Formwork System Selection Criteria for Building Construction Projects: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach
Open Access
Abstract
Selecting the appropriate formwork system (FWS) is a critical aspect in the successful completion of reinforced concrete (RC) building construction projects. The selected FWS has a significant impact on the cost, time, and quality performances of the project. As there are many FWSs and formwork fabricators (FWFs) available, the selection of the FWS depends on several compromising and conflicting criteria. This study aims to identify the FWS selection criteria groupings (e.g., latent factors) and investigate the quantitative interrelationships among them. For this purpose, 35 FWS selection criteria were identified through literature review, and a questionnaire was developed. The data from the questionnaire were statistically analyzed, and five latent factors were identified: FWS-FWF characteristics, structural design, local conditions, cost, and performance indicators. A conceptual framework was developed based on the latent factors, and a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach was utilized to identify the effects among the latent factors. The results of the SEM approach confirmed that FWS-FWF characteristics are affected by the structural design and local conditions and FWS-FWF characteristics have a substantial effect on cost and the performance indicators of the project. The findings of this study may assist construction professionals in selecting the FWS in building construction projects.Keywords
This publication has 95 references indexed in Scilit:
- A formwork method selection model based on boosted decision trees in tall building constructionAutomation in Construction, 2012
- Formwork System Selection Model for Tall Building Construction Using the Adaboost AlgorithmJournal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction, 2011
- Selection of slab formwork system using fuzzy logicConstruction Management and Economics, 2011
- PLS-SEM: Indeed a Silver BulletJournal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 2011
- Buildability factors affecting formwork labour productivity of building floorsCanadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 2010
- Does my structural model represent the real phenomenon?: a review of the appropriate use of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) model fit indicesThe Marketing Review, 2009
- Structural equation model of construction safety cultureEngineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 2008
- Factors in formwork selection: a comparative investigationBuilding Research & Information, 1999
- NEUROSLAB – neural network system for horizontal formwork selectionCanadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 1995
- An Index of Factorial SimplicityPsychometrika, 1974