International Journal of Modern Research in Engineering & Management (IJMREM) ||Volume|| 2 ||Issue|| 9 ||Pages|| 05-10 || September 2019 || ISSN: 2581-4540
To Explore the Level of Adoption of Prefabrication in Construction Industry of Pakistan 1,
Muhammad Imran, 2, Dr. Nafees Ahmad Memon, 3, Dr. Aftab Hameed Memon, 4, Naseeb Ullah Mengal
1,2,4, 3,
Department of Civil Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology Jamshoro Department of Civil Engineering, Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science & Technology
-----------------------------------------------ABSTRACT----------------------------------------------------------Construction industry is facing many problems in terms of construction waste, quality, environment, durability, safety and higher construction cost. Adoption of prefabrication is possible solution to these problems. Prefabrication has been regarded as the emerging technique in the world for improving cost, quality, time and efficiency. The adoption level of this technique has been lower in developing countries like Pakistan. The aim of this research work is to study the level of adoption of prefabrication with regard to the construction industry of Pakistan. Three factors as buildings, roads and bridges were selected to form literature review and questionnaire survey. 75 questionnaire was sent to construction industry professionals, 60 questionnaire were received. Data analysis was done through SPSS version 20. The results shows that the mean and standard deviation (SD) value for the bridge have higher that is 2.95 and 2.158, respectively. For buildings mean value is 2.92 and SD value is 1.807, and for roads mean value 2.55 and SD value is 1.872. The results shows that prefabrication is mostly used in bridges, than in buildings and lastly in roads. Concluding on the basis of above results the use of prefabrication is likely to increase in Pakistan.
KEYWORDS: Prefabrication, Buildings, Roads, Bridges, Questionnaire survey, Pakistan. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------Date of Submission: Date, 07 September 2019 Date of Publication: 05 September 2019 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
I. INTRODUCTION Great challenges confronted by the sharp construction demand, mounting cost pressures, and critical environmental issues have attracted large attention to prefabrication in the worldwide construction industry. Still, construction work was carried out at site following traditional practices of construction like lack of regulations, high construction waste generation, formwork, fabricated work, scaffolding, fixed working site (Lu et al., 2018). In construction industry, conventional methods have long been criticized for extensive construction period, hazardous, less efficiency, large expenditure of labor, poor safety records, heterogeneous in nature, pollution and large waste generation. Prefabrication possess substantial benefits, such as alleviated construction time, increase in speed of construction, less construction site waste, less construction cost, improved quality control, less water and energy consumption, less environmental impacts to inhabitants, enhanced occupational health and safety of personals (Zhang et al., 2018). Prefabricated construction denotes to the practice of making construction components in a manufacturing factory, bringing whole components or semi-components to construction sites, and lastly assembling the components to make structures (Hong, J., Shen, G.Q., Li, Z., Zhang, B. and Zhang, 2018). The construction sector play key role in the development of country. Recently an estimate issued by the economic survey of Pakistan indicate that industry rise 9.1 % in FY17 and contribute 2.7% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). But in Pakistan construction sector is one of the most neglected sector. The industry has large share of unskilled labour, lack of regulations and standards, less use of mechanization, lacking in advance technology and lack of waste management plan. Construction industry is considered as being backward by comparing with different industries like manufacturing industry because of its relative lack of use of the latest advances in techniques, processes, management practices (economic survey 2017-18). Therefore, it is indispensable to study the advance construction techniques in construction like prefabrication, building information modelling and circular economy. This research work focused on identifying the framework for adoption of prefabrication in construction projects of Pakistan.
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To Explore the Level of Adoption of Prefabrication in‌ II. LITERATURE REVIEW Zhang et al., 2018 was carried out a research work to consider main barriers in prefabrication adoption. Prefabrication reflected a significant solution to reduce construction waste generation. This paper provides suggestions for stimulating the prefabrication in Hong Kong. Twenty-two barriers were identified in literature review and categorize them in six groups. A sampling survey and face to face discussion were organized to inspect prefabrication. Prefabrication provides solution to handle issues like waste reduction, key barriers and provide analysis of each problem. The key barriers were less storage space for materials, high cost, high total cost, and long design time. Based on survey and interview some suggestions were proposed to increase the use of prefabrication in Hong Kong like BIM, JIT management and enhance customer confidence. Li et al., 2019 studied decision making practice in Prefabrication Housing Production (PHP) missing competence and cooperation due to complex information system. Building information modelling (BIM) favored decisionmaking and enhancing working efficiency. BIM and PHP are the emerging techniques, a theoretical background founded on current studies is required to smooth their acknowledgement and guide forth coming studies. Conceptual framework is suggested for BIM and PHP after critical review of 65 papers published in the peerreviewed journals from 2005 to 2017. The framework comprises three pillars, including smart work packages (SWPs), smart BIM platform (SBP), and smart PHP objects (SPOs). All three columns joined with each other. The development of BIM and PHP system helpful to many stakeholders. In this study Li et al., 2016 performed SWOT analysis and Internet of Things-enabled platform for prefabrication housing production in Hong Kong was carried out. Housing always remain the chief concern for the Hong Kong Housing Authority. In order to cope up various restraints of construction like time, cost, environmental degradation, scarcity of labour, health and safety problems, prefabrication is considered as a solution of these issues. In Hong Kong only limited work has been done on the planning and strategic analysis of managing prefabrication building industry. By applying SWOT analysis, we can achieve deep understanding on the current status of management of prefabrication housing projects. Data is collected from literature review, prefabrication-concerned legislations, discussions with professionals, and government reports. This research work provides an opportunity to all stakeholders to work for development of prefabrication. Building information modelling and Internet of Things are the techniques, which are planned based on SWOT analysis to solve weakness and threats and for improving management of prefabrication housing projects in Hong Kong. Cao et al., 2015 conducted a research study to establish a comparison between prefabrication and cast-in-situ technologies. Prefabrication enhance construction efficiency and quality. However, it is vital to investigate, whether prefabrication is vital for sustainable development. Data is collected from literature review, interviews, and from site visit. Environmental impact (EI) categories nominated for the research work. To quantify ecological effect two life cycle assessment-based prototypes were used. The results showed that prefabricated housing building construction was consumed only 20.49% of energy as compared with conventional housing buildings. Prefabricated construction has various benefits as 35.82% saving in resource, a 6.61% in health and a 3.47% in ecosystem damage. Prefabrication construction is ecosystem friendly as compared with traditional construction. Mao et al., 2013 examines GHG emissions among precast construction and cast-in-situ construction. By using process-based method a numerical model was established. For initial analysis, a semiprefabrication and a traditional construction project in China are targeted. Results represent that semiprefabrication construction caused 336 kg/m2 of GHG while comparing with the conventional construction method of 368 kg/m2. The major portion of entire GHG discharge originates from building materials, amounting for almost 85%. Similarly, four other elements that positively contribute to decrease GHG. Therefore, implementing prefabricated construction techniques provides substantial ecological benefits on GHG emissions.
III. RESEARCH AIM AND OBJECTIVE This research study aims to examine the level of adoption of pre-cast in construction industry of Pakistan. The information and their disparities in the impression of the accompanying associations specifically clients, consultants and constructors.
IV. METHODOLOGY During this research study Questioner survey is being carried out from different professionals. For that purpose (75) questionnaire was distributed and out of total numbers (60) were received representing 80% of total returned questionnaire. The respondents were asked to express the level of adoption of prefabrication in buildings, roads, and bridges. The scale was set from 0-100% [0%, 0-20%, 21-40%, 41-60%, 61-80%, 81100%]. The Cronbach alpha reliability test measures the reliability of questionnaire survey. The Cronbach’s coefficient alpha is 0.732 which is higher than 0.5 threshold that indicate the reliability of data. www.ijmrem.com
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To Explore the Level of Adoption of Prefabrication in‌ The data of questionnaire was collected from different construction experts like client organization, contractor organization and consultant organization. The industry professionals include contractors, client, consultant, design and supervision firm, architectural firms, and builder and developers. Background information of respondents were presented in pie chart. Data analysis was done through Statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. Data analysis involved Mean and standard deviation (SD).
V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Fig 1 indicate the role of respondent vary from organization to organization. The respondents in contractor organization are higher (36.67%), followed by those in client organization (21.67%) and consultant organization (18%). The experience of respondents is shown in Fig 2. Prefabrication construction and cast in-situ construction both are similar in nature because both involve RCC, electrical and Mechanical works. Almost (36.67%) of the respondents have below 5 years professional experience, also (36.67%) respondents have experience between 5 to 10 years, about 15% have experience between 10 to 15 years, and (5%) are 15 to 20 years industry experience, about 6.67% professionals have experience above 20 years. This shows that respondents have expertise in construction works and proficient to give reliable information relating to the level of adoption of prefabrication in construction industry. Table 1 shows adoption level of prefabrication in construction industry of Pakistan. Construction industry is divided into three major categories i.e. buildings, roads and bridges. The respondents were required to identify variables that they perceived as likely to contribute level of adoption of prefabrication in construction projects by responding on a scale from 0- 100%. Total collected questionnaires were 60 and there is no questionnaire remains missing. Under Bridge mean value 2.95, in case of buildings the obtained mean value is 2.92 and roads mean value is 2.55, while analyzing data in SPSS the standard deviation (SD) value in bridges is 2.158, in buildings the SD value is 1.807, and in roads is 1.872.
Company
3% 5%
2%
Contractor
5%
Client
8%
37%
Consultant Design/Supervision firm
Builder/Developer
18%
Others
22%
Architectural firm
Manufacturer Plant
Fig 1: Company type
Experience 7%
5%
Below 5 Years
15%
36%
5 to 10 Years 11 to 15 Years 16 to 20 Years
37%
Over 20 Years
Fig 2: Respondents experience in construction industry Statistics
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To Explore the Level of Adoption of Prefabrication in‌ Buildings
Roads
Valid
Bridges
60
60
60
0
0
0
2.92
2.55
2.95
1.807
1.872
2.158
N Missing Mean Std. Deviation
Table 1: SPSS results
Buildings Table 2: Prefabrication in Buildings Roads Percent
Frequency
Valid Percent
Cumulative Percent
0
14
23.3
23.3
23.3
0%
6
10.0
10.0
33.3
1-20%
6
10.0
10.0
43.3
21-40%
13
21.7
21.7
65.0
41-60%
12
20.0
20.0
85.0
61-80%
6
10.0
10.0
95.0
81-100
3
5.0
5.0
100.0
60
100.0
100.0
Valid
Total
Table 3: Prefabrication in Roads Bridges Frequency
Percent
Valid Percent
Cumulative Percent
0
15
25.0
25.0
25.0
0%
3
5.0
5.0
30.0
1-20%
4
6.7
6.7
36.7
21-40%
13
21.7
21.7
58.3
41-60%
7
11.7
11.7
70.0
61-80%
9
15.0
15.0
85.0
81-100
9
15.0
15.0
100.0
60
100.0
100.0
Valid
Total
Table 4: Prefabrication in Bridges
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To Explore the Level of Adoption of Prefabrication in‌
Fig 3: Prefabrication in Buildings
Fig 4: Prefabrication in Roads
Fig 5: Prefabrication in Bridges
VI CONCLUSION The suitability of prefabrication in building is being assessed by this research study, road and bridge construction in perspective of Pakistan construction industry. Prefabrication is economical when compared with conventional method of construction which are being used from centuries. The use of advance techniques like www.ijmrem.com
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To Explore the Level of Adoption of Prefabrication in… JIT, manufacturing techniques and technology make this method more and more accessible to all participants of project. The result of this research indicate that the level of adoption of prefabrication is higher in bridges, than in buildings and lastly in roads.
VII RECOMMENDATION Based on this study with particular reference to Pakistan, the following recommendations are proposed: • Prefabrication construction is an emerging technique, so that government should take steps to launch incentive or financial support program in order to boost this construction industry. • Prefabrication can also be used in irrigation canals, flyovers, air ports, and parking areas.
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