The research described in this report was carried out by: Karen Manley Graham Miller Richard Hough Stephen McFallan Mike Swainston Sue McKenzie-Smith Don Allan. The Client makes use of this Report or any information provided by CRC for Construction Innovation in relation to the Consulting Services at its own risk. CRC CI shall not be responsible for the results of any actions taken by the Client or third parties based on the information in this Report or other information provided by CRC CI, nor for any errors or omissions contained in this Report may not be contained.
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PREFACE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Review of 2003 Case Studies
BRITE Impact on Industry
INTRODUCTION
- Background
- Scope
- Conceptual Framework
- Methodology
Case studies focus on construction and construction projects arise because most innovation occurs in the context of a project. The case studies were interpreted in line with the influential work of Gann and Salter (1998) and Marceau et al (1999). These authors highlight the non-linear and highly interactive nature of innovation processes in the context of a broad view of the boundaries of the Australian construction industry.
The factors in Table 3.1 are used to guide the discussion of innovation in the case studies.
BRITE INNOVATION CASE STUDY No 7. Managing Stormwater
Alternatively, the gutters can be connected to a diffuser system that transfers the water to areas of the garden with suitable soil porosity and permeability. As an integral part of the roof drainage system, storage gutters are less aesthetically disruptive than rainwater tanks and pumps. The inventor, in turn, was keen to demonstrate the validity of the system for a non-domestic application.
The inventor of storage gutters has been reaching out to local council officers over a long period of time to reduce their perception of risk, seeking to demonstrate that water storage gutters can be used to reduce the flooding of local storm nuisances. to increase it.
BRITE INNOVATION CASE STUDY No 8. Saving Site Remediation
Even calculating the benefit of the waste disposal method conservatively (assuming the same amount for disposal), the customer saved approx. The overriding driving force behind the innovations was a crisis – the surprising discovery of large quantities of coal tar and the high cost of removing it. The team was very keen to minimize the impact of the issue on the client and the client was satisfied with their performance.
The contractor notes that while direct employment may be more expensive in upfront costs, a stable and experienced workforce saves them money in the long run as the 'policy protects the company's reputation'.
BRITE INNOVATION CASE STUDY No 9. Post-tensioned Steel Trusses
The tension in the string line was measured and this determined the thickness of the dome structure. A similar process was used for the stadium roof, using 3D computer modeling instead of the physical string line. People had continued access to most public areas around the stadium during construction.
The structural designer at Telstra Stadium chose to handle the load of the cables themselves.
BRITE INNOVATION CASE STUDY No 10. Twin-Coil Air Conditioning
The new twin coil system is the fifth and latest in a number of air conditioning innovations developed by the late Dr Allan Shaw, formerly of the University of Adelaide. The main shareholders of the commercialization company are the family of the inventor and the two subcontractors of the project. The new technology appears to be the only two-coil system patented worldwide using series tube circuitry to maximize efficiency.
The installation of the two-flush system did not interrupt the daily operation of the Gallery. The two-flush system can be used in the repair of existing air conditioning systems, as well as in new buildings and facilities. The two coil system at Barmera Hospital received the 2002 National Electrical and Communications Association Award of Excellence (Specialist Division) in Australia.
The Gallery sought to install the twin-coil system to reduce energy consumption and gain better control over fluctuating temperature and humidity conditions. The subcontractors were responsible for the design, construction and installation of the twin coil system. This is linked to a new marketing strategy that means the twin-coil system can be used by a customer, without ties to the patent holding organisations.
Much of the development and financial commitment for the marketing of the two-coil system was provided by a private company dedicated to its commercialization. Furthermore, the implementation of the technology at the Gallery was possible because repairs were needed to the existing air conditioning system.
BRITE INNOVATION CASE STUDY No 11. Better Project Outcomes
The lead contractor, operating on a lump sum management basis, contributed to the review of the contract documents and advised on the practicality and 'buildability' of the design and then managed the construction process, including subcontractor packages. This hybrid contract encouraged greater supply chain integration than a more traditional contract and encouraged a higher level of collaboration among team members, including subcontractors. The cooperative intentions of the contract were reinforced by a day-long workshop at the beginning of the project, which aimed to stimulate "best for the project" thinking.
A key element of the project was the early involvement of those specialist subcontractors who supplied the prestressed steel roof structures, precast elements and tension roof membranes. Finally, elements of a contract that establish a relationship, and in particular the early involvement of subcontractors, are relatively rare in Australia and overseas. The project team believes that this challenging project was completed on time and on budget due to the adopted relationship-based procurement strategy and "best for project" thinking.
Both the 3D CAD and innovative procurement model owe their adoption to the complexity of the Adelaide Oval redevelopment. The use of the 3D CAD model contributed significantly to the timely delivery of the project within an extremely tight design and construction schedule. The client also knew of the positive experiences of public sector clients who had successfully used more innovative contracts.
In the early stages of the project, there were some concerns in the community about the redevelopment design, particularly the spectator stands. The redevelopment works were subsequently completed without disruption to the site's daily operations.
BRITE INNOVATION CASE STUDY No 12. Using Recycled
The cost-competitiveness of the technology is reinforced by a $10,000 machine customization that efficiently and effectively removes sidewalls. One of the key stakeholders in the technology is tire recycling in the Tomago project. Landfill tires have traditionally had no value, but most are suitable for use by a technology supplier.
The tire recycler at Project Tomago typically makes a 10% profit on landfilled truck tires, but can make a 40% profit on locally sourced, approved and modified truck tires delivered locally to the technology supplier. Although properly modified tires can be obtained from the technology supplier for nominal cost, the customer pays a more substantial fee for the product, based on the embedded intellectual property. The client was motivated to do this after a pilot test of the product, which they conducted after hearing about the technology and developing a relationship with the inventor.
The key players – the client's project manager, the inventor of the technology, the general manager of the tire recycler and the general manager of the general contractor – all have great respect for each other's capabilities and have built strong relationships over time. The technology is a profitable and sustainable business opportunity for the tire recycler, a better way to meet customer needs for the prime contractor, and delivers economic/sustainable project outcomes for the customer. He believes the academic association needs to be convinced of the benefits of the technology because their expert opinion is highly regarded.
Such evidence shows that recycled tires manufactured using the Ecoflex system are mostly environmentally friendly and that the technology is robust. Fifth, the inventor group believes that the technology has reached a stage of development and market penetration where they can successfully seek a partnership with a large established company in the industry.
CASE STUDY SUMMARY DATA
The distinction shown here is determined by the degree of technical deviation from current practice, rather than by the impact.
CONCLUSIONS
The BRITE team proposed a phase 2 of the project to the CRC Research Board in 2004 and successfully convinced the Board to fund an additional two years of study. Further research will include tracking innovation in action over the life of two construction projects, as well as conducting an interview survey of organizations identified as 'high innovators' during BRITE Phase 1.
GLOSSARY
CRC for Construction Innovation - BRITE Project Studies - A project to increase the level of innovation in the construction industry. This report reviews the diffusion of innovations profiled in 2003 by the BRITE CRC Project on Construction Innovation. In the last 12 months, Mr. Standfield noticed an increased acceptance of the heat storage.
Significant Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) gains have also been achieved in the more controlled environment of the prefabricated yard. The Port of Brisbane Motorway Alliance was a pioneering step in relationship contracting in the Australian construction industry. The successful delivery of the project was followed by significant expansion in the use of various types of alliance contracting.
However, in the case of the Tugan Bypass, a critical project deadline has resulted in the use of a hybrid alliance system. These new beams extend the life of the existing bridge until it can be replaced. The use of Ground Penetrating Radar to detect defects in the Cattle Creek Bridge has had a significant ongoing effect on the Queensland bridge building industry.
At the Queensland Department of Main Roads, a more stringent inspection process for concrete pours has been put in place as a result of the problems encountered with the Cattle Creek Bridge and as a result it is not considered necessary to inspect all concrete bridges with the technology. However, the Cattle Creek Bridge episode has given a boost to the concept of remote sensing and this has been a game changer for the industry at large. Richard Yelf of Georadar Research reports a significant increase in the use of the technology since the Cattle Creek Bridge.
Taken together, the first round of BRITE case studies illustrates the diversity of the innovation process and its ongoing nature.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES
