This study aims to develop an approach for integrating stakeholder values into a threshold matrix for resilience assessment of urban road transportation systems. It focuses on capturing how road users define “minimum acceptable performance” under varying flood hazard intensities and translating these values into resilience assessment tools that are both technically robust and socially legitimate. The research is validated through a case study in Tambaram, Chennai, a flood prone locality that highlights the urgency of stakeholder centered resilience planning. Beyond constructing the threshold matrix, the study proposes an approach to guide the integration process, documents complexities encountered in stakeholder engagement, and outlines mitigation strategies to address these challenges. The resulting approach is designed to be replicable and adaptable across different hazard contexts, ensuring that resilience assessments align technical performance with stakeholder expectations. ... Read more

The Dutch construction sector is under increasing pressure to deliver high-density housing while reducing its environmental footprint. Conventional reliance on concrete and steel drives substantial embodied carbon emissions, putting climate commitments at risk. Engineered timber (CLT/GLT) offers significant advantages in terms of carbon reduction, prefabrication efficiency, and biophilic value. Yet despite its technical feasibility and growing policy support, timber adoption in multi-storey construction remains limited in the Netherlands. This gap is addressed in this research by examining how adoption decisions are shaped at the project level, and how barriers can be overcome through stakeholder motivation and alignment.
The research applies the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) framework, adapted to the realities of project-based construction. A qualitative research design was adopted, starting with an extensive literature review to identify current barriers and enablers, and to establish the theoretical foundation. This was followed by a case study analysis that examined a full timber project and a hybrid timber project in the Dutch context. In total, fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders on both projects, providing perspectives on both strategic considerations and practical experiences.
Findings reveal that while timber's innovation attributes are important, they do not determine adoption on their own. Adoption was often slowed by perceived cost disadvantages, industry fragmentation, and a preference for familiar practices, even as enablers such as environmental performance, market distinctiveness, and prefabrication strengthen its appeal. Project dynamics proved decisive, with early specialist integration, integral design processes, and blurred stakeholder roles reducing uncertainty and making adoption more feasible, while their absence led to weakened ambitions and reversion to conventional materials. Motivated champions played a critical role in sustaining ambition against cost and risk pressures. Crucially, this research highlights the role of inter-project knowledge transfer as a condition for scaling adoption, since lessons often remain locked within projects. Building on these insights, the research adapts the Diffusion of Innovations framework to the fragmented, project-based construction sector by embedding motivation, project dynamics, iteration, and knowledge transfer into the adoption process. Practically, it offers recommendations to foster early collaboration, secure and maintain shared ambitions, position timber as both a sustainability and market advantage, and enable systemic learning across projects to accelerate diffusion.
... Read more

The Netherlands has set an ambitious national goal of achieving a fully circular economy by 2050, positioning the building renovation sector as a critical area for sustainable transformation. Within this sector, particularly in urban centers like The Hague, migrant workers form an indispensable part of the workforce. However, a significant disconnect exists: while these workers often possess valuable, practical circular knowledge, they are predominantly viewed and hired as a source of flexible, low-cost labour rather than as a repository of expertise. This underutilization represents a missed opportunity for innovation.
This thesis addresses the central question: How can companies in the building renovation industry harness migrant workers' circular knowledge? Using a qualitative case study methodology, this research conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with contractors, clients, and labour union representatives in The Hague. Thematic analysis, guided by the theoretical lens of Absorptive Capacity, was employed to identify the types of knowledge migrant workers possess and the barriers to its integration.
The findings reveal that migrant workers hold significant circular knowledge, particularly in material reuse and the application of durable materials. However, this knowledge remains untapped due to key barriers, including a "linear employment" model based on temporary contracts, employer bias viewing migrants as "hands, not heads," and contextual mismatches with Dutch standards.
This study concludes that harnessing this knowledge is not merely an ethical consideration but a strategic imperative. It proposes a fundamental shift from a labour-focused to a knowledge-focused employment model and presents an actionable framework to help companies systematically develop their absorptive capacity, thereby turning an overlooked labour pool into a powerful engine for circular innovation and competitive advantage. ... Read more

In the face of climate urgency and rapid urban change, buildings must become more adaptable to extend their lifespan and reduce environmental impact. Yet, adaptability is often undermined by project delivery methods (PDMs) that are not well equipped to manage, plan, and deliver long-term lifecycle requirements, even though in terms of design, it is technically possible, particularly in modular construction. This research examines how PDMs can be restructured to enhance building adaptability. Using a comparative case study of two Dutch modular projects (a campus office expansion and a relocatable housing development) this study applies a Design Structure Matrix (DSM) and RACI framework to analyze the alignment of technical design, process workflows, and stakeholder roles. The analysis reveals a critical socio-technical misalignment: while modular systems provided technical capability, adaptability was consistently compromised by process-related barriers, including delayed technical coordination, missing lifecycle documentation, and unclear post-use accountability. Findings are synthesized into a structured delivery framework that integrates disassembly planning, modular reuse logic, and iterative feedback loops from the project's outset. This research provides a practical approach for project managers to proactively structure delivery for adaptability. It contributes to the field by demonstrating that successful adaptability is not merely a technical feature but an output of a holistic alignment of the project delivery system. ... Read more

Storm surge barriers, a critical component of the Dutch Delta Works, faces growing operational challenges due to climate-induced sea-level rise and increased storm intensity. These developments are expected to lead to significantly more frequent closures, creating not only ecological and economic strain, but also maintenance and societal tensions. While the technical and environmental consequences of these closures are well documented, the question of societal tolerance remains under-explored. This research addresses that gap by investigating how societal tolerance can be assessed and integrated into the governance of storm surge barriers, using the Eastern Scheldt as a case study. The Social Licence to Operate (SLO) framework, originally developed in the extractive industries, is adapted to conceptualise public acceptance as a dynamic, multi-level condition. Key drivers of societal tolerance, including trust, risk perception, ecological dependency, and communication, were identified through academic literature and 15 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from aquaculture, recreation, governmental, and environmental organisations. Findings reveal that stakeholder tolerance is highly sector-specific and shaped by governance strategies. Aquaculture actors express low tolerance, bordering on withdrawal, while environmental NGOs offer conditional acceptance based on ecological commitments. A conceptual framework is developed around four boundary conditions:knowledge, legitimacy, credibility, and trust, each linked to stakeholder positioning and actionable policy levers. The study offers both a theoretical extension of the SLO-framework and practical guidance for infrastructure governance. Recommendations include implementing a tolerance monitoring dashboard, embedding ecological thresholds into operational planning, and fostering long-term participatory engagement. Ultimately, the research promotes a shift from reactive to anticipatory governance, positioning societal tolerance as a critical parameter in sustainable asset management. ... Read more

In recent years, sustainability has become an increasingly important topic for property asset management companies. However, implementing it within daily operations remains a significant challenge. While regulatory initiatives like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) are designed to improve transparency and stimulate sustainable practices, it remains unclear to what extent such directives support actual internal change. This research therefore explores how property asset management companies can improve and implement sustainability within their operations, and what role the CSRD can play in this process.

The study draws on qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews with ESG managers from property asset management companies and independent CSRD-experts. The findings reveal that companies face a broad range of barriers, including limited internal awareness, a lack of clear performance indicators, and conflicting priorities between sustainability and profitability. At the same time, motivation emerged as a foundational element: whether driven by intrinsic values or external incentives, a shared ambition for sustainability was seen as essential to achieving progress.

Based on the interviews and supported by literature, a flowchart was developed to guide companies in implementing sustainability across strategic, tactical, and operational levels. It includes various strategies, ranging from defining a sustainability vision and developing KPIs to launching internal implementation programs and creating a sustainability-positive culture. The flowchart also highlights the importance of structured coordination, internal alignment, and continuous feedback loops. It helps organisations identify which steps are still missing and how to move from ambition to execution.

After, the CSRD was evaluated to determine its effectiveness in supporting this process. While it provides a structured framework for reporting and can act as an initial incentive for companies to engage with sustainability, it does not offer the internal guidance needed to support meaningful organisational change. Its focus remains on disclosure, and not on implementation. Therefore, national governments and sectoral bodies may need to play a more active role in translating the CSRD’s requirements into practical support tailored to different industries.

This thesis contributes to the academic and professional understanding of sustainability implementation by offering a structured, practice-based tool that helps bridge the gap between vision and execution. It demonstrates that improving sustainability requires more than reporting obligations alone; it depends on clear internal strategies, cross-level coordination, and long-term commitment embedded throughout the organisation.
... Read more

This thesis addresses the persistent challenge of cost estimation inaccuracies in the Dutch road construction industry, with particular emphasis on learning from previous projects to improve forecasting practices. Despite substantial progress in estimation techniques, cost overruns continue to undermine budget reliability and efficiency, frequently resulting in project delays and financial inefficiencies. To better understand and address this persistent issue, this research explores the following question: How can learning from previous projects be strengthened to improve the accuracy of cost estimation during the tendering phase? The study investigates the underlying causes of these inaccuracies and proposes targeted strategies to enhance organizational learning and subsequently improve the accuracy of cost estimation during the tendering phase.
The research identifies a substantial gap in systematically leveraging past project experiences. Even though practitioners recognize the value of reflecting on past projects, organizational conditions often prevent meaningful learning. Key barriers identified include time constraints, limited formal structures for knowledge capture, and cultural resistance characterized by blame avoidance and siloed information. These factors frequently result in repetitive estimation errors, regarding, for example, staffing costs, where analysis reveals an average deviation of 45% from initial budget estimates.
Methodologically, the study employs a mixed-method approach. A quantitative analysis was conducted on data from 18 recently completed road projects within a major Dutch contractor, highlighting significant deviations in staff cost estimations. Qualitative insights were gathered through 23 semi-structured interviews with professionals at the contractor involved in estimating, executing, and controlling road infrastructure projects. These interviews provided crucial context, uncovering practical and organizational reasons behind the observed deviations.
To explain where and how learning breaks down, the study builds on established theory in organizational learning. It introduces an integrated multi-level learning framework, drawing on Crossan et al.’s (1999) 4I model and its expansions by Jenkin (2013) and Wodnik et al. (2024). In this framework, projects are viewed as temporary organizations embedded within a broader coordinating structure. Learning is conceptualized as a progression through key processes: intuiting, interpreting, integrating, and institutionalizing. Two additional processes are included to reflect recent theoretical developments: interaction and incorporation.
The practical recommendations derived from this study are structured using the Plan–Do–Check–Act (PDCA) cycle, a widely used continuous improvement framework that supports iterative and systematic implementation of change. Key proposals include institutionalizing project evaluations by scheduling them at project initiation, creating structural ”learning slack” by allocating dedicated reflection time, simplifying data systems to enhance usability, and promoting stronger interaction between estimators and execution teams. These initiatives aim to foster an organizational environment where reflective practices become routine rather than exceptional. Emphasizing cross-regional knowledge exchange within the organization and establishing clearer accountability structures for capturing and applying project insights further complements the recommended strategies. In essence, this thesis finds that improving cost estimation accuracy hinges on institutionalizing a culture of structured reflection and learning within the organization.
Ultimately, the study underscores that improving cost estimation accuracy requires more than technical enhancements. Organizational commitment to structured reflection, effective feedback loops, accessible data systems, and cultural incentives for continuous improvement is essential. Prioritizing structured and systematic learning from previous projects offers a robust pathway toward achieving more reliable and accurate cost estimations, contributing significantly to the efficiency and sustainability of infrastructure development. ... Read more

This thesis investigates the integration of human-centric factors (HCFs) of communication, trust, and flexibility into project management frameworks to enhance performance in civil and offshore constructions. As a reaction against the usual 20-45% cost overrun and 30% schedule delay problems, where 70-80% of failure is caused by human factors, this research presents a new framework to increase schedule compliance, cost-effectiveness, quality, and responsiveness under high-uncertainty situations. Traditional methods like PRINCE2 and PMBOK overlook behavioral team dynamics, but a people-centric approach is needed to mitigate inefficiencies created by disruptions like supply chain disruptions or regulatory changes.

Employing a mixed-methods design, the study integrates systematic literature review, semi-structured interviews with eight field experts, Gioia methodology, A12 highway project case study, and Graphical Evaluation and Review Technique (GERT) modeling. Literature review also identified gaps in empirical data and systematic synthesis of HCFs, whereas thematic synthesis of 50 studies established their impact, e.g., communication of a 10% delay reduction. Gioia analysis and interviews yielded three aggregate dimensions: Integration of Human Factors, Human-Centric Performance Optimization, and Adaptive Team Dynamics. GERT simulations quantified performance improvement with 8% reduced schedule delays using empathetic communication and 10-12% cost and rework avoidance with cooperative workshops. The A12 case study verified the results, wherein stakeholder briefings and trust minimization reduced conflicts by 15%.

The proposed framework offers practical recommendations, including active listening training, joint monthly workshops, and anticipatory planning based on GERT, which supplement mainstream methodologies. It achieves 10-15% reduction in delays and 15-20% increase in team satisfaction. It also advances project management theoretically by creating a qualitative foundation for the merging of HCF and widening the application of GERT in behavior modeling. Despite having a constraint like a small interview sample size, this thesis presents a sound foundation for enhancing construction project performance and resilience through human-centered methods.

Keywords: Human-Centric Factors, Project Management, Project Performance, Communication, Trust, Flexibility, Gioia Analysis, GERT
... Read more

The construction industry is under growing pressure to reduce carbon emissions in response to climate change and regulatory demands, particularly in the Netherlands, which has set a goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. Timber construction emerges as a promising solution, offering a more sustainable alternative to traditional materials like concrete, given its lower carbon footprint and its capacity to capture and store carbon. At present the domination of concrete and steel as traditional heavy construction material in new buildings poses the underutilization of using the new timber innovative technique within the Dutch residential construction industry, respectively a small market share of 3%. Therefore despite its potential, timber construction remains underutilized, and asks for research on several socio-technical challenges that are needed to advance widespread adoption.

To examine the factors affecting the large-scale implementation of timber building practices in the Dutch residential sector, a Technological Innovation System (TIS) framework is applied. By combining a literature review, case studies, and semi-structured interviews, key socio-technical elements and market actors influencing timber adoption are identified. Both embodied and operational carbon emissions need to be tackled, with the shift toward timber materials offering a significant opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of buildings. However, the construction industry and its actors remain cautious, often perceiving timber as too complex, risky, and lacking in standardization.

This study reveals that the socio-technical factors of leadership, management strategies, and business processes play a crucial role in supporting the transition to timber construction. In particular, project management and commercialization emerge as essential drivers of success. To help organizations prioritize their actions, a quadrant matrix is developed, categorizing strategies based on their level of control and impact on the success of timber projects. Moreover, the findings point to the necessity of integrated design, industrialization, and standardization as key approaches to overcoming the barriers hindering timber adoption. Practical recommendations include fostering open communication within organizations, clearly defining responsibilities, and implementing risk assessment strategies. Looking ahead, future research should explore the operational phases of timber construction and further refine the TIS framework, particularly by examining how socio-technical factors evolve over time. Continuous learning and adaptation are highlighted as vital components for driving innovation in the early adaptors phase of timber building practices.

... Read more

Megaprojects are inherently uncertain due to their scale, complexity, and unique, one-time nature, making accurate forecasting challenging. Throughout the project lifecycle (PLC), multiple internal and external stakeholders often perceive uncertainty differently due to their varying interests and values, which can intensify conflicts and fuel uncertainty. Additionally, the growing complexity of these projects—driven by both technical and human factors—poses significant management challenges. Even within the same organization or project, individuals may have differing perceptions of project uncertainties. Despite the importance of addressing uncertainty, current practices focus heavily on risk management, often neglecting uncertainty.
Complex infrastructure projects, as large and transformational megaprojects with significant societal impact, often underperform due to the underestimation of uncertainty. Private organizations, key players in procuring and managing these projects, traditionally emphasize the "Iron Triangle" of project success—budget, timeline, and scope. However, these risk-centric approaches often fail to address the broader complexities, leading to unmanaged uncertainties. Consequently, there is a pressing need for organizations to shift from traditional risk management practices to a more comprehensive perspective that accounts for uncertainty. Effective uncertainty management has become critical for the successful delivery of such projects, yet organizations continue to struggle to make meaningful progress in this area.
While the technical aspects of risk management are well-researched, successful uncertainty management requires organizations to cultivate a culture of awareness and adaptability. This study addresses this gap by emphasizing the need for developing both technical and soft skills within internal teams and stakeholders to build the competencies required to manage uncertainty effectively.
To tackle this pervasive issue, the study proposes a development framework that outlines strategies for enhancing key competencies among project members. Grounded in strong theoretical foundations from existing uncertainty management literature, the framework offers practical recommendations based on the case study of the 2GW Landstation project. This approach aims to accelerate the development of key competencies, equipping organizations to manage the uncertainties inherent in infrastructure projects more effectively.

... Read more

The Dutch Climate Act (2019) requires a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, targeting a 49% reduction by 2030 and 95% by 2050. The construction sector, which is responsible for 15% of the Netherlands' CO2 emissions, largely relies on concrete, a material that contributes up to 8% of global CO2 emissions, primarily due to cement production. Transitioning to sustainable concrete is vital for meeting these climate targets. This study explores how demand-side organisations, particularly purchasers, can facilitate the adoption of green concrete in the Netherlands by establishing environmental standards and prioritising sustainable materials in construction projects.

This research utilises qualitative methods, including literature reviews, stakeholder interviews, and case studies of both conventional and green concrete projects. The findings emphasise the importance of promoting the 'cement with purpose' concept, generating demand for near-mature innovations, providing extensive testing for emerging innovations, and contributing to the development of alternative materials beyond slag. At the project level, the successful adoption of green concrete is associated with clear sustainability targets, strong engineering capabilities, client willingness to accept risks, and the strategic use of pilot projects.

The study proposes a conceptual framework, the Green Concrete Adoption Strategy for Purchasers (GCAS-4P), which combines strategic and practical insights to assist demand-side organisations in advancing the green concrete transition. It also highlights the need for further research to consider supplier perspectives and broader regional transitions.
... Read more

Because of the potential consequences of sea level rise, decision-making to set adaptive strategies to handle the uncertainty over these consequences is required. There are several decision-making methods to deal with deep uncertainty and attempt to contain the impacts of sea level rise in organized response as the future unfolds. These methods are under development and need improvements to overarch challenges and strengthen the flexibility to work in different circumstances. Although each method has advantages that can be valuable and constructive in specific scopes, there are still future challenges and limitations concerning each method. Therefore, more research is required to widen the current focus and improve the applicability of the methods beyond the functional context.
Objective:
This study aims to provide a framework to improve decision-making methods by focusing on the decision context stage and the important aspects that must be considered by decision-makers at this stage. The decision context stage is the theoretical fundamental for the methods and a signpost to steer the whole decision-making process.
Questions:
The objective leads to the following research questions:
How to improve the decision-making context stage to deal with deep uncertainty in redesigning delta infrastructure?
1. What are the decision-making under deep uncertainty methods (DMDU) and to what extent do they consider uncertainty over sea level rise and future states of the delta?
2. What are the different functions of the Eastern Scheldt barrier system and how are they affected by the drivers?
3. What are the steps to improve the decision context for decision-making?
The resulting framework emphasizes the importance of zooming in to improve the context stage and integrate the life cycle management and shows an iterative way to improve the context stage in case of disagreement on the definition of success between different stakeholders and disciplines. Furthermore, the framework includes understanding the influence of drivers and the order of priorities to minimize uncertainty by integrating long-term planning into social and political contexts to avoid radical changes in the future. The study attempts to include these different steps in the context stage within other steps that already exist in the methods. The suggested steps can be considered as a trial to interconnect the infrastructure with the changing factors on the political, social, and economical levels. Redesigning delta infrastructure requires an integral approach to comprehending different aspects that play a role in handling deep uncertainty in the future.
... Read more

Mumbai,as a rapidly growing megacity faces considerable challenges with its CDWM endeavours. This research is motivated by the unique context of the city, characterised by its highly fragmented construction industry in critical need of government interventions, to promote effective CDWM due to its fragmented, unorganised and competitive nature. This thesis explores the transitioning of the construction industry in Mumbai towards effective construction and demolition waste management (CDWM) from the perspective of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It seeks to identify the challenges faced by SME’s and propose strategies to enable them to meaningfully contribute to CDWM efforts.
Amixed methods approach was taken, beginning with a literature review to identify barriers and stakeholders involved in CDWM. This was followed by a comprehensive review of international case studies pertaining to Shenzhen, Singapore City and Hanoi to identify international best practices for comparable Asian contexts. Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from Mumbai’s construction industry were conducted to adapt these identified solutions to Mumbai’s unique industry fabric. This was followed by the application of the Socio-Technical Systems (STS) theory framework to investigate the interplay of technical and social dimensions within their relevant environment. This leads to societal outcomes in the form of solutions for CDWM in Mumbai, steeped in its specific context using a phase wise approach.
The literature review revealed that the construction industry in India and by extension Mumbai suffers from; insufficient infrastructure, lack of knowledge and technology, lack of governmental incentives for CDWM,mindsetproblems, lack of enforcement, fragmented nature of the industry, supply chain issues and corruption as barriers towards the adoption of effective CDWM measures. Out of these barriers; the fragmented nature of the industry, lack of enforcement and corruption emerged as the key barriers that serve as stumbling blocks towards the adoption of effective CDWM. Studying international best practices through a case study approach provided solutions that can be divided in to 4 categories, these are; strong governmental interventions, improving monitoring and enforcement, establishment of a thriving recycling market and improvements in infrastructure and technology.
These best practices were aligned to Mumbai’s unique context through stakeholder interviews and thematic analysis was conducted using the 4 dimensions of STS analysis as the themes. This allowed for the application of the STS theory framework to Mumbai’s construction industry, employing a phase-wise solution due to its suitability to transition projects and the requisite-prerequisite nature of some of the suggested measures. The solution is divided into 3 phases namely; Foundation and Preparatory Measures, Strengthening Implementation and Innovation and lastly Advancing Utilisation and Transition. These measures were suggested with the aim of transitioning Mumbai’s construction industry to largely eliminate illegal dumping, improve infrastructure and technology through collaborative research, improve quality of recycled materials, set up a thriving recycling market and introduce technical specifications for their use resulting in establishing material circularity in the industry. The final aim is for landfilling to be restricted purely to soil with all recyclable materials being recycled and processed to improve material circularity and reduce environmental impact of the construction industry in Mumbai.
The research also revealed that SME’s operating in Mumbai can be integrated positively into CDWM endeavors by improving the enforcement in the industry, providing incentives against punitive measures and enabling them to incorporate material circularity in projects without significant changes to their operating procedures. This cohesive solution, inclusive of all industry sectors, offers a means for the government to integrate, the historically challenging to organise SME sector into CDWM endeavors in Mumbai. ... Read more

This research is about the contribution of community engagement professionals (CEPs) to project result. CEPs focus mainly on stakeholder management but also have other responsibilities like permits, claim handling and cables and pipes detection. There are several studies on stakeholder management and its importance, however, there are no studies on how CEPs contribute to project results. This research distinguishes between three different levels in determining project success, these are output, outcome and impact. This research investigates how the vision and actions of CEPs, working for contractors, contribute to project outcomes. To investigate this, narrative interviews were done, with CEPs and stakeholders.

Based on these interviews, a general view of CEPs was determined. Furthermore, several categories were created. From these categories, three tasks CEPs perform and five actions CEPs do to accomplish these tasks, were established. Task 1 is “CEPs arrange permits", Task 2 is "Creating external stakeholder support" and Task 3 is "Connection internal and external stakeholders". Through these tasks, CEPs contribute to their vision on community engagement. The five actions implemented by CEPs can be linked to two of the three tasks of CEPs. Task 2 includes the following actions: "Engaging stakeholders early", "Stakeholder communication & needs gathering" and "Relationship building with stakeholders". Task 3 includes the actions: "Proactive stakeholder engagement & solution orientation" and "Project overview & intermediary". The literature study revealed that there are three perspectives CEPs can have. CEPs focused on task 1 and 2 have a project management perspective. CEPs focused on Task 3 see themselves as intermediary. Furthermore, the literature study revealed three different stakeholder management approaches. The actions associated with task 2 are done with a descriptive and instrumental stakeholder management approach. The actions done to perform task 3 are done from a normative approach.

By analyzing the tasks, perspectives, actions, management approaches together with considering which actions contribute to which level of project result, it could be concluded that the vision and actions of CEPs working for contractors did not contribute to project success at outcome level. ... Read more

Sustainability has become a prominent term in policy-oriented research as an expression of what public policies seek to achieve (Kuhlman & Farrington,2010). It has been a developing idea, frequently receiving attention from society, governmental agendas, and the innovative field (Tamak,2017). Organisations are now rapidly taking steps towards incorporating sustainability in their activities and projects. However, even though there are guiding principles mentioned in the literature, practice reveals that organisations still have trouble in the long-term implementation of sustainability in projects (Kammerl et al., 2017; Stewart et al., 2016). One of the most difficult challenges TSOs (Transmission Grid operators) face in successfully integrating sustainable requirements in projects is translating high-level sustainability goals into quantifiable and measurable sustainability aspects.The main aim of this research is to develop a framework for managing sustainability requirements in TSO projects. The objective of the research is to successfully reduce the gap present in managing sustainability requirements in TSO projects.This research is divided into three phases. Phase one is literature review, where an in-depth study regarding sustainability requirements from the context of TSO, organisations and projects was done. Phase two is emiprical research done through semi-structured interviews. This phase contributed towards understanding the current situation of sustainability requirement in TSO's projects as well as the uncertainties found. This is followed by phase three, which develops the framework. The sustainability requirements management framework is a goal oriented process and aims in translating ambitions into actions. The practicability of the framework is at the program level only, as this framework aims in aligning project sustainability requirements with the strategic ambitions, resulting in better sustainable performance. The framework also assists in understanding the benefits sustainability requirements gives when implemented well in the project.
... Read more

This report provides a flood risk assessment of the Isiolo River Basin, in collaboration with Nelen & Schuurmans (3Di, FIS Tool) and Zephyr Consulting (SLAMDAM). This flood risk assessment includes a study of the current flood risk management in Kenya, and in the Isiolo River Basin in particular, because the need for proper flood management is urgent: various climate studies predict an increase in rainfall and an increase in flood risk as a result of the effects of climate change.

Current flood risk management is inadequate. Kenya has defined 21 flood-prone areas whereof one of them is Isiolo Town. Isiolo Town is located in the ENN basin which is, relatively, the most prone to the effects of climate change compared to the other basins. Furthermore, the ENN basin currently has the highest poverty rate and avoidance of further enlargement in poverty rate is important, so there is a need to mitigate flood risks. Since Isiolo Town is located in the Isiolo River Basin, this basin has been chosen for an in-depth study.

The Isiolo River Basin is an Arid Semi-Arid Land region which is often prone to flash floods. Isiolo Town is a flat area located downstream of mountainous area, the rain which falls upstream flows fast downstream and converges into town, often resulting in inundation. Many hazards, both natural and others, are increasing the flood risk in the basin and specifically Isiolo Town.

This flood risk demands flood risk mitigation measures. One possible measure is the SLAMDAM. The SLAMDAM is a movable water-filled flood-barrier. One dam has a length of 5 meters and a height of 1 meter and the dams can be connected to a desired length. The water stored in the dam can be used afterwards for irrigation or other uses.
To recommend effective areas to implement the SLAMDAM, 3Di and the FIS Tool are used. 3Di is a hydrodynamic model and it creates flood maps for different rain events. These flood maps are used as input for the FIS Tool. The FIS Tool calculates the benefits for deploying the SLAMDAM at a certain location for a particular length. The locations which result in the highest benefit are recommended to deploy the SLAMDAM in case of particular rain events. However, a site visit is required to see whether the modelled situation aligns with the real-life situation and to see whether boundary conditions are met.
The SLAMDAM is also compared to other flood risk mitigation measures. Some were analysed using the FIS Tool, whereas others are evaluated based on five self-formulated ranking criteria. These criteria form the base of a scoring matrix where each relevant mitigation measure is scored on.

The performed research has shown the SLAMDAM to rank the best compared to other mitigation measures, both when using the scoring matrix and when using the FIS Tool. However, it is highly recommended to use the SLAMDAM in combination with a Flood Early Warning System. In this way the community downstream can be warned in time to deploy the SLAMDAM. The FIS Tool is found to be especially valuable in finding proper locations for deployment and the dam can be stored close to these locations, enabling fast deployment of the dam in case of need. ... Read more

Recently, the construction industry has been confronted with changing regulations, especially with the advent of sustainability goals and circular economy ambitions. The Dutch government wants to accomplish its ambitious initial objective of using 50% fewer primary resources by 2030. Further, by 2050, the goal is to have a waste-free economy that relies mostly on sustainable and renewable resources and reuses both products and raw materials.

Steel is a fundamental building component in the construction industry. However, due to changing market and industry conditions like lack of availability of raw materials for the production of virgin steel, exponential rise in prices of virgin steel and production of virgin steel being a high carbon and energy-intensive process - the use of virgin steel is becoming a not feasible option. Therefore, to meet the ambitions of the Dutch circular economy and to comply with the changing regulations like the demonstration of the Environmental Cost Indicator (ECI) as part of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the introduction of carbon taxes or EU ETS (European Union Emissions Trade System) is forcing the construction industry to limit the adoption of virgin steel. Thus, the reuse of structural steel elements is discussed highly in the building industry as an alternative. However, the reuse of steel encounters several barriers to its implementation.

A combination of these barriers results in a paradoxical tension during the decision-making process in the design phase of the project is that “whether is it feasible to first locate existing reclaimed/demountable materials available for reuse from the market and then design around them [Material-Driven Design] or design first with the intention of sourcing/ identifying the required materials later during the procurement phase [Form-Focused Design] ?" The contradictory tension is called the design-acquire paradox. In this research, Biopartner 5, a project which has successfully implemented large-scale reuse of structural steel elements, is used as a case study to analyse the processes involved in adopting the reuse of steel. The successful implementation was facilitated by several favourable conditions that do not match the current market scenario and industrial conditions. Thus, the approaches adopted cannot be used unanimously for all projects that intend to consider the opportunity of reusing steel.

The Ambidextrous Management Approach is identified as a feasible solution to deal with paradoxical tensions. In this research, with the principles of ambidexterity, an intervention is made into the existing industrial practices adopted to develop an Ambidextrous Process Tool. The tool can be used by various parties involved in the design phase of projects which intends to reuse steel. The tool aims to improve the potential and optimise the reuse of structural steel elements in buildings by mitigating the design-acquire paradoxical tension. The process tool emphasises balancing the exploration to improve the traceability of materials available in the market and the exploitation of identified materials. Furthermore, the tool focuses on embracing the potential of both Material Driven Design and Form-Focused Design simultaneously without making a trade-off between them.

... Read more

The Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) industry can be descripted as a fragmented industry, with relatively low productivity and efficiency. Digital solutions like Building Information Modeling (BIM) can increase an organization's productivity. However, the Built Environment has been slow to adopt digital transformation, due to insufficient information management. Existing literature concentrates on addressing this challenge, by focusing on a single aspect of information management rather than providing a comprehensive picture of all the procedures, parties engaged, information, formats and platforms used as well as their interdependencies. Therefore, the objective of this graduation research is to determine the workflows for information management to allow digitization across the whole lifecycle, by examining multiple aspects. The case study findings lead to the creation of a process map, demonstrating more efficient workflows to be followed, by linking the distributed information between the different parties involved throughout the several project stages, while also considering each party’s digital ambitions. The main processes identified during each project stage concern the production of information deliverables by the respective party, using the suitable format. As both geometrical and non-geometrical information is generated during the different project stages, different formats are used, i.e. information models and documentation. Subsequently and at the end of each stage, the respective information is shared to other parties during specific information exchange moments. A collaborative environment is used by the different parties, both during the production and information sharing. Concluding, as digital transformation becomes even more widespread, a growing number of organizations strive for effective information management. To acquire a more reliable view on the subject, it is necessary to look at several aspects at once, hence the development of the proposed process map. To increase the validity of the outcome, more research and elaboration of the process map's elements is advised. Recommendations for the construction industry, with regard to the incorporation of digital ambitions, are also provided together with suggestions for a further enhancement of the company’s information management. ... Read more