In the construction of subsoil structures, a common challenge is the presence of a high groundwater level in combination with the absence of a naturally impermeable layer or an environment susceptible to settlements due to lowering the groundwater level. To overcome this issue, a building pit with an underwater concrete floor (UCF) can be constructed. The UCF ensures structural rigidity and allows for the building pit to be drained such that a dry and safe subsoil construction site is obtained. The objective of this thesis is to investigate how design efficiency of underwater concrete floors can be improved. In an effort to reduce material usage and achieve cost-effective structures, the following research question was stated: “What is the influence of design parameters and how can parameters be adjusted to improve design efficiency of an underwater concrete floor, and to what extent can the addition of fibre reinforcement contribute to this optimization?” A parametric model was developed to provide insight to the sensitivity of parameters and their impact on design resistance. Furthermore, the model was utilized to examine under what circumstances potential material savings can be obtained by implementing fibre reinforced concrete in UCF’s. This was accomplished through the evaluation and comparison of the minimum required thickness based on bending moment resistance in various scenarios, for both UCF’s and steel fibre reinforced UCF’s (SFUCF). Results obtained with the parametric model established that, in order to enhance the bending moment resistance of an uncracked UCF, increasing the nominal thickness becomes relatively more effective compared to increasing the concrete strength class for higher normal forces. When utilizing a compression arch to obtain bending moment resistance, the implementation of ribbed tensile elements or an increase in nominal thickness are found to be the most suitable methods for increasing resistance. For enhanced shear force resistance, increasing the nominal thickness over the concrete class provides relatively more additional resistance for slender UCF’s. The results found that through the application of ribbed piles, most punching shear force resistance can be obtained. Three use cases for a SFUCF were identified using the parametric model. When centre to centre (c.t.c.) distances larger than 4.4m are applied in combination with a substantial normal force, significant material savings of up to 0.3m thickness are possible, which equates to a reduction of material usage by 30%. For situations where the effective height of the compression arch is small, it was also found that material usage could be reduced by 30%. Perhaps the most significant use case for a SFUCF is when the normal force is close to zero, and additional normal force cannot be obtained through membrane action. In these situations, the application of a SFUCF can make an otherwise near impossible project feasible. As a new design approach, a cost-based optimization tool was developed using the parametric model. An already executed UCF was evaluated using the tool, it was determined that a more cost-effective design could have been achieved, with potential savings of up to 30% in costs.

Equalized involvement of stakeholders in decision-making processes (DMP) allows them to achieve a balanced outcome, when aiming to create value for each participant. However, as the number of stakeholders increases, traditional methods of interactive engagement become more complex, often leading to unbalanced solutions. Identifying such balanced outcomes also becomes more challenging and time-consuming, considering the wide range of potential outcomes. To address this complexity, this thesis introduces a new approach, Preference-based Goal Attainment (PBGA), and develops a tool for its application in DMPs. The PBGA tool facilitates transparent communication of stakeholders' needs, desires, and values within the DMP, helping to bridge satisfaction gaps among various stakeholders and yield an equitable and optimal outcome. For the development of this tool, a multi-objective optimization framework is proposed. This framework allows stakeholders to integrate their needs, desires, and values as objective functions, with decision parameters represented as variables, in the tool. Crucially, it enables stakeholders to specify preferred states within their objectives, known as preferences. The framework also considers the varying influence of stakeholders by incorporating a weighted goal attainment method. This method focuses on improving the objective with the largest weighted preference deficit in each iteration of the genetic algorithms used in the optimization process. For testing and validation, the approach is applied to a DMP in a selected case study. Data, including objectives, variables, and stakeholder preferences, are collected through semi-structured interviews, and transformed into a computational format for MATLAB® implementation. The outcomes are verified using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Chi-Square comparative methods. Additionally, the tool and its results are validated by stakeholders, ensuring the tool's practicality and acceptance of the new design. With the PBGA tool, stakeholders can transparently communicate their needs and desires in the DMP and achieve an outcome that involves equal participation from each stakeholder. The thesis concludes with a comprehensive discussion on the practical applications, limitations, and assumptions of the tool, highlighting its potential to improve stakeholder collaboration and decision-making in project management.

This study addresses the critical need for specialized risk identification practices in green retrofit projects within the construction industry, particularly under the increasing pressure to meet the EU's net-zero emissions target by 2050. Focusing on the Netherlands, it investigates how companies navigate the unique challenges posed by updating existing infrastructure to be more sustainable and energy-efficient. Through a mixed-method approach comprising a literature review, field study in Voorburg, and semi-structured interviews with experts, the research identifies distinct risks such as performance risks, supply chain disruptions, and uncertainties in returns on investment. Royal Haskoning DHV's approach, including their Fast-Lane Method, is examined for its effectiveness in predicting energy use but noted for its limitations in estimating carbon emissions and broader retrofit tasks. The study advocates for an integrated approach utilizing Building Information Modelling (BIM) to enhance risk management and project outcomes. It highlights the gap in current risk management practices that fail to fully address sustainability challenges in retrofits and suggests future research directions, including broader studies involving multiple companies and technologies, to develop more comprehensive risk management strategies for green retrofit projects.

Changes in the climate have forced municipalities to rethink urban development and become more climate-resilient. One way they can achieve this is by implementing Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems, or SUDS. Permeable pavements are a type of SUDS designed to let rainwater infiltrate, thereby reducing runoff and lowering peak flows. They can be used to mitigate climate change effects. Municipalities have slowly started implementing permeable pavements into their projects on a small scale, but numerous barriers still stand in the way of widespread implementation. Various barriers are related to information sharing. This thesis aimed to improve the innovation implementation process by examining information sharing between municipalities and companies. Grass concrete pavements, or green parking, was chosen as a case study, a relatively new permeable pavement system using open pavers, substrate, and a mix of grass seeds to allow precipitation to infiltrate while adding green to urban areas. Three main flows of information were considered: between companies and municipalities, between different departments within the same municipality, and between municipalities and other levels of government. Interviews were conducted with interviewees in various roles from both companies and municipalities involved in the process of innovation implementation. A network of various factors was formed, with three key issues: • A lack of consensus on what a successful project should be. • Uncertainty about responsibility leading to a situation where the implementation of green parking is dependent on the motivation of individuals. • Pilot projects are conducted by municipalities without clear goals, therefore, producing no results that can be analyzed or used for upscaling. The second part of the thesis involved further analysis of the three key issues. Multiple recommendations for municipalities and companies were formulated. Recommendations for conducting successful pilot projects are also provided and are applicable to both green parking as well as other innovations. For municipalities, the recommendations are to make responsibilities clear, perform a life cycle cost analysis, set clear and concrete goals in their climate adaptation strategy, share successful experiences, and create a step-by-step guide for innovations to become standardized. These recommendations are mainly aimed at green parking but will also benefit the implementation of other innovations. For companies, the recommendations are to create realistic expectations, convince the water board of the water storage capacity of the system, and conduct further research into optimizing maintenance plans. These recommendations are mainly aimed at green parking and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS). For pilot projects, the recommendations are to reach a consensus on what defines a success beforehand, set realistic goals and start small, include a follow-up plan, find partner municipalities to collaborate with, and find a balance between intensive and superficial monitoring. The results from this thesis consisted of concrete recommendations for both municipalities and companies to improve the innovation implementation process. Furthermore, the results can be a starting point for more profound research into information sharing and how it relates to innovation implementation. This can include testing the recommendations at a municipality to optimize the process, like setting up a pilot program or expanding the climate adaptation strategy.

Digital Twin (DT) technology has transformed construction by creating virtual counterparts of real-world objects for improved project design and management. Integrating Building Information Modelling (BIM) with Game Engines (GEs) like Unity3D is crucial for effective DT implementation in construction. However, research in this area is limited, particularly in seamless BIM data exchange to GEs. This study bridges these gaps to enable successful DT deployment in construction. This research addresses BIM-GE integration for construction DTs, evaluating commercial, customized and custom built data exchange methods between Autodesk Revit and Unity3D. Drawing from literature and commercial software, the methods are tailored to diverse DT use cases. The goal is to optimize workflows, enhancing efficiency and accuracy of data transmission between DTs implementing technologies. Findings provide guidance for seamless BIM-GE integration, fostering innovative and sustainable infrastructure. Comprising four branches, the methodology involves a literature review to establish data needs for various DT applications, software pipeline evaluation, comparative analysis of data exchange methods, and prototyping using Dynamo. Key findings include insights into DT use case requirements, analysis of data exchange method pros and cons, recommendations for DT development, and a practical prototype illustrating data exchange. In conclusion, strategies for effective data exchange are highlighted, including bi-directional methods and real-time synchronization. Recommendations involve suitable file formats and polygon reduction techniques. Embracing emerging technologies like object behavior and sensor data enhances DT simulations. This research demonstrates how the DT use case influences the type of data need and therefore highly affects the data exchange methods to be considered when developing a DT.

This thesis aims to design an interactive tool that facilitates collaboration between Microsoft’s teams in the datacenter development design process. Current datacenter development strategies of Microsoft do not sufficiently take into account socio-technical aspects which is causing project delays. Such socio-technical aspects are internally represented by different teams at Microsoft, such as the Community Affairs team and the Environmental team. Incorporating the preferences of all the relevant teams during the design, results in enhanced collaboration through increased mutual insights, which can be used to develop new design solutions. Such new design solutions inherently incorporate more socio-technical aspects...

The Dutch government aims for a fully circular built environment by 2050, transitioning from a linear to a circular economy. This involves establishing construction hubs, divided into circular hubs (focusing on closed-loop material chains) and non-circular hubs (focusing on efficient transportation). Currently, only a small fraction of construction and demolition waste is reused, making the role of circular construction hubs crucial. This study investigates how to stimulate the realisation of urban mining hubs in the Netherlands. The primary research question is: How can the realisation of urban mining hubs in the Netherlands be stimulated? Data was collected through a literature review and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders in the construction sector. Findings highlight the undefined role of hubs within the urban mining process and the advantages they offer, including resource conservation, financial savings, and employment opportunities within a circular economy. Barriers include insufficient material supply and demand, inventory uncertainties, and inadequate legislation. An actionable framework was developed, consisting of three phases: initiation, optimisation, and expansion, with a focus on innovation, education, and collaboration among stakeholders.

This research addresses the challenge of standardising and integrating information from laboratory tests in pavement engineering to enhance lifetime predictions. Data from laboratory tests is often scattered across various platforms, stored in disparate formats, and described using inconsistent terminologies. This fragmentation poses significant challenges in data sharing, retrieval, and interpretation, leading to inefficiencies and potential errors. The objective is to develop a comprehensive ontology that organises and connects extensive laboratory data from the Knowledge-based Pavement Engineering (KPE) project. This framework aims to facilitate enhanced data interoperability, retrieval, and application, thereby contributing to more efficient and effective pavement design, construction, and maintenance practices. This objective leads to the main research question: “How to effectively standardise and integrate laboratory information in pavement engineering to enhance lifetime predictions?” The development of the ontology follows a structured methodology involving several steps. The process begins with identifying relevant stakeholders, such as pavement researchers, road owners, contractors, and third parties, and to understand their specific objectives and requirements. Following this, competency questions are formulated to define the scope and functional requirements of the ontology. These questions help in identifying the necessary classes, attributes, and relations within the ontology. The subsequent step involves specifying the structural requirements, followed by showing the alignments with the existing Dutch standard. This structured methodology ensures that the developed ontology is comprehensive, addresses the stakeholders' needs, and utilises existing knowledge. The Lab Ontology focuses on standardising and structuring laboratory data related to pavement engineering. It categorises key concepts such as laboratory instrument, testing conditions, sample properties, and their relations. By establishing clear definitions and relations, the ontology enhances data consistency, comparability, and interoperability. Ultimately, the Lab Ontology answers the main research question by providing a standardised framework that improves data sharing and enhances decision-making processes in pavement engineering. This framework can significantly contribute to improving the lifetime predictions of pavement materials.

This research addresses the challenge of standardising and integrating information from laboratory tests in pavement engineering to enhance lifetime predictions. Data from laboratory tests is often scattered across various platforms, stored in disparate formats, and described using inconsistent terminologies. This fragmentation poses significant challenges in data sharing, retrieval, and interpretation, leading to inefficiencies and potential errors. The objective is to develop a comprehensive ontology that organises and connects extensive laboratory data from the Knowledge-based Pavement Engineering (KPE) project. This framework aims to facilitate enhanced data interoperability, retrieval, and application, thereby contributing to more efficient and effective pavement design, construction, and maintenance practices. This objective leads to the main research question: “How to effectively standardise and integrate laboratory information in pavement engineering to enhance lifetime predictions?” The development of the ontology follows a structured methodology involving several steps. The process begins with identifying relevant stakeholders, such as pavement researchers, road owners, contractors, and third parties, and to understand their specific objectives and requirements. Following this, competency questions are formulated to define the scope and functional requirements of the ontology. These questions help in identifying the necessary classes, attributes, and relations within the ontology. The subsequent step involves specifying the structural requirements, followed by showing the alignments with the existing Dutch standard. This structured methodology ensures that the developed ontology is comprehensive, addresses the stakeholders' needs, and utilises existing knowledge. The Lab Ontology focuses on standardising and structuring laboratory data related to pavement engineering. It categorises key concepts such as laboratory instrument, testing conditions, sample properties, and their relations. By establishing clear definitions and relations, the ontology enhances data consistency, comparability, and interoperability. Ultimately, the Lab Ontology answers the main research question by providing a standardised framework that improves data sharing and enhances decision-making processes in pavement engineering. This framework can significantly contribute to improving the lifetime predictions of pavement materials.

This research addresses the challenge of standardising and integrating information from laboratory tests in pavement engineering to enhance lifetime predictions. Data from laboratory tests is often scattered across various platforms, stored in disparate formats, and described using inconsistent terminologies. This fragmentation poses significant challenges in data sharing, retrieval, and interpretation, leading to inefficiencies and potential errors. The objective is to develop a comprehensive ontology that organises and connects extensive laboratory data from the Knowledge-based Pavement Engineering (KPE) project. This framework aims to facilitate enhanced data interoperability, retrieval, and application, thereby contributing to more efficient and effective pavement design, construction, and maintenance practices. This objective leads to the main research question: “How to effectively standardise and integrate laboratory information in pavement engineering to enhance lifetime predictions?” The development of the ontology follows a structured methodology involving several steps. The process begins with identifying relevant stakeholders, such as pavement researchers, road owners, contractors, and third parties, and to understand their specific objectives and requirements. Following this, competency questions are formulated to define the scope and functional requirements of the ontology. These questions help in identifying the necessary classes, attributes, and relations within the ontology. The subsequent step involves specifying the structural requirements, followed by showing the alignments with the existing Dutch standard. This structured methodology ensures that the developed ontology is comprehensive, addresses the stakeholders' needs, and utilises existing knowledge. The Lab Ontology focuses on standardising and structuring laboratory data related to pavement engineering. It categorises key concepts such as laboratory instrument, testing conditions, sample properties, and their relations. By establishing clear definitions and relations, the ontology enhances data consistency, comparability, and interoperability. Ultimately, the Lab Ontology answers the main research question by providing a standardised framework that improves data sharing and enhances decision-making processes in pavement engineering. This framework can significantly contribute to improving the lifetime predictions of pavement materials.

This thesis investigates the role of external stakeholder management in fostering resilience within infra-structure projects, focusing on the complexities arising from interactions between stakeholders and pro-ject organizations. The research problem centres on how different stakeholder management strategies affect project resilience, especially in challenging environments. To address this problem, a qualitative single-case study methodology was used, examining the "Tunel Diamante" project in Acapulco, Mexico. This approach allowed for an in-depth exploration of 26 events involving external stakeholders, such as government entities and landowners, to determine how their influence strategies and the project’s responses affect project resilience. From the analysis, the thesis identified three primary traditional influence strategies employed by ex-ternal stakeholders: 'progress obstruction,' 'protest,' and 'demand for compromise.' Additionally, it in-troduced two innovative categories: 'collateral events' and 'proactive mitigation.' These latter strategies indicate a broader and more nuanced understanding of stakeholder influence. The project adopted four response strategies: resourcefulness, dialogue and negotiation, coercive nego-tiation, and ignoring. These influenced the type of resilience, from absorptive to adaptive and trans-formative. Resourcefulness, characterised by adaptability, was linked to all types of resilience, while dia-logue and negotiation generally led to absorptive resilience. Coercive negotiation had mixed results, raising ethical concerns. The findings suggest that stakeholder management strategies can significantly impact project resilience but may involve trade-offs and ethical considerations. This thesis contributes to the discourse on resili-ence in project management and offers practical insights into how external stakeholder management strategies shape resilience. It concludes that proactive and ethical stakeholder management is crucial for achieving sustainable project resilience, emphasising the importance of engaging stakeholders early and addressing their concerns constructively.

This thesis investigates the role of external stakeholder management in fostering resilience within infra-structure projects, focusing on the complexities arising from interactions between stakeholders and pro-ject organizations. The research problem centres on how different stakeholder management strategies affect project resilience, especially in challenging environments. To address this problem, a qualitative single-case study methodology was used, examining the "Tunel Diamante" project in Acapulco, Mexico. This approach allowed for an in-depth exploration of 26 events involving external stakeholders, such as government entities and landowners, to determine how their influence strategies and the project’s responses affect project resilience. From the analysis, the thesis identified three primary traditional influence strategies employed by ex-ternal stakeholders: 'progress obstruction,' 'protest,' and 'demand for compromise.' Additionally, it in-troduced two innovative categories: 'collateral events' and 'proactive mitigation.' These latter strategies indicate a broader and more nuanced understanding of stakeholder influence. The project adopted four response strategies: resourcefulness, dialogue and negotiation, coercive nego-tiation, and ignoring. These influenced the type of resilience, from absorptive to adaptive and trans-formative. Resourcefulness, characterised by adaptability, was linked to all types of resilience, while dia-logue and negotiation generally led to absorptive resilience. Coercive negotiation had mixed results, raising ethical concerns. The findings suggest that stakeholder management strategies can significantly impact project resilience but may involve trade-offs and ethical considerations. This thesis contributes to the discourse on resili-ence in project management and offers practical insights into how external stakeholder management strategies shape resilience. It concludes that proactive and ethical stakeholder management is crucial for achieving sustainable project resilience, emphasising the importance of engaging stakeholders early and addressing their concerns constructively.

As concerns about climate change increase, which can harm the environment, all kinds of businesses face a challenge called sustainability. In the construction sector, one pathway to greater sustainability is designing and constructing buildings with low carbon emissions. Some researchers have explored this challenge by investigating the portion between embodied and operational carbon, as well as the methodologies for calculating each type of carbon emission in buildings. Having an understanding of the design's performance against this challenge will provide more opportunities for design optimization. However, there is limited literature discussing methodologies to optimize whole-life carbon emissions, especially for apartment buildings in the Netherlands. This thesis project aims to fill this research gap by closely examining the practical relationship between embodied and operational carbon and by achieving optimized building designs to minimize whole-life carbon emissions. The scope of this thesis includes analyzing embodied carbon from stages A1 to A5, operational carbon at stage B6, focusing specifically on studio apartments located in the Netherlands. To achieve the aim of this thesis, which is to explore the relationship between embodied and operational carbon in apartment buildings located in the Netherlands, several key steps were undertaken. This study began with a comprehensive literature review and analysis to define factors and methodologies for calculating both embodied and operational carbon emissions. Subsequently, a case study was conducted using a simplified model in Excel and IES software to quantify these emissions. Optimization strategies were then implemented using Rhino 7 and Grasshopper. A detailed framework was developed in Rhino 7 and Grasshopper to guide optimization and analyze the resulting data. Finally, validation and evaluation of the framework and its outcomes were conducted through expert interviews. The findings yielded several critical insights. For instance, certain materials with higher embodied carbon can lead to lower operational carbon, while those with lower embodied carbon may result in higher operational carbon. Moreover, increasing thickness can effectively reduce operational carbon and contribute to overall reductions in whole-life carbon emissions, up to Rc 4; beyond this, the benefits diminish. Furthermore, materials with high embodied carbon above Rc 4 tend to increase whole-life carbon emissions, despite potential reductions in operational carbon. Lastly, each Rc of the façade has its own optimal façade opening, and window frame material only influences a small amount of the embodied carbon and has no influence on operational carbon. However, this result is based on Dutch circumstances and specific MEP inputs. Therefore, these results will differ if different locations and MEP inputs are used. Through this framework, designers are provided with practical guidance to achieve optimal solutions in apartment building design. Additionally, this framework has already been tested by expert respondents in this field, as detailed in Chapter 5. Recommendations for future research include expanding the scope to whole entire apartment (from foundation to roof) and integrating financial considerations into optimization strategies.

As concerns about climate change increase, which can harm the environment, all kinds of businesses face a challenge called sustainability. In the construction sector, one pathway to greater sustainability is designing and constructing buildings with low carbon emissions. Some researchers have explored this challenge by investigating the portion between embodied and operational carbon, as well as the methodologies for calculating each type of carbon emission in buildings. Having an understanding of the design's performance against this challenge will provide more opportunities for design optimization. However, there is limited literature discussing methodologies to optimize whole-life carbon emissions, especially for apartment buildings in the Netherlands. This thesis project aims to fill this research gap by closely examining the practical relationship between embodied and operational carbon and by achieving optimized building designs to minimize whole-life carbon emissions. The scope of this thesis includes analyzing embodied carbon from stages A1 to A5, operational carbon at stage B6, focusing specifically on studio apartments located in the Netherlands. To achieve the aim of this thesis, which is to explore the relationship between embodied and operational carbon in apartment buildings located in the Netherlands, several key steps were undertaken. This study began with a comprehensive literature review and analysis to define factors and methodologies for calculating both embodied and operational carbon emissions. Subsequently, a case study was conducted using a simplified model in Excel and IES software to quantify these emissions. Optimization strategies were then implemented using Rhino 7 and Grasshopper. A detailed framework was developed in Rhino 7 and Grasshopper to guide optimization and analyze the resulting data. Finally, validation and evaluation of the framework and its outcomes were conducted through expert interviews. The findings yielded several critical insights. For instance, certain materials with higher embodied carbon can lead to lower operational carbon, while those with lower embodied carbon may result in higher operational carbon. Moreover, increasing thickness can effectively reduce operational carbon and contribute to overall reductions in whole-life carbon emissions, up to Rc 4; beyond this, the benefits diminish. Furthermore, materials with high embodied carbon above Rc 4 tend to increase whole-life carbon emissions, despite potential reductions in operational carbon. Lastly, each Rc of the façade has its own optimal façade opening, and window frame material only influences a small amount of the embodied carbon and has no influence on operational carbon. However, this result is based on Dutch circumstances and specific MEP inputs. Therefore, these results will differ if different locations and MEP inputs are used. Through this framework, designers are provided with practical guidance to achieve optimal solutions in apartment building design. Additionally, this framework has already been tested by expert respondents in this field, as detailed in Chapter 5. Recommendations for future research include expanding the scope to whole entire apartment (from foundation to roof) and integrating financial considerations into optimization strategies.