Farnsworth, C B; South, A J; Barrett-Rodriguez, T J; Wells, M B; Smith, J P and Bingham, E D (2025) Assessing the effects of hurricanes irma and maria on the commercial and civil construction industry in Puerto Rico. International Journal of Construction Education and Research, 21(4), pp. 461-481. ISSN 1557-8771
Abstract
In 2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria hit Puerto Rico, causing substantial damage to the already weakened built environment. This research was initiated to understand how the commercial and heavy-civil construction industry was impacted by the rebuilding efforts and assess the progression of reconstruction during the first year of rebuilding. The research utilized an exploratory case study approach, and 26 semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders, including construction industry professionals and government officials. Two principal constraints, a sudden surge in reconstruction work and a need for rapid recovery time, influenced construction industry adjustments in five areas: finances, labor, equipment, materials, and business operations. This research illustrates how industry adjustments characterized construction sector growth. This research further demonstrates how innovative solutions were necessary for an isolated, undersized industry to match a sudden surge of reconstruction work. Finally, this research explores how decision-making must consider the immediate need to rapidly restore infrastructure functionality while comprehensively developing long-term quality infrastructure solutions.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | commercial construction; disaster reconstruction; heavy civil construction; hurricane maria; Puerto Rico |
| Index terms: | rebuilding, functionality, interview, construction sector, decision-making, commercial construction, case study, recovery, reconstruction, Puerto Rico, construction industry, built environment |
| Subjects: | building construction, Geography, design features, operations management, construction type, decision analysis, infrastructure and transport systems, industry analysis, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Construction Technology, Design Practice, Urban Studies, Project Management, Geographical Context, Engineering Principles, Risk Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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