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As laser scanning technology becomes readily available and affordable, there is an increasing demand of using point cloud data collected from a laser scanner to create as-built building information modeling (BIM) models for quality assessment, schedule control and energy performance within construction projects. To enhance the as-built modeling efficiency, this study explores an integrated system, called Auto-Scan-To-BIM (ASTB), with an aim to automatically generate a complete Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) model consisted of the 3D building elements for the given building based on its point cloud without requiring additional modeling tools.

ASTB has been developed with three function modules. Taking the scanned point data as input, Module 1 is built on the basis of the widely used region segmentation methodology and expanded with enhanced plane boundary line detection methods and corner recalibration algorithms. Then, Module 2 is developed with a domain knowledge-based heuristic method to analyze the features of the recognized planes, to associate them with corresponding building elements and to create BIM models. Based on the spatial relationships between these building elements, Module 3 generates a complete IFC model for the entire project compatible with any BIM software.

A case study validated the ASTB with an application with five common types of building elements (e.g. wall, floor, ceiling, window and door).

First, an integrated system, ASTB, is developed to generate a BIM model from scanned point cloud data without using additional modeling tools. Second, an enhanced plane boundary line detection method and a corner recalibration algorithm are developed in ASTB with high accuracy in obtaining the true surface planes. At last, the research contributes to develop a module, which can automatically convert the identified building elements into an IFC format based on the geometry and spatial relationships of each plan.

This paper presents some simulation‐oriented techniques, particularly the resource allocation point (RAP) heuristic rule, for an activity‐based construction (ABC) simulation that requires only one kind of element to model construction operations. RAP heuristic rule provides the simulation with the decision‐making ability for allocating limited resources during simulation. Predefined entity management strategies control the movements of simulation entities so as to model some complex features of construction operations. An activity object‐oriented (AOO) simulation strategy based on object‐oriented approach for the implementation of the ABC simulation by regarding activities as objects controls the mechanism of the ABC simulation by checking only relevant activities at certain time, other than checking all activities for each simulation time unit. An easy‐to‐use animation aims at enhancing understanding of simulation and assisting modellers in verifying and validating model.

The aim of this study is to evaluate implementation of an integrated management system (IMS) based ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards for construction firms.

Supported by a structured questionnaire survey, this paper examines several related issues in the implementation of IMS in construction firms in China. The researchers interviewed the auditors of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards and senior managers of ten construction firms. The structured questionnaires were sent to 300 construction firms in China. Among them, 68 completed questionnaires were received.

The findings reveal that a majority of the firms support an integration of the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards. “Similarity” and “compatibility” between the two standards are considered as the main reasons for pursuing such an integration. The benefits resulted from the integration include “avoidance duplication of procedures”, “reduced conflict of procedures”, and “reduced requirements for resources”. The research also finds that organizations need technical guidance and support from certifying bodies to complete the integration.

Proposes some useful suggestion for the contractors which are implementing (or will implement) both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards.

It provides a possible solution by IMS with combining ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 for the contractors which are implementing (or will implement) both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards. The IMS could help the contractors to overcome the challenges faced by them and achieve continual improvement.

This research presents a framework that allows project managers to predict the next critical paths (CP(s)) and to take extra care when planning and executing those activities that have the potential to cause changes in a project's current CP(s).

The method presented here is based on an assessment of each activity's contribution to the overall schedule variance, which involves assigning a probability distribution function to each activity duration in the project. A sensitivity analysis is also carried out, which forms the basis of identifying which activity most affects the project completion date and therefore will have the greatest effect in changing the CP.

The authors’ analysis reveals that the most appropriate probability density function (PDF) for the targeted project is the normal distribution. However, the aim of this work is not to determine the most suitable distribution for each activity but rather to study the effect of the activity distribution type on the CP prediction. The results show that the selection of the appropriate probability distribution is very important, since it can impact the CP prediction and estimated project completion date.

This research work proposes a delay analysis scheme which can help the project manager to predict the next CP and to improve performance by identifying which activity is the bottleneck. On the other hand, the simplicity arises from the fact that this method does not require any expensive machines or software to generate results.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate country-level and firm-level determinants of within-country accounting comparability for 16 European Union countries plus the USA in the post-International Financial Reporting Standards adoption period.

The authors use ordinary least squares regression to test the hypotheses with a correction for heteroscedasticity.

The authors find that firms in countries with rules-based accounting, higher quality public auditor work environments, stricter enforcement of accounting standards and more reliance on equity-market financing have higher within-country comparability with each other. At the firm-level, the authors find that firms which are larger, engage in less earnings management, and have lower return-on-asset volatility have higher within-country comparability with each other.

The authors use one measure of accounting comparability. Alternative measures of accounting comparability could test the hypotheses more completely.

The findings of the paper may help the regulators make more efficient policies to establish an efficient financial market within their country.

The paper is the first, to the authors’ knowledge, to identify country-level and firm-level determinants of within-country accounting comparability. It contributes to the accounting literature by completing the theory of international accounting comparability from the within-country perspectives, as prior literature focuses on the cross-country perspective of international accounting comparability.

The aim of this paper is to examine whether the process of organisational change in implementing the environmental quality standard ISO 14001 can act as a driving force for sustainable development (SD) and value creation.

The paper first presents an analysis of the concepts of: the ISO 14000 environmental management system (EMS); SD; values‐based value creation; and service quality. These concepts are then applied in a case study of organisational change at Flügger AB (Sweden), a company that has undergone a comprehensive transformation process based on ISO 14001 over a period of more than ten years.

The study reveals that ISO 14001 certification can be used as an active tool for promoting comprehensive organisational changes leading to SD and value creation.

The single case‐study design of the present research does not enable empirical generalisations to be made. Future research in this area should focus on generalising the present findings by studying the development and integration of values‐based thinking in other empirical settings.

The study provides useful insights into the successful adoption of ISO 14000 EMS as an active tool for SD and value creation.

The paper makes an original contribution to the study of holistic organisational change by explicitly linking the adoption of an EMS with values‐based thinking and sustainability.

Many planners and managers prefer to maintain more than enough construction materials on site to avoid valuable labour and plant resources staying idle. Despite the fact that minimising the buffer stock would improve the productivity of a construction project, no one likes to take this risk especially when the consequences are not totally clear. This paper aims to identify the possible savings in time and cost due to different amounts of buffer stock on site, by introducing an activity‐based simulation model.

In this research, details and data of a residential project involving substantial amounts of pre‐cast components are collected. The project participants are asked to unveil the constraints on site and throughout the material delivery and storage processes. Finally, the collected data are fed into the activity‐based construction simulation tool for analysis.

The results indicate that simulation could help quantify the productivity of resources so as to establish the most suitable strategy for improving the logistics of materials handling in a construction project.

The paper helps construction planners and managers to streamline the flow of construction materials and determine optimal buffer stocks rather than relying on subjective judgement.

Despite the popularity of the entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) concept, research on its value-adding activities receives less attention. Thus, in this article, the authors investigate the role of EEs in supporting global value chain (GVC) activities.

The authors employ the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) technique to identify practical configurations of EE’s framework and systemic conditions spurring GVC activities in 80 countries.

The findings suggest different configurations of EE`s framework and systemic conditions necessary for various GVC activities regarding input-output structure, geographical scope, upgrading, and forward and backward participation.

This study contributes to the extant literature by pioneering the EE approach to explaining GVC development. Moreover, the findings provide novel insights for understanding the EE – GVC interplay. As a result, the study offers a more nuanced understanding of how the EE supports GVC activities.