags technology as it will provide higher accuracy and better alternative of locating the resources.
Modern Approaches to Construction Supply chain management
Multiple RFID readers are deployed at fixed locations to receive the signals of active tags for tracking the tagged objects (Ustundag, 2012).
The modern approach in the supply chain management follows the rule of developing the habit of tagging all the resources and building blocks with RFID tags. This is a great way of keeping track of all the processes that are going on with the construction task. While the RFID tags might cost some nifty investment to the company in its initial implementation, these devices can really boost the speed of the construction and can help the company in finishing the whole work sooner. Each time the company finished a work in less time, that saves money to the company as the staff and machinery remains off duty or out for a new task.
RFID Tags
The RFID tagging technique makes use of Radio Frequency identification tags which are placed on the various supply elements and building blocks for correct identification in the later processes of construction. This approach can very well assist the construction managers in keeping track of the individual elements and their placing at the right place. Not only it keeps the manager informed about the location of a particular supply item, but it also reveals the information about the available supplies to make sure that the manager knows when there is a need of new supply order. RFID technology is really revolutionary in the construction methods and it will surely result in great benefits.
Benefits of the modern RFID tags technology in construction business
RFID is a branch of automatic identification technologies using radio frequencies (Ruwanpura, Mohamed & Lee, 2010).
The use of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) can surely boost the speed of the construction tasks and may very well result in modification of the present technology to a higher extent. A construction company can monitor its supply chain in a better way and certainly a more efficient way with the help of this technology. The benefits of this technology are listed below in regards to the construction supply chain management:
Increased speed: The RFID tags make it easier for the managers and the field staff to locate the items and supplies quickly. This helps the speed issues of the construction task and makes the whole thing go a lot faster. Even in the tasks involving placing of the building blocks for the construction process to complete, this helps the site mangers or the Crain operators to easily find the block that needs to be placed. Overall, the RFID technique is precise and fast, and any construction task can benefit from both of these aspects.
Accuracy: use of RFID tags provide every building block or supply item a specific code and this is not just limited to that as it can also store other information with the code. This information can involve details like where the block needs to be placed, what are the exact dimensions of it. This kind of information is readable through the RFID tag reader. This kind of technology ensures that no building block is placed at wrong place due to human error or technical mistake.
Long term costing: RFID tags purchasing and implementation costs a little in the first phase of development. However, it quickly recovers its cost in one or two construction projects with increased profits to the company. Finishing projects quicker helps the company save money and this becomes a profitable investment for the company.
Conclusion
The RFID based tagging technology is a great technique to manage and monitor the supply chain in a construction business. The RFID technology will enhance in the near future and will reach a level that can better assist the managers with the development tasks of construction projects. The reliability of the tags will increase and so will the lifespan of the tags. In future it will be possible to simply monitor all of the RFID tags through a single computer screen to measure if all of the building blocks in the construction project are placed at the right place or not. Anyhow, the use of RFID tags in construction supply chain management has a bright future.
References
Ustundag, A. (2012) The value of RFID: Benefits vs. costs. Springer.
Hannon, J. (2007) Emerging technologies for construction delivery. Transportation Research Board.
Jang, W. (2007) Embedded system for construction material tracking using combination of radio frequency and ultrasound signal. ProQuest.
Ruwanpura, J., Mohamed, Y., & Lee, S. (2010) Construction research congress 2010: Innovation for reshaping construction practice. (Vol. 1, p. 247) ASCE Publications.
Hunt, V., Puglia, A., & Puglia, M. (2007) RFID: A guide to radio frequency identification. John Wiley & Sons.
Finkenzeller, K. (2010). RFIDhandbook: Fundamentals and applications in contactless smart cards, radio frequency identification and near-field communication . John Wiley & Sons.
Over the years the construction industry has changed and this has resulted in increased production rates, changes in construction techniques and total quantities of materials used each year. The size of construction projects are now considerably much larger than they ever were. All of this has resulted increased demand for materials which has resulted in increased waste. The UK construction industry as a whole uses over 400 million tonnes of natural resources per year of which 60 million tonnes is sent to landfill. This is a significant concern due to the fact that millions of pounds are being lost each year. In order to save money in construction projects and increase profits, wastage must be reduced. This paper has identified the three main areas where material wastage is produced. Within these areas the client, architect and contractor have been identified to have a pivotal role in reduction methods. Reduction methods have been assessed to identify the most effective way in which to apply waste minimization within the UK’s built environment.
Waste Reduction UK Construction
The aim of the dissertation is to identify what stage within the project lifecycle material waste is created and analyse methods available that may be effective in reducing waste and saving money. The author will attempt to answer the hypothesis question through conducting a literature review, analyzing a questionnaire and reviewing case studies. The findings will then be compared and contrasted to find how to reduce material wastage and at what stage in the project will it be most effective.
Dissertation Objectives
To determine what stage of a construction project material waste is created
To establish how wastage adds to project costs
To evaluate the measures that can be applied to reduce material wastage
Environmental assessment methods such as BREEAM were launched in the UK in the early 1990’s, to encourage clients of the construction industry to consider both the internal and external environment when designing new build and refurbishment construction projects. Do these assessment methodologies actually influence clients design choices, or are there other factors that need to be considered? Different professions within the design team appear to have contrasting views on the success that BREEAM has had in improving the quality of our buildings and their surroundings. Interviewing seven design team members provided a sound base on which to assess the impact BREEAM has and is having on clients of the construction industry. Of the design team members interviewed, those employed by clients in the public sector were very familiar with BREEAM and its assessment methodology, with the exception of the local authority architects who suggested that they would only apply the methodology when forced to do so. They were unconvinced of the assessments merits and preferred to use their own assessment guidelines, despite recommendations by central government to use BREEAM. Those design team members employed in the private sector had limited or no knowledge of BREEAM or other assessment methodologies. The results indicate that public sector clients who are bound by government instruction are employing BREEAM on many of their projects. In situations where clients have a choice, cost is still the bottom line that determines whether sustainable solutions are agreed. The fragmented nature of the construction industry has hindered the knowledge transfer of sustainable issues to professionals, which appears to have arrested the adoption of BREEAM.
BREEAM Dissertation
BREEAM Influences
The aim of this research is to assess how BREEAM influences the design solutions and the workings of the design team process, on new build and refurbishment construction projects. There are two hypotheses that answer the main aim of this dissertation:
BREEAM adds confusion and complexity to the design team process.
Knowledge of BREEAM among construction professionals is limited as a result of its voluntary nature, and the fragmented characteristics of a construction industry with an inherent resistance to change.
In line with the above quote, more organisations are procuring green commercial buildings. The idea of having an assessment methodology encouraging clients of the construction industry to think about the impact that their new project will have on the environment, is essentially a good idea. In a world that is becoming increasingly concerned about its future it is important that clients and design team professionals can use these assessments to measure buildings’ specific environmental qualities. However, these tools are only useful if knowledge of their application is widely available and communicated to all those that require it and in a format that is straightforward and easily understood. There are a number of environmental assessment methods in use. However, in line with the above quote, this study will concentrate on BREEAM as it is considered to be the most familiar with clients and construction professionals. But, despite the sentiments of the above quote, it is unclear whether BREEAM has had a major impact on the construction industry and its clients. This dissertation aims to establish through qualitative research whether environmental assessment methods such as BREEAM are as influential as envisaged. It will address how BREEAM integrates itself into an already complex design process, within an industry that has inherent communication problems. The research will also examine other factors influencing clients’ decision-making processes, and establish how effective BREEAM is in the pursuit of sustainable practice.
I do hope enjoyed reading this post on environmental assessment methods and client decision making. There are many other titles available in the Construction Dissertation Collection that should be of interest to construction management students and building professional. There are many dissertation titles that relate to other aspects of construction such as project management techniques, environmental management, building and construction methods to name a few. It took a lot of time to write this post and I would be grateful if you could share this post via Facebook and Twitter. Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments section. Thank you.
