The construction process has come under intense scrutiny in recent times and this is set to continue as building owners and users demand better value for money from a more sustainable built environment. The construction sector’s actors are responding to the challenges implicit in this drive for greater competitiveness and social responsibility. New forms of procurement; innovation programmes; knowledge management; CAD-supported processes; predictive and diagnostic tools; and many more initiatives are helping to transform the sector. Construction Process Improvement showcases 21 examples of how directed efforts are being taken to raise productivity and quality; reduce waste and costs; and provide more certain and durable products for the sector’s customers. Each example is the subject of a closely coupled collaborative project in which answers are being sought on matters of strategic importance to companies. The chapters that describe and discuss these projects balance state-of-the-art reviews with details of the work being undertaken and; in many cases; the results that are being implemented within the companies. Construction Process Improvement deals with issues that matter to best practice companies and researchers in industry and universities. It covers; amongst other topics; modularisation for manufactured housing; life cycle methods in housing; commercial buildings and services installations; tools and techniques for performance prediction and diagnostics; coordination of design and production processes; novel use of traditional materials; new forms of procurement and the role of innovation; public private partnerships; partnering structures; learning organisations; management of major refurbishment; management information systems; TQM and continuous improvement; CAAD methodology; tools and 4-D CAD; and facilities management. This book analyses the way forward for improving the construction process; in particular the links between research and development and industrial competitiveness. The implementation of new methods and thinking in companies is examined and important advice for senior managers and researchers is offered.
#3224402 in eBooks 2008-06-09 2008-06-09File Name: B000V3QO8I
Review
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful. excellent; but in some areas onlyBy John StevensonEnthusiastically written and covering a comprehensive range of topics; ideas and projects; this is an engaging book. I found the structure to be interesting; with a lot of material intended to inspire the reader at the front (including twenty-one individual "chapterettes"; each involving a single artwork project; from invited contributors). The only purely instructional chapter comes right at the end; offering more detailed insight into some of the key steps and procedures used throughout the balance of the tome. And; in total; a bulky tome this is - 583 pages and 3 pounds plus a little (to be almost exact). A lot of the material presented is very inventive; for example; I do not recall seeing any of the techniques used as the basis of the worked (and finely artistic) examples within the `Painting in Photoshop ... chapter included within any other of the now growing number of contemporary photo-art texts. Collage is taken to include the building of panoramic photographs and a whole chapter is devoted to these. However; arguably the best software for actually doing such constructions - NHIS PTgui - isnt included (presumably because it doesnt fall directly into the Photoshop or Painter bucket). Its a shame; I think; that the urge to put the names of the two super-heavyweight software packages on the cover of the book lead to exclusions like this .... Fo2PiX ArtMasterPro application would have been very worthy of some coverage in this case also. There are a couple of other omissions which are really too obvious to go unremarked. First; theres almost no material in the book on portraiture - for example; just two of those "chapterettes" involve using and developing full-facial images; while a large proportion of the authors own fine art work involves just landscape and still life subject matter. Secondly; there are some clear encouragements given at the outset (that is; within Chapter 1; titled `Concept) on pre- and post-visualization of the fine art. Post-visualization almost always needs to include some planning on a target size for the output/finished printed work. Again; a few of the "chapterettes" include some details on this; but it is a topic which remains pretty much absent from the remainder of the text. Overall; the careful reader will undoubtedly find a whole slew of new ideas from within this worthy book; but; may have to work independently - and/or pioneeringly - to execute some of them in detail.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. thick book full of info about Painter and Photoshop painting and collageBy kstarsI have retired; and I have stocked up on books on how to paint and use Painter and Photoshop; among other software manuals and videos. I intend to read through all of them for ideas while I learn to paint well; digitally. I was surprised that a book so thick was so inexpensive (I bought it used). While it may be a bit out-of-date; the ideas are just as valid. I will enjoy this book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Nora Connollyok