Alvanchi, A and JavadiAghdam, S (2019) Job site weather index: an indicator for open environment construction projects. Construction Innovation, 19(1), pp. 110-124. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose: Many construction projects are implemented in open-environment job sites and can be significantly affected by various weather conditions. Evaluating the overall impacts of the weather conditions on a project can assist project managers to prepare effectively. Nevertheless, methods measuring the overall adverse impacts of the job sites’ weather condition on the project performance are still missing. This study aims to address this gap. Design/methodology/approach: In this investigation, a survey-based method was proposed to evaluate the overall impacts of the weather conditions on the construction project resources through a new indicator called job site weather index (JWI). The target survey population includes practitioners directly involved in the on-site construction operations. Findings: The JWI suggests the direction of the resource change in new construction projects based on the weather condition. The method was implemented in the road construction projects of Iran and successfully applied to four sample cities. In this experiment, construction workers were identified as the most susceptible resources to the unfavorable weather conditions. Hot temperature above 50°C and cold temperature below −10°C were ranked as the most influential factors for the workers. The results achieved showed high accordance with the trends currently followed in the country. Originality/value: This research was the first structured method for capturing impacts of weather conditions on the performance of construction resources in open environment construction projects. Implementation of the method in road construction projects of Iran revealed new results that have not been previously identified. The impacts of the company-specific factors on the final productivity rate, however, were not investigated in the research. Investigations accounting impacts of various company-specific factors on the final productivity rate are required.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction job site; open-environment project; project performance; weather condition |
| Index terms: | construction worker, implementation, investigation, project performance, road construction, productivity, construction operation, project manager, accounting, weather, population, construction project, influential factor, methodology, practitioner, survey, experiment |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, profession, risk assessment, air quality, practitioner, contractual arrangements, construction operations, economic analysis, management, research methods, civil engineering, production management, project management theory and practice, demography |
| Topics: | Urban Studies, Site Management, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Project Management, Business Strategy, Sustainability, Procurement, Risk Management, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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