Shen, Q (1993) A knowledge based structure for implementing Value Management in the design of office buildings. PhD thesis, University of Salford, UK.
Abstract
Value Management (VM) is an organised effort directed at analyzing the functions of systems, supplies, equipments and facilities, for the purpose of achieving the required functions at lowest overall cost, consistent with requirements for performance, including reliability, delivery, maintainability and human factors. This structured method can also be successfully used to define the scope of a project. In the UK, the awareness of the tremendous potential and benefits of applying VM to construction projects has made some clients eager to apply this technique to their projects. There are, however, a number of problems which inhibit the use of this advanced technique in the construction industry. Qualified VM specialists, for instance, are very scarce within the industry, it is often difficult to find them to undertake proper VM studies. This research therefore aimed at exploring the feasibility of building a Knowledge-Based System (KBS) to facilitate VM implementations in the design stages of a construction project. A demonstration system has been successfully developed to illustrate the facilities which would be available to potential users in a fully developed system. A method of allocating project cost against functions of the project specified by the clients has been developed, which could expedite the processes of clarifying clients' brief and ensuring good value for money by cutting unnecessary costs and enhancing required functions. The research has also explored how KBSs can be effectively applied toopen-endeddecision-making problems in which new options may be generated during each session with the system, i.e. the study considered the possibility of letting users extend and customise the knowledge base. The system has been described as asatisfactory and very promising systemby the UK industrial specialists.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | client; construction project; equipment; knowledge-based system; liability; reliability; UK; value for money; value management |
| Index terms: | design stage, construction project, value-for-money, human factor, maintainability, liability, knowledge base, project cost, value management, option, construction industry, implementation, office building, knowledge-based system |
| Subjects: | management, maintenance engineering, economics, production management, evaluation, occupational health and safety management, decision analysis, industry analysis, liability law, information systems, construction type, artificial intelligence, professional practice, contractual arrangements |
| Topics: | Value Management, Digital Applications, Design Practice, Legal Issues, Research Practice, Project Management, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Procurement, Construction Technology, Risk Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here