Research Progress and Prospects of Total Factor Productivity in the Construction Industry

The high-quality development of the construction industry fundamentally stems from the significant improvement of total factor productivity.Therefore,it is of crucial significance for promoting the development of the construction industry to a higher level by scientifically and accurately measuring the total factor productivity of the construction industry and deeply analyzing the influencing factors behind it.Based on a comprehensive consideration of research methods and influencing factors,this paper systematically reviews the existing relevant literature on total factor productivity in the construction industry,aiming to reveal the current research development trend in this field and point out potential problems.This effort aims to provide a solid theoretical foundation and valuable reference for further in-depth research,and jointly promote the continuous progress and development of total factor productivity research in the construction industry.

Carbon emission risk of construction industry in Hebei Province of China based on carbon sink thresholds

In order to assess the environmental risks caused by carbon emissions from the construction industry in Hebei Province of China,an environmental risk assessment model based on forest carbon sink threshold was constructed to evaluate the carbon emission risks of the construction industry in Hebei Province,China from 2005 to 2020.The results are shown as follows:(1)The overall carbon emissions of the construction industry in Hebei Province of China showed an inverted"V"-shaped evolution trend during the past 16 years.Tangshan and Shijiazhuang maintained high carbon emissions,while Langfang,Hengshui and Baoding saw rapid increases in carbon emissions.(2)The environmental safety threshold of carbon emission from the construction industry in Hebei Province,China,has been continuously improved,and the provincial environmental safety threshold is between 9475080-23144760 tons;The environmental safety threshold was the highest in Baoding and Langfang,and the lowest in Xingtai.(3)In the past 16 years,the carbon emission risk of the construction industry in Hebei Province of China has been in a state of extremely serious risk,and the risk index generally presents an inverted"V"type trend.(4)The carbon emission risk of Hebei city in China presents a spatial pattern of"high in the south and low in the north",which goes through two stages:risk increase period and risk reduction period.

Carbon Emission Measurement and Regional Difference Analysis of China's Construction Industry

Green and low-carbon development of construction industry is one of the important ways to achieve the"dual carbon"goal in China.This study first measured the carbon emissions of the construction industry in 30 provinces in China,and then used the Dagum Gini coefficient and its decomposition method to explore the regional differences and sources of carbon emissions of the construction industry in China.The results show that the carbon emissions of construction industry in China generally show an upward trend,and there are significant differences in carbon emissions of construction industry among provinces,and the main source of regional differences is inter-regional differences.However,the contribution rate of inter-regional differences showed a significant downward trend,while the contribution rate of hyperbolic density increased day by day,and the contribution rate of intra-regional differences increased slightly.The results of this study will provide a reference for China to formulate more reasonable carbon emission reduction targets and differentiation strategies for the construction industry.

Software and Mobile Apps as a Strategy for Productivity Improvement in the Construction Industry

The construction industry, known for its low productivity, is increasingly utilising software and mobile apps to enhance efficiency. However, more comprehensive research is needed to understand the effectiveness of these technology applications. The PRISMA principles utilised a scoping review methodology to ascertain pertinent studies and extract significant findings. From 2013 onwards, articles containing data on mobile applications or software designed to enhance productivity in the construction sector were obtained from multiple databases, including Emerald Insight, Science Direct, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar. After evaluating 2604 articles, 30 were determined to be pertinent to the study and were subsequently analysed for the review. The review identified five key themes: effectiveness, benefits, successful implementation examples, obstacles and limitations, and a comprehensive list of software and mobile apps. In addition, 71 software and mobile apps have shown potentially how these technologies can improve communication, collaboration, project management, real-time collaboration, document management, and on-the-go project information and estimating processes in the construction industry, increasing efficiency and productivity. The findings highlight the potential of these technologies such as Automation, Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), Building Information Modeling (BIM), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Internet of Things (IoT) to improve efficiency and communication in the construction industry. Despite challenges such as cost, lack of awareness, resistance to change, compatibility concerns, human resources, technological and security concerns and licensing issues, the study identifies specific mobile applications and software with the potential to enhance efficiency significantly, improve productivity and streamline workflows. The broader societal impacts of construction software and mobile app development include increased efficiency, job creation, and sustainability.

Leadership and Top Management Influence on Total Quality Management Implementation in the Ghanaian Construction Industry

This study aims to determine the key and underlying Leadership and Top Management (LTM) factors that have a significant impact on sustaining the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) within the construction industry in Ghana. The research methodology employed in this study was a quantitative technique. Questionnaires were distributed to 641 participants within construction industry in Ghana. Questionnaires retrieved for the analysis were 536. Three steps approached were used for the data analysis. These include Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis. After conducting the EFA and CFA, SEM was also used to analyze the construct validity. The SEM analysis helps to determine four key indicator variables for the leadership and top management construct. These include Leadership/Top Management approach to employees’ management, Leadership/Top Management understanding of TQM, Leadership/Top Management empowerment of employees to resolve quality issues, and Leadership/Top Management endorsement of TQM. All the four indicator variables were found to be good of fit and closely associated with the dependent variable. The study adds to the body of knowledge by using EFA, CFA and SEM techniques to establish key leadership and top management factors affecting TQM implementation in Ghana’s construction industry. The findings in general suggested that leadership and top Management factors identified have a direct positive impact on sustaining TQM implementation in the Ghanaian construction industry. Consequently, the leadership and top management factors identified in this study can help improve TQM in the Ghanaian construction industry.

Brand Construction of Characteristic Agricultural Products in Ethnic Regions under the Background of Rural Revitalization:A Case Study of Honeysuckle Industry of Mashan County

The brand construction of agricultural products is a necessary path for agricultural development and an effective way to enhance the added value and market competitiveness of agricultural products.How to do a good job in building agricultural product brands under the background of rural revitalization?This paper takes the honeysuckle industry in Mashan County,Nanning as a case study for comprehensive analysis,forming a driving force for the high-quality development of characteristic agricultural industries.

Exploration of the Construction and Path Selection of the Deep Integration Model of Industry-Education in Universities

Against the backdrop of continuous development in the field of education,universities are encouraged to innovate their talent cultivation systems and objectives.The deep integration of industry and education has emerged as an effective strategy,aligning with the basic requirements of the new engineering education initiative and exerting a positive impact on socioeconomic development.However,an analysis of the current state of industry-education integration in universities reveals several issues that require optimization,affecting the ultimate effectiveness of integration.To optimize this phenomenon and achieve high-quality development,universities need to further explore the construction of a deep integration model of industry and education,adhering to corresponding principles to form a comprehensive system.On this basis,pathways for deep industry-education integration can be summarized.

Research on the Investment Mode and Path of China’s Construction Waste Resourceization Industry

At present,China’s construction waste accounts for about 40%of the total municipal solid waste,with a large stock,a large increment,and a low rate of resource utilization,which is still a big gap compared with developed countries.However,the market prospect of the construction waste industry is relatively broad,the reuse value of the construction waste is high,so these resources should be fully utilized.This paper presents an in-depth analysis of projects in the construction waste resourceization industry,examining the industrial chain,development history,current status,investment and financing modes,and case studies.It proposes targeted strategies for companies to focus on the upstream and downstream segments of the construction industry’s value chain and explores the implementation of investment opportunities in construction waste resourceization.

Construction of a Multi-Level Strategic System for Cultivating Cultural Industry Management Talents in Colleges and Universities

Through SWOT(strengths,weaknesses,opportunities,and threats)and PEST(political,economic,social,and technological)analysis,this study discusses the construction of a multi-level strategic system for the cultivation of cultural industry management talents in colleges and universities.First of all,based on SWOT analysis,it is found that colleges and universities have rich educational resources and policy support,but they face challenges such as insufficient practical teaching and intensified international competition.External opportunities come from the rapid development of the cultivation of cultural industry management talents and policy promotion,while threats come from global market competition and talent flow.Secondly,PEST analysis reveals the key factors in the macro-environment:at the political level,the state vigorously supports the cultivation of cultural industry management talents;at the economic level,the market demand for cultural industries is strong;at the social level,the public cultural consumption is upgraded;at the technological level,digital transformation promotes industry innovation.On this basis,this paper puts forward a multi-level strategic system covering theoretical education,practical skill improvement,interdisciplinary integration,and international vision training.The system aims to solve the problems existing in talent training in colleges and universities and cultivate high-quality cultural industry management talents with theoretical knowledge,practical skills,and global vision,so as to adapt to the increasingly complex and diversified cultural industry management talents market demand and promote the long-term development of the industry.

Forecasting of development of the Jiangsu construction industry and its case analysis

In order to grasp the development path of the Jiangsu construction industry, a multivariable linear regression model for forecasting is proposed. Five factors affecting development of the Jiangsu construction industry are chosen as explanatory variables. They are the construction industry＇s fixed assets K, the gross domestic product （GDP）, real estate added value （REAV）, construction industry export （WS）and investment in construction and installation projects（JA）. The principal component analysis is used to resolve multicollinearity between them. The construction added value （CAV） is chosen as a dependant variable, and the growth model of the Jiangsu construction industry is established. Statistical data from 1990 to 2008 are used to test the prediction accuracy of the model. The predictive results show that from 2009 to 2012, the average annual growth rate of the Jiangsu construction industry added value will be 17. 65% while the GDP growth rate will be 14. 16% . the Jiangsu construction industry will grow faster than the GDP in the near future. The construction output of the GDP continues to rise, and its pillar position will be further strengthened.

An Assessment of Occupational Health and Safety Regulations in Ghana: A Study of the Construction Industry

Occupational health and safety continues to be a major component of the built environment. The study investigates the effectiveness of occupational health and safety laws and regulations in the construction industry in Ghana and identifies the influencing factors. Face-to-face interviews were conducted among 49 stakeholders from four relevant groups—regulatory institutions, consultants, contractors, artisans and labourers. The findings of the study suggest that the existing occupational health and safety legal and regulatory framework is barely effective. Stakeholders were aware of the existence of some laws and regulations but mostly could not identify the specific laws and their relevant contents. Consequently, compliance is found to be irregular. The key recurring factors affecting effectiveness of occupational health and safety laws and regulations include: negligence and lack of priority for occupational health and safety, lack of training, lack of funds for occupational health and safety, lack of capacity of regulatory and supervisory institutions, and lack of occupational health and safety education within construction firms. The findings of the study are foundational in strategic interventions aimed at improving compliance with occupational health and safety laws and regulations in the construction industry of Ghana.

REGIONAL EFFECTS BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUZHOU INDUSTRY GARDEN

Suzhou Industry Garden is one of the few areas which attract foreign capital on a large scale in China. Its construction will bring effects on regional economy obviously. First, the garden as an important part of the construction of high tech industry belt between Shanghai and Nanjing will become the radiating source and core area in the course of development of high tech industrialization in the southern area of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River. Second, the garden will influence the development of Taicang City, the door port city of Suzhou, and the development of peripheral villages and towns as well. As Taicang City is being constructed as the assistant center for International Shipping Centre in Shanghai, the structure of double nucleus by which Suzhou and Taicang could benefit from each other will come into being. Third, the garden which has been formed as the unique area for introducing foreign managing mode as a whole will be made the base for demonstration and using international economic management experience for reference.

Strategies for Prioritizing Ecological Construction with Consideration of Agricultural Industry Development in Northern China’s Agro- pastoral Ecotone : A Perspective of Opportunity Cost

In northern China’s agro-pastoral ecotone,there are conflicts between agricultural industry and ecological construction resource competition,and also problems urgently to be solved for economic growth and sustainable ecological improvement.Taking the development concept of"lucid waters and lush mountains being mountains of gold and silver"as the guiding principle of prioritizing ecological and green development,this paper studied the strategies for prioritizing ecological construction with consideration of economic development of agricultural industry from the perspective of opportunity cost.Through the analysis of opportunity cost,externality,and Pareto optimal theory,and using the calculation method of the unit equivalent factor value of terrestrial ecological service function,this paper calculated the ecological service value of forest,grassland,and farmland.It found that the ecological value of forest and grassland per unit area was greater than the ecological value of agricultural industry.This indicates that the opportunity cost of farmland for ecological construction was less than that of agricultural industry.Based on the theoretical and quantitative analysis,it came up with recommendations for establishing a comprehensive system for prioritizing ecological construction with consideration of agricultural industry development and establishing and improving the incentive mechanism of ecological construction.

Eco-landscape Construction of Lvyuan Leisure Agricultural Industry Park in Ganzhou City of Jiangxi Province, China

Basic connotations of researches on eco-landscape construction of leisure agricultural industry parks were elaborated, and eco-landscape construction of Lvyuan Leisure Agricultural Industry Park in Ganzhou City was taken for example to analyze problems in the development of eco-landscapes in leisure agricultural industry parks. In view of these problems, it was proposed that construction of agricultural landscapes for the leisure agricultural industry parks should be combined with demonstration of cultures, holiday resort, and farming experience, and more efforts should be devoted in ecological maintenance, utilization of agricultural spaces, creation of cultural and leisure spaces. Moreover, to create agricultural eco-corridors, garden functions should be combined with the protection of ecosystems. Spatial connection of agricultural patches should be enhanced to form eco-corridor of the parks and meet the needs of production. And finally, concrete landscape construction techniques were put forward for the agricultural industry parks.

Thoughts on Present Situation of Development of Rural Animal Husbandry and Its Relationship with Construction of Ecological Agriculture and Revitalization of Rural Industry

After several rounds of phased ups and downs of development,rural animal husbandry finally presents a shrinking and depressed development situation under the comprehensive action of the failure of transformation and upgrading and the increasing production costs and breeding risks.Actively exploring and guiding the healthy and sound development of rural animal husbandry is not only an important measure to promote the construction of ecological agriculture,but also the main starting point to realize the revitalization of rural industry.This paper analyzes the present situation of the development of rural animal husbandry in recent years,the influence of animal husbandry on the construction of ecological agriculture and the revitalization of rural industry,and puts forward the corresponding measures,in order to promote the steady and efficient development of animal husbandry in the grand strategy of revitalizing rural industry.

OSH star enterprise pilot scheme——a partnership approach to improve the safety performance of construction industry in Hong Kong SAR

Background: The Occupational Safety and Health Council(OSHC) is committed to improve the safety performance of the high risk construction industry.In the past three years,about 40% of the fatal accidents in the construction industry were related to Renovation,Maintenance,Alteration and Addition(RMAA).Due to the poor safety record,some of the RMAA contractors have difficulty in obtaining the Employees' Compensation Insurance(ECI) cover in the market,or if they could obtain the ECI,the premium rate would be exceedingly high.In view of this,the OSHC,the Labour Department jointly launched"OSH Star Enterprise-Pilot Scheme on Safety Accreditation for the RMAA Industry",which prompts the industry to take practicable safety measures to improve the safety of working environment and reduce occupational injuries.The program also helps the stakeholders and insurers to identify safety-conscious contractors and thereby provide them with a favourable premium rate under the Employees' Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme(ECIRS).Objectives: The OSHC launches the Pilot Scheme to improve the safety performance of the RMAA industry through providing safety training,subsidizing enterprise to purchase safety equipment and providing safety audit.We also use financial incentive to encourage RMAA enterprises to join the Pilot Scheme-for those who are accredited as "OSH Star Enterprise"could receive a premium discount from the ERIRS when obtaining the ECI.The scheme also differentiates those safety-conscious and law-abiding enterprises from the poor performers,which helps the industry and public identifying the RMAA contractors who pay attention to work safety.Methods: The Pilot Scheme targets RMAA enterprises that employ less than 50 employees in Hong Kong.A three-pronged approach is used to improve the safety performance of the RMAA industry: the Pilot Scheme provides(1) financial support for the RMAA contractors to buy a transportable temporary anchor device and full body safety harness and its anchor system;(2) safety training on RMAA work safety and safety & health supervisor course;and(3) safety audit.Results: Enterprises that successfully pass the safety audit and satisfied the Scheme requirements will be accredited as"OSH Star Enterprise",which will be valid for two years.These enterprises can also be upgraded to"OSH Gold Star Enterprise"based on their continuous improvement in safety performance.OSHC will set up a register of OSH-accredited enterprises in RMAA works for reference of the public to facilitate their choosing of accredited contractors.The Employees' Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme Bureau will provide privileged premium rate for enterprises with OSH accreditation."OSH Star Enterprise"could enjoy 40% discounts when joining their insurance scheme.For example,a skilled worker's annual premium can be reduced by about HK $ 36,000.While,the "OSH Gold Star Enterprise"could enjoy 50% discounts when joining their insurance scheme,which means a skilled worker's annual premium can be reduced up to HK $ 45,000.Achievements: This Pilot Scheme offers practical assistance as well as attractive financial incentives for the RMAA industry to improve their safety performance.The Employees'Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme provides premium discounts for enterprises that have a good safety record.It provides incentive for RMAA contractors to actively participate in the Pilot Scheme.The Scheme demonstrates that by providing a safe working environment and appropriate personal protective equipment to workers,the enterprise not only helps to reduce the accident rate of the industry but also receive an economic return.The Pilot Scheme bridges stakeholders of RMAA industry,the government and the insurance industry creating an "all-win"situation.This partnership approach to prevent injuries and accidents in the construction industry could be an effective model for other industries.

A Proposed Knowledge Management Implementation Framework for the Ghanaian Construction Industry

This study aims at developing a Knowledge Management Implementation Framework for adoption by firms in the Ghanaian construction industry. Recent developments in the field of Knowledge management in the construction sector have led to a renewed competition in driving organizational performance. However, the construction industry in Ghana lacks a knowledge management implementation framework that addresses the needs of the Ghanaian construction supply chain while a comprehensive approach to managing knowledge remains nebulous. The study adopted an extensive literature review of existing knowledge management models to provide the basis for the development of the proposed framework for Ghana. The proposed knowledge management implementation framework was subjected to testing and validation by project managers drawn from nineteen indigenous construction firms in Ghana. The technology acceptance model (TAM) was used as the criteria to validate the proposed knowledge management implementation framework. The proposed Guribie & Tengan knowledge management implementation framework was perceived to be useful, and easy to use and the intention to adopt and use was high among indigenous Ghanaian construction firms. The study recommends further validation using wider population to enhance the efficacy of the framework for wider industry acceptance to enhance organizational competitiveness and performance delivery.

Using the Balanced Scorecard as a Strategic Management System in the Libyan Construction Industry

Libya is a developing country that has a growing construction industry, however, the management of construction projects frequently experiences challenges with time and cost restraints and this affects the overall performance of the project as well as the performance of the project managers. The main aim of this paper is to apply BSC in the Libyan construction industry and evaluate the factors that impact project manager performance and their ability to complete and deliver projects successfully in Libya. This study will ascertain the role of project managers, the challenges that project managers in Libya frequently encounter the cause of time and cost overruns within construction projects and the main factors for successful construction projects. This research adopted both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The findings are based upon 300 structured questionnaires distributed to general, project managers working on construction sectors in Libya （Tripoli）. Completed questionnaires received were 183. This is a response rate of 61%. A statistical analysis was used to confirm and address the issues of reliability and validity of the questionnaire survey as a measuring instrument. In addition structured interviews with qualified project managers were used to confirm that the data collected were truly reflective. Upon the data analysis from the questionnaire survey and structured interview the project manager is the most important factor affecting the success of the project in construction industries Libya, furthermore project manager skills are important components that influence the performance of project manager.

Implementing Life Cycle Costing in Malaysian Construction Industry： A Review

The construction industry is a sector that contributes a lot to the economic growth of Malaysia, as it is developing rapidly similar in fashion to other developing countries around the world. In line with the 9th Malaysia Plan, development in Malaysia must meet current and future needs to achieve sustainability in economic development, as well as functioning as a social and environmental responsibility for prosperity without compromising the needs of future generations. To ensure that the government＇s objective is met, construction industry should implement the LCC （life cycle costing） method in structure and infrastructure projects so as to not cause losses to the industry itself and to the government. Through LCC, factors contributing to, and the associated cost of maintenance works for a building are identified at the design stage to obtain a more accurate projection of the total cost. This paper describes the LCC as a vital element in the construction industry since this method can drive quality improvement by taking into account the comprehensive cost of a project. The main aim of this paper is to aid in understanding the application of the LCC concept for the construction industry, particularly for the maintenance phase. This paper also identifies LCC processes involved in a building construction project and subsequently provides recommendation on appropriate measures to implement LCC in the construction industry in Malaysia.