Karim El-Dash | Benha University (original) (raw)

Papers by Karim El-Dash

Engineering Research Journal, Jun 1, 2024

International Journal of the Analytic Hierarchy Process

Recently, life cycle cost (LCC) has gained a wide acceptance in the field of industrial building ... more Recently, life cycle cost (LCC) has gained a wide acceptance in the field of industrial building construction, where it is categorized under economic sustainability in the overall sustainability of buildings. Hence, it is necessary to think about the categories and criteria that affect the building’s cost over its lifespan. In this study, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multi-criteria decision-making methodology, is employed to evaluate and weight four categories which are building blocks of the LCC of industrial building construction. The assessment model applies seventeen criteria which are distributed under the following four categories: initial cost, operating or maintenance cost, environmental impact cost, and the end of life. These are evaluated by thirty-seven civilian experts responding to a pair wise questionnaire. The results are significant as they reflect the viewpoints of the civilian experts and can aid in the development of a building's economic sustain...

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra), Apr 1, 2023

The targeted value design methodology is the most common expression of Target Costing (TC) in the... more The targeted value design methodology is the most common expression of Target Costing (TC) in the construction industry (design, construction, and delivery stages). It is recognized as an effective tool for reducing costs and managing overruns. However, the application of target value design in construction projects is highly dependent on the experience of the estimator. The main objective of this study is to identify the estimating cost, the limitations, and the key development areas of traditional Target Cost and solve the cost-focused estimating of traditional Target Cost (TC). A questionnaire-based interview survey was conducted to study the relation between target cost application and the financial failure rates in the engineering industry companies in Kuwait. Accordingly, most common factors affecting target cost have been ranked using standardized mathematical modeling of decision tree theory. A simple mathematical model has been developed using the MATLAB application. The model considering different operating expenses categories and graphically represents all operating costs. The model optimizes the results of (design, construction, and delivery stages) of cost and shows the target cost distribution and the direct cost distribution to differentiate between them.

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra), Oct 1, 2022

Delay is one of the challenges that affect the efficiency of the project. It is possible to reduc... more Delay is one of the challenges that affect the efficiency of the project. It is possible to reduce delays by assessing their real causes. Delay in the engineering shop drawings submittal/approval process is one of the common delays in construction projects. Therefore, it is important to study and analyze the causes of shop drawings delay. This paper aims to identify the causes of delays in the submittal/approval process, in addition to sorting and assessing the factors leading to such delays. A list of delay causes was retrieved from the literature review in addition to the feedback of construction experts that was obtained through interviews. Then a questionnaire survey was prepared and distributed among forty-one companies representing different types of parties (developers, consultants, and contractors). Among the twenty-four delay causes discussed, causes related to the engineering submittal/approval process were identified as the top delay causes such as: rework due to errors, delay in preparing submittals, poor qualifications of contractor technical staff, and poor communication and coordination. Delays in the submittal/approval process were split into two major groups: submittal of twenty-five delay causes and approval of eighteen delay causes. Thus, Frequency Index, Severity Index, and Importance Index were deduced and accordingly the top shop drawings delay causes of construction projects are determined. The top five causes were rework due to errors, suspension of work due to changes, delays in sub-contractors' work, coordination problems in design drawings, and unrealistic schedule. Statistical analysis was carried out on the results obtained from the survey. The test results reveal a good correlation between groups. A framework was developed as an effective solution for engineering shop drawing submittal/approval process delay. The proposed shop drawing framework is designed and developed based on the knowledge obtained from literature, observation of professionals, and the identified top factors. The framework consists of three successive phases: design/coordination review phase, shop drawing preparation /submission phase, and shop drawing reviewing/approval phase. Each phase is accomplished through sequential activities. After developing the framework, it was validated by utilizing a case study to see the effectiveness of the framework on the case study and how it helps in solving the problems of delaying submittals/approval process, and the progress after implementation of the framework was assessed.

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra), Oct 1, 2022

Recently, the economic system has faced a several unstable financial conditions (UFC) which affec... more Recently, the economic system has faced a several unstable financial conditions (UFC) which affected the construction industries. As a result of the instability, this led to an increase in the number of claims during implementation. Therefore, the importance of studying the impact of (UFC) on management and settlement of claims has appeared. Also, the enhancement of an effective claim management system is highly needed. Therefore, this research attempts to qualitative and quantitative analysis of factors affecting the claim process. Qualitative analysis was performed by identifying and ranking the key factors influencing the management of claims for construction projects. Depending on the literature review and expert interview, 30 factors were determined and categorized into four major categories:1) human framework 2) claim characteristics 3) organizational issues ,and contractual issues. The questionnaire survey was conducted to get the opinion of 133 participants, including contract managers, claim experts, and project managers. The data was analyzed statistically using (SPSS) software. Then, factors were ranked using the total importance index (T.R.I.I). Based on the results, the routine of public authorities ranked first. Whereas less-experienced parties come in the sconed of the overall rank. While the third factoris economic uncertainty and increasing inflation rates. Quantitative analysis of the factors influencing claims was performed using the fuzzy model. Thus, the fuzzy model was developed to estimate the percentage of affected cost increase resulting from the occurrence of critical factors. The model conducted a case study to verify the validity of the model application. Depending on the study and examination of the factors. This model attempts to provide a contract manager with a visually makes decisions by estimating the impacted costs. Contribute to measuring the extent of (UFC)damage to the claims process. This model is characterized by ease of application and addressing the ambiguity associated with the impact of factors arising from financial conditions. It also removes ambiguity about the interrelationship of factors with each other. Through this it is possible for the contract manager to develop an acceptable response strategy to enhance the chance of successful claims settlement and reduce the potential for disputes by avoiding or minimizing the impact of emerging factors

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra), Apr 1, 2023

Project cost contingency has been studied in several scholarly communities interested in project ... more Project cost contingency has been studied in several scholarly communities interested in project management. Numerous references have discussed its methods of estimating and modelling in the preliminary planning phase of the project while concluding version zero of the project management plan. In such a phase, project potential risk is assessed quantitatively to calculate a monetary allowance to handle project risk effects in the event that they occur and become a real issue. However, for a project management environment, there are not enough familiar practices that discuss or present a comprehensive methodology to simply and robustly manage it throughout the project execution phase. Also, the responsive decisions that should be taken to deal with its status, whether it turns out to be adequately estimated or not, have not been discussed or studied enough before.This paper is aiming to present a simple and robust method to help project managers perform such a function, depending on the widely used earned value method (EVM) to measure performance throughout execution at selected points of accomplished control account. Depending on embedding an index that expresses the project risk within the performance measurement process The concept of risk performance index (RPI) as a reflection of the relationship between pre-assessed quantitative risk during the planning phase and realworld risk that has become an issue is similar to the widely used concept of monitoring project performance by earned value, which takes into account cost performance index. The cost performance index (CPI) is a ratio of planned to actual costs, while the schedule performance index (SPI) is a ratio of two time-oriented values. This study will present a proposal for a risk performance index (RPI) to express the impact of project risk on project performance and to better manage project risk, which will be a ratio of two risks (preassessed during the project planning phase and actual occurring risks). The contingency budget management process was investigated. This was done via an integrated analysis of available standards provided by internationally recognized project management associations (PMI, IPMA, PMA, etc.) and the pertinent scholarly literature, in particular an analysis of literature on contingency management, which was developed based on the idea that it is a consistent and conducive methodology to deal with this topic. All past proposed models depend on original project cost estimation, expert judgment, or both for risk analysis. So the validity of these models depends on the accuracy of estimates and unbiased opinions from experts. Tremendous effort is required to collect pertinent and correct information for model inputs, and when the risk environment changes, the process must be restarted to obtain the correct information.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Apr 12, 2019

Construction industry is one of the most influential motivators of a national economy. The succes... more Construction industry is one of the most influential motivators of a national economy. The success of construction projects is indispensable to sustain a robust economy. Completion time is important for construction projects, nevertheless project multifaceted objectives, sophisticated nature, inherent uncertainties, and risks are success impediments and can cause time overrun. Stochastic models and simulation scheduling techniques are developed to predict the risk and uncertainty effects on construction projects' duration. The objective of this research is to develop models that predict the activity durations based on actual data from similar projects. The study introduces comprehensive statistical regression models using historical data of about 84,000 activities in Egypt, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The activities encompass engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) activities for most disciplines of construction projects. The regression models can be utilized to predict more reliably the activities' duration.

Ain Shams Engineering Journal, May 1, 2023

Alexandria Engineering Journal

Contingency is a critical component in the cost estimation process for any construction project. ... more Contingency is a critical component in the cost estimation process for any construction project. The contingency reserve considers potential costs related to risks and uncertainties associated with construction projects. It is usually assumed to damp any resulting uncertain monetary impact and to prevent project cost overrun. Many contingency calculation methods for construction projects proposed in literature ranged from simple percentage to complex mathematical methods. Deciding the optimum contingency method for a given project at a given phase represents the main challenge in cost estimation process. This study presents a comprehensive compilation of all contingency calculation methods and divided them into three main groups: deterministic, probabilistic, and modern mathematical methods which have been discussed in details. Appropriate method for estimating contingency amount depends on many criteria such as project peculiarity, complexity, ease of method used, and the accuracy level of the estimates. This study proposed a practical guidance approach for construction agencies to choose their appropriate cost contingency method. This research is expected to help agencies/owners in the budget development stage to allocate a contingency budget for their construction projects.

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra), Apr 1, 2023

The global corona virus pandemic (COVID-19) has shown a range of internal and external factors af... more The global corona virus pandemic (COVID-19) has shown a range of internal and external factors affecting construction industries resulting in unprecedented delays for many public projects, disruptions, and uncertainty about construction projects. This situation made the construction industry tend to use more advanced techniques to reduce the negative effective factors. This paper seeks to provide a qualitative worldwide perspective on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and its positive effects on construction projects in the future. Following a thorough assessment process and conversations with experts in the building sector, eighteen factors were determined. The survey was distributed to determine the degree of importance of each factor. The data were collected from 132 respondents through a questionnaire distributed to engineers, contractors, and consultants. The data were evaluated using the Relative Importance Index (RII) based on the relative percentage of importance to calculate weights, then applied in the MATLAB program's fuzzy logic to calculate the probability of impact ratio. Based on the findings, a quantitative analysis of the factors affecting the projects was carried out using the fuzzy model. Thus, the fuzzy model was developed to estimate the percentage of time reduction in the schedule resulting from COVID-19's effects on construction projects. This study removes the ambiguity about the negative impacts on projects through which the construction industry strategic plan can be developed to take measures that lead to the application of modern technologies to reduce conflicts by avoiding or reducing the negative effects in construction projects.

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra)

Recently, a rising number of green buildings have been constructed across the globe in response t... more Recently, a rising number of green buildings have been constructed across the globe in response to increased attention and promotion from scientists, as well as conventional structures, and that the development of green buildings confronts various risks. It is the goal of this research to identify and simulate the performance of Intelligent Buildings (IBs). Engineers, clients, producers, and end-users can use Key Performance Indicators KPIs developed by the authors to better understand and promote the value of risk design by looking at a variety of building types. Components are included in the tools that deal with sustainability issues related to the environment, culture, and economy. Intelligent buildings' value is evaluated in relation to their design for different uses and their ability to meet a variety of needs, including the needs of occupants and users, as well as their ability to meet sustainability, whole life value, health, and emotional needs of occupants and users. Experts provide risk-mitigation risks. A thorough investigation was undertaken, as well as a questionnaire. The survey's findings revealed that the complicated processes for gaining permissions, the high initial cost that is neglected, the owners' imprecise needs, and the lack of and availability of information are all factors that need to be considered. The use of green materials and equipment is one of the top five priorities. The survey's risks revealed that green building construction projects are more perilous than standard structures. This study suggested 13 risk mitigation measures to address risks in green building construction projects, and (35) groups were categorized Main, the structured interview technique was adopted to obtain opinions from 100 construction specialists for different construction projects.Through this paper, the risks and performance rates were studied to know the effect on time and cost of green buildings and compared to traditional buildings, and a mathematical model was designed to be used through a computer or phone to reach the extent of the impact of the results of this research on the time and time of the project.

Maǧallaẗ Kulliyyaẗ Dār Al-ʿulūm, May 8, 2022

 I. INTRODUCTION HE needs to assess building expenses and create financial methodologies to eval... more  I. INTRODUCTION HE needs to assess building expenses and create financial methodologies to evaluate life cycle costs is expanding, the initial capital cost was considered the only investment choice for many clients. A number of reports have upheld the necessity to think through the long-term cost of project choices. Therefor a systematic methodology is applied to evolve LCC deep learning prediction model. An electronic questionnaire of analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is established. This questionnaire is divided into three sections; the first section provides the selected life cycle cost criteria and categories from previous literature studies and

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra)

In metro-rail projects, excavation depths may reach more than 30 meters in the construction of un... more In metro-rail projects, excavation depths may reach more than 30 meters in the construction of underground stations. In such cases, the dominant proposed excavation support system is the diaphragm wall system. Secant piles, contiguous piles, berlin walls, and other systems may be proposed for use in substructures as external accesses with depths up to 15 meters. Selecting the appropriate excavation support system is a crucial challenge for builders and designers. Complex factors which are considered in the selection process and dependent on the subjective judgments of the construction practitioners based on their past expertise, create uncertainty and imprecision. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), despite its popularity and wide use in the field of decision-making, is incapable of dealing with uncertainty in complex multi-criteria decision-making processes. To evaluate such complex decision-making problems, fuzzy set theory is combined with AHP in this study to use the fuzzy AHP (FAHP) technique in dealing with ambiguity and impression. To illustrate the applicability of the developed model, Heliopolis, and Kit Kat metro stations are presented, as case studies, in the greater Cairo Metro. It was concluded that the diaphragm wall system, although it is still more costly but preferable.

Risk factors causing cost overruns in road networks, 2022

Cost overrun is a common phenomenon observed in construction projects worldwide. It is one of the... more Cost overrun is a common phenomenon observed in construction projects worldwide. It is one of the biggest challenges experienced in the construction industry that leads to overstretched budgets, and directly affects the country's gross domestic product (GDP). This study aims to identify the factors that significantly contribute to cost overrun for road network projects in Egypt during the implementation phase. A survey was conducted to determine the most critical factors affecting the cost overrun for road network construction projects. Results showed that the main factors causing cost overrun are inaccurate cost estimates, design modifications, quantity changes, variation orders, political interference, inflation, specification changes, and change in the scope of work. This study will help decision-makers identify the factors that may affect the costs of future road projects and provide guidelines to mitigate the adverse effects observed during the implementation stage.

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra)

Ain Shams Engineering Journal

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra)

Cost estimation of construction projects is the basis for project life cycle cost management. The... more Cost estimation of construction projects is the basis for project life cycle cost management. The accuracy of project cost estimates depends on many factors, such as: Labor and equipment prices and availability of production rates, availability of material prices, accuracy of bid documents provided by project's owner, and market conditions. The price of construction materials accounts for a large proportion of the total project cost. Therefore, the availability of material prices is one of the most important factors affecting the accuracy of project cost estimates. When estimating costs at the bidding stage, a variety of material price sources can be used, such as: Catalogs from suppliers and manufacturers, surveys, historical data, price lists, and price bulletins from government or private organizations. This paper evaluates the availability of cost data in Egypt for detailed construction cost estimates and the reliability of the available data. The paper highlighted that there are two formal references for construction material price bulletins in Egypt (CAPMAS Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, and MHUC Ministry of Housing, Utilities & Urban Communities) which are issued on a monthly basis. The evaluation of the data availability and reliability in the formal bulletins were conducted using a real contractor's tendering estimate documents as case study by comparing to the cost estimates based on these bulletins. The results show that the available material prices provided by MHUC represents about 78% of total material cost in the case study, while the CAPMAS available data represents only about 45%. This study also highlighted the high level of accuracy of both bulletins' material prices compared with actual market prices in terms of civil and architecture materials and low accuracy for electro-mechanical materials.

Engineering Research Journal, Jun 1, 2024

International Journal of the Analytic Hierarchy Process

Recently, life cycle cost (LCC) has gained a wide acceptance in the field of industrial building ... more Recently, life cycle cost (LCC) has gained a wide acceptance in the field of industrial building construction, where it is categorized under economic sustainability in the overall sustainability of buildings. Hence, it is necessary to think about the categories and criteria that affect the building’s cost over its lifespan. In this study, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multi-criteria decision-making methodology, is employed to evaluate and weight four categories which are building blocks of the LCC of industrial building construction. The assessment model applies seventeen criteria which are distributed under the following four categories: initial cost, operating or maintenance cost, environmental impact cost, and the end of life. These are evaluated by thirty-seven civilian experts responding to a pair wise questionnaire. The results are significant as they reflect the viewpoints of the civilian experts and can aid in the development of a building's economic sustain...

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra), Apr 1, 2023

The targeted value design methodology is the most common expression of Target Costing (TC) in the... more The targeted value design methodology is the most common expression of Target Costing (TC) in the construction industry (design, construction, and delivery stages). It is recognized as an effective tool for reducing costs and managing overruns. However, the application of target value design in construction projects is highly dependent on the experience of the estimator. The main objective of this study is to identify the estimating cost, the limitations, and the key development areas of traditional Target Cost and solve the cost-focused estimating of traditional Target Cost (TC). A questionnaire-based interview survey was conducted to study the relation between target cost application and the financial failure rates in the engineering industry companies in Kuwait. Accordingly, most common factors affecting target cost have been ranked using standardized mathematical modeling of decision tree theory. A simple mathematical model has been developed using the MATLAB application. The model considering different operating expenses categories and graphically represents all operating costs. The model optimizes the results of (design, construction, and delivery stages) of cost and shows the target cost distribution and the direct cost distribution to differentiate between them.

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra), Oct 1, 2022

Delay is one of the challenges that affect the efficiency of the project. It is possible to reduc... more Delay is one of the challenges that affect the efficiency of the project. It is possible to reduce delays by assessing their real causes. Delay in the engineering shop drawings submittal/approval process is one of the common delays in construction projects. Therefore, it is important to study and analyze the causes of shop drawings delay. This paper aims to identify the causes of delays in the submittal/approval process, in addition to sorting and assessing the factors leading to such delays. A list of delay causes was retrieved from the literature review in addition to the feedback of construction experts that was obtained through interviews. Then a questionnaire survey was prepared and distributed among forty-one companies representing different types of parties (developers, consultants, and contractors). Among the twenty-four delay causes discussed, causes related to the engineering submittal/approval process were identified as the top delay causes such as: rework due to errors, delay in preparing submittals, poor qualifications of contractor technical staff, and poor communication and coordination. Delays in the submittal/approval process were split into two major groups: submittal of twenty-five delay causes and approval of eighteen delay causes. Thus, Frequency Index, Severity Index, and Importance Index were deduced and accordingly the top shop drawings delay causes of construction projects are determined. The top five causes were rework due to errors, suspension of work due to changes, delays in sub-contractors' work, coordination problems in design drawings, and unrealistic schedule. Statistical analysis was carried out on the results obtained from the survey. The test results reveal a good correlation between groups. A framework was developed as an effective solution for engineering shop drawing submittal/approval process delay. The proposed shop drawing framework is designed and developed based on the knowledge obtained from literature, observation of professionals, and the identified top factors. The framework consists of three successive phases: design/coordination review phase, shop drawing preparation /submission phase, and shop drawing reviewing/approval phase. Each phase is accomplished through sequential activities. After developing the framework, it was validated by utilizing a case study to see the effectiveness of the framework on the case study and how it helps in solving the problems of delaying submittals/approval process, and the progress after implementation of the framework was assessed.

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra), Oct 1, 2022

Recently, the economic system has faced a several unstable financial conditions (UFC) which affec... more Recently, the economic system has faced a several unstable financial conditions (UFC) which affected the construction industries. As a result of the instability, this led to an increase in the number of claims during implementation. Therefore, the importance of studying the impact of (UFC) on management and settlement of claims has appeared. Also, the enhancement of an effective claim management system is highly needed. Therefore, this research attempts to qualitative and quantitative analysis of factors affecting the claim process. Qualitative analysis was performed by identifying and ranking the key factors influencing the management of claims for construction projects. Depending on the literature review and expert interview, 30 factors were determined and categorized into four major categories:1) human framework 2) claim characteristics 3) organizational issues ,and contractual issues. The questionnaire survey was conducted to get the opinion of 133 participants, including contract managers, claim experts, and project managers. The data was analyzed statistically using (SPSS) software. Then, factors were ranked using the total importance index (T.R.I.I). Based on the results, the routine of public authorities ranked first. Whereas less-experienced parties come in the sconed of the overall rank. While the third factoris economic uncertainty and increasing inflation rates. Quantitative analysis of the factors influencing claims was performed using the fuzzy model. Thus, the fuzzy model was developed to estimate the percentage of affected cost increase resulting from the occurrence of critical factors. The model conducted a case study to verify the validity of the model application. Depending on the study and examination of the factors. This model attempts to provide a contract manager with a visually makes decisions by estimating the impacted costs. Contribute to measuring the extent of (UFC)damage to the claims process. This model is characterized by ease of application and addressing the ambiguity associated with the impact of factors arising from financial conditions. It also removes ambiguity about the interrelationship of factors with each other. Through this it is possible for the contract manager to develop an acceptable response strategy to enhance the chance of successful claims settlement and reduce the potential for disputes by avoiding or minimizing the impact of emerging factors

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra), Apr 1, 2023

Project cost contingency has been studied in several scholarly communities interested in project ... more Project cost contingency has been studied in several scholarly communities interested in project management. Numerous references have discussed its methods of estimating and modelling in the preliminary planning phase of the project while concluding version zero of the project management plan. In such a phase, project potential risk is assessed quantitatively to calculate a monetary allowance to handle project risk effects in the event that they occur and become a real issue. However, for a project management environment, there are not enough familiar practices that discuss or present a comprehensive methodology to simply and robustly manage it throughout the project execution phase. Also, the responsive decisions that should be taken to deal with its status, whether it turns out to be adequately estimated or not, have not been discussed or studied enough before.This paper is aiming to present a simple and robust method to help project managers perform such a function, depending on the widely used earned value method (EVM) to measure performance throughout execution at selected points of accomplished control account. Depending on embedding an index that expresses the project risk within the performance measurement process The concept of risk performance index (RPI) as a reflection of the relationship between pre-assessed quantitative risk during the planning phase and realworld risk that has become an issue is similar to the widely used concept of monitoring project performance by earned value, which takes into account cost performance index. The cost performance index (CPI) is a ratio of planned to actual costs, while the schedule performance index (SPI) is a ratio of two time-oriented values. This study will present a proposal for a risk performance index (RPI) to express the impact of project risk on project performance and to better manage project risk, which will be a ratio of two risks (preassessed during the project planning phase and actual occurring risks). The contingency budget management process was investigated. This was done via an integrated analysis of available standards provided by internationally recognized project management associations (PMI, IPMA, PMA, etc.) and the pertinent scholarly literature, in particular an analysis of literature on contingency management, which was developed based on the idea that it is a consistent and conducive methodology to deal with this topic. All past proposed models depend on original project cost estimation, expert judgment, or both for risk analysis. So the validity of these models depends on the accuracy of estimates and unbiased opinions from experts. Tremendous effort is required to collect pertinent and correct information for model inputs, and when the risk environment changes, the process must be restarted to obtain the correct information.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Apr 12, 2019

Construction industry is one of the most influential motivators of a national economy. The succes... more Construction industry is one of the most influential motivators of a national economy. The success of construction projects is indispensable to sustain a robust economy. Completion time is important for construction projects, nevertheless project multifaceted objectives, sophisticated nature, inherent uncertainties, and risks are success impediments and can cause time overrun. Stochastic models and simulation scheduling techniques are developed to predict the risk and uncertainty effects on construction projects' duration. The objective of this research is to develop models that predict the activity durations based on actual data from similar projects. The study introduces comprehensive statistical regression models using historical data of about 84,000 activities in Egypt, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The activities encompass engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) activities for most disciplines of construction projects. The regression models can be utilized to predict more reliably the activities' duration.

Ain Shams Engineering Journal, May 1, 2023

Alexandria Engineering Journal

Contingency is a critical component in the cost estimation process for any construction project. ... more Contingency is a critical component in the cost estimation process for any construction project. The contingency reserve considers potential costs related to risks and uncertainties associated with construction projects. It is usually assumed to damp any resulting uncertain monetary impact and to prevent project cost overrun. Many contingency calculation methods for construction projects proposed in literature ranged from simple percentage to complex mathematical methods. Deciding the optimum contingency method for a given project at a given phase represents the main challenge in cost estimation process. This study presents a comprehensive compilation of all contingency calculation methods and divided them into three main groups: deterministic, probabilistic, and modern mathematical methods which have been discussed in details. Appropriate method for estimating contingency amount depends on many criteria such as project peculiarity, complexity, ease of method used, and the accuracy level of the estimates. This study proposed a practical guidance approach for construction agencies to choose their appropriate cost contingency method. This research is expected to help agencies/owners in the budget development stage to allocate a contingency budget for their construction projects.

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra), Apr 1, 2023

The global corona virus pandemic (COVID-19) has shown a range of internal and external factors af... more The global corona virus pandemic (COVID-19) has shown a range of internal and external factors affecting construction industries resulting in unprecedented delays for many public projects, disruptions, and uncertainty about construction projects. This situation made the construction industry tend to use more advanced techniques to reduce the negative effective factors. This paper seeks to provide a qualitative worldwide perspective on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and its positive effects on construction projects in the future. Following a thorough assessment process and conversations with experts in the building sector, eighteen factors were determined. The survey was distributed to determine the degree of importance of each factor. The data were collected from 132 respondents through a questionnaire distributed to engineers, contractors, and consultants. The data were evaluated using the Relative Importance Index (RII) based on the relative percentage of importance to calculate weights, then applied in the MATLAB program's fuzzy logic to calculate the probability of impact ratio. Based on the findings, a quantitative analysis of the factors affecting the projects was carried out using the fuzzy model. Thus, the fuzzy model was developed to estimate the percentage of time reduction in the schedule resulting from COVID-19's effects on construction projects. This study removes the ambiguity about the negative impacts on projects through which the construction industry strategic plan can be developed to take measures that lead to the application of modern technologies to reduce conflicts by avoiding or reducing the negative effects in construction projects.

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra)

Recently, a rising number of green buildings have been constructed across the globe in response t... more Recently, a rising number of green buildings have been constructed across the globe in response to increased attention and promotion from scientists, as well as conventional structures, and that the development of green buildings confronts various risks. It is the goal of this research to identify and simulate the performance of Intelligent Buildings (IBs). Engineers, clients, producers, and end-users can use Key Performance Indicators KPIs developed by the authors to better understand and promote the value of risk design by looking at a variety of building types. Components are included in the tools that deal with sustainability issues related to the environment, culture, and economy. Intelligent buildings' value is evaluated in relation to their design for different uses and their ability to meet a variety of needs, including the needs of occupants and users, as well as their ability to meet sustainability, whole life value, health, and emotional needs of occupants and users. Experts provide risk-mitigation risks. A thorough investigation was undertaken, as well as a questionnaire. The survey's findings revealed that the complicated processes for gaining permissions, the high initial cost that is neglected, the owners' imprecise needs, and the lack of and availability of information are all factors that need to be considered. The use of green materials and equipment is one of the top five priorities. The survey's risks revealed that green building construction projects are more perilous than standard structures. This study suggested 13 risk mitigation measures to address risks in green building construction projects, and (35) groups were categorized Main, the structured interview technique was adopted to obtain opinions from 100 construction specialists for different construction projects.Through this paper, the risks and performance rates were studied to know the effect on time and cost of green buildings and compared to traditional buildings, and a mathematical model was designed to be used through a computer or phone to reach the extent of the impact of the results of this research on the time and time of the project.

Maǧallaẗ Kulliyyaẗ Dār Al-ʿulūm, May 8, 2022

 I. INTRODUCTION HE needs to assess building expenses and create financial methodologies to eval... more  I. INTRODUCTION HE needs to assess building expenses and create financial methodologies to evaluate life cycle costs is expanding, the initial capital cost was considered the only investment choice for many clients. A number of reports have upheld the necessity to think through the long-term cost of project choices. Therefor a systematic methodology is applied to evolve LCC deep learning prediction model. An electronic questionnaire of analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is established. This questionnaire is divided into three sections; the first section provides the selected life cycle cost criteria and categories from previous literature studies and

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra)

In metro-rail projects, excavation depths may reach more than 30 meters in the construction of un... more In metro-rail projects, excavation depths may reach more than 30 meters in the construction of underground stations. In such cases, the dominant proposed excavation support system is the diaphragm wall system. Secant piles, contiguous piles, berlin walls, and other systems may be proposed for use in substructures as external accesses with depths up to 15 meters. Selecting the appropriate excavation support system is a crucial challenge for builders and designers. Complex factors which are considered in the selection process and dependent on the subjective judgments of the construction practitioners based on their past expertise, create uncertainty and imprecision. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), despite its popularity and wide use in the field of decision-making, is incapable of dealing with uncertainty in complex multi-criteria decision-making processes. To evaluate such complex decision-making problems, fuzzy set theory is combined with AHP in this study to use the fuzzy AHP (FAHP) technique in dealing with ambiguity and impression. To illustrate the applicability of the developed model, Heliopolis, and Kit Kat metro stations are presented, as case studies, in the greater Cairo Metro. It was concluded that the diaphragm wall system, although it is still more costly but preferable.

Risk factors causing cost overruns in road networks, 2022

Cost overrun is a common phenomenon observed in construction projects worldwide. It is one of the... more Cost overrun is a common phenomenon observed in construction projects worldwide. It is one of the biggest challenges experienced in the construction industry that leads to overstretched budgets, and directly affects the country's gross domestic product (GDP). This study aims to identify the factors that significantly contribute to cost overrun for road network projects in Egypt during the implementation phase. A survey was conducted to determine the most critical factors affecting the cost overrun for road network construction projects. Results showed that the main factors causing cost overrun are inaccurate cost estimates, design modifications, quantity changes, variation orders, political interference, inflation, specification changes, and change in the scope of work. This study will help decision-makers identify the factors that may affect the costs of future road projects and provide guidelines to mitigate the adverse effects observed during the implementation stage.

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra)

Ain Shams Engineering Journal

Engineering Research Journal - Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra)

Cost estimation of construction projects is the basis for project life cycle cost management. The... more Cost estimation of construction projects is the basis for project life cycle cost management. The accuracy of project cost estimates depends on many factors, such as: Labor and equipment prices and availability of production rates, availability of material prices, accuracy of bid documents provided by project's owner, and market conditions. The price of construction materials accounts for a large proportion of the total project cost. Therefore, the availability of material prices is one of the most important factors affecting the accuracy of project cost estimates. When estimating costs at the bidding stage, a variety of material price sources can be used, such as: Catalogs from suppliers and manufacturers, surveys, historical data, price lists, and price bulletins from government or private organizations. This paper evaluates the availability of cost data in Egypt for detailed construction cost estimates and the reliability of the available data. The paper highlighted that there are two formal references for construction material price bulletins in Egypt (CAPMAS Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, and MHUC Ministry of Housing, Utilities & Urban Communities) which are issued on a monthly basis. The evaluation of the data availability and reliability in the formal bulletins were conducted using a real contractor's tendering estimate documents as case study by comparing to the cost estimates based on these bulletins. The results show that the available material prices provided by MHUC represents about 78% of total material cost in the case study, while the CAPMAS available data represents only about 45%. This study also highlighted the high level of accuracy of both bulletins' material prices compared with actual market prices in terms of civil and architecture materials and low accuracy for electro-mechanical materials.