Lin, Z; Petzold, F and Ma, Z (2026) Uncovering the timeline hidden in tower crane operation navigation for better lifting activities in construction site. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 152(4): 04026011, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Tower cranes have significant impacts on construction projects, such as safety and schedule. Ineffective operation navigation can fail tower crane operations, leading to efficiency and safety issues. Existing research only investigated the reasons for safety issues, but failed to explain why and how the ineffective operation navigation causes the two issues. Thus, the efficiency and safety issues remain in tower crane operations. To bridge the gaps, this research implements a modified Delphi method to explore the mechanism and identify the root cause. Based on 166 responses of our questionnaire, this research: (1) clarifies the navigation process with sequential stages and necessary elements; (2) reveals the incorrect lifting timeline behind the construction practice, which becomes the actual incorrect content in ineffective operation navigation; (3) concludes the concept in the construction practice, which makes signal persons always provide operation navigation in such an ineffective way; (4) analyzes the trends how the two issues develop in navigation process, and the relevance between them; and (5) extracts valuable information through expert discussion, such as the importance of lifted load and the impact of work experience. Additionally, this research provides targeted suggestions for them. The conclusions in this research can improve the two issues in tower crane operation and guide the directions for future researchers.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | incorrect lifting timeline; modified Delphi method; tower crane; tower crane operation navigation |
| Index terms: | construction project, questionnaire, lifting, construction site, safety issue, efficiency, Delphi method, tower crane |
| Subjects: | financial risk, production management, maintenance engineering, performance management, occupational health and safety management, data collection methods, work location |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Health and Safety, Project Management, Site Management, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
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