رسائل ماجيستير
English
2021
Advancement of constructability practices in industry: the case of construction projects in Muscat Governorate
Ali Said Al Nuaimi, Mubarak Al-Alawi , Said Mubarak Ali Al-Hamdani
كلية الهندسة-جامعة السلطان قابوس · عمان
Constructability, as defined by the Construction Industry Institute (CII) (1986), is the optimum use of construction knowledge and experience in the phases of conceptual planning, detailed engineering, procurement, and field operations to achieve the overall project objectives. Since the 1980s, when the concept was first introduced, researchers have investigated the implementation of constructability in various types of projects and have addressed the associated benefits and challenges (Jester, 2003). However, there have been few studies related to constructability in the Gulf countries, and none specifically recorded in Oman.
This research aims to review the concept of constructability and assess the level of implementation of constructability practices in the construction industry within the Muscat Governorate. The methodology adopted in this research consists of a systematic literature review based on the PRISMA approach. Based on the state-of-the-art findings, a questionnaire was developed in consultation with academics and industry practitioners. The questionnaire was then distributed to various stakeholders involved in construction projects, such as clients, contractors, engineers, and architects in Muscat, to gather relevant data and determine the level of constructability implementation in the region.
Following the PRISMA methodology, 113 publications were identified as relevant to the study. Notably, most of the publications (26%) originated from the United States, which is expected given that constructability research was initially established there. Most journal articles adopting literature reviews as their methodology were published after 2011, which can be attributed to researchers’ efforts to consolidate advancements in constructability research.
A total of 85 participants responded to the questionnaire. The results indicated that constructability practices are recognized, supported, and implemented by clients, designers, and builders—suggesting a broad acceptance of the concept across the construction industry in Muscat. Additionally, 45% of respondents stated that constructability efforts typically begin during pre-project planning, demonstrating a positive awareness of the importance of initiating these efforts early in the project life cycle. Furthermore, 60% of respondents reported incorporating constructability during the design phase by following constructability manuals within their organizations.
Finally, respondents acknowledged that several obstacles to implementing constructability remain, including issues related to cost, time, and project delivery methods. Nevertheless, the findings suggest that while awareness of constructability exists, its implementation is still evolving. Greater efforts, particularly from project owners, are needed to enhance constructability practices and reach a more mature level of implementation.