@article{bonilla_rasdorf_liu_al-ghandour_he_2023, title={Inequity Reduction in Road Maintenance Funding for Municipalities}, volume={28}, ISSN={["1552-7549"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1177/1087724X221130047}, DOI={10.1177/1087724X221130047}, abstractNote={State transportation agencies distribute funding to eligible municipalities to maintain local roads in a safe condition based on their permanent population and street mileage. However, some municipalities experience an exceedingly high seasonal population that is unaccounted for and thus, they are not receiving equitable funding. To better understand seasonal population and mitigate its impact, this paper evaluates equity and affordability in funding allocation, explores how to estimate seasonal population, suggests a method to improve the current allocation, and identifies practical strategies to reduce disproportionate funding distribution. Three funding allocation strategies were developed and a need-based funding allocation approach was identified to be an equitable solution to help municipalities improve local street conditions based on their needs while subject to constraints on funding availability. This approach allows municipalities to address seasonal population increases without negatively impacting funds for municipalities that do not experience fluctuations in their population.}, number={3}, journal={PUBLIC WORKS MANAGEMENT & POLICY}, author={Bonilla, Minerva and Rasdorf, William and Liu, Min and Al-Ghandour, Majed and He, Chuanni}, year={2023}, month={Jul}, pages={339–362} }
 @article{he_liu_zhang_wang_hsiang_chen_li_dai_2023, title={Space-Time-Workforce Visualization and Conditional Capacity Synthesis in Uncertainty}, volume={39}, ISSN={["1943-5479"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1061/JMENEA.MEENG-4991}, DOI={10.1061/JMENEA.MEENG-4991}, abstractNote={Workspace, project duration, and workforce are three critical resources for construction projects. Project managers need to expend time and effort reviewing, comprehending, and coordinating these resources. However, the space–time–workforce interactions and their impact on decision-making in project scheduling are not fully known. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to understand the impact of workforce shifts on space, time, and labor cost performances, develop a three-dimensional (3D) visualization tool to reveal activity-level resource dynamics, and associate the risk aftermath with the occurrence probability to balance subjective risk tolerance and objective system reliability. This research developed a simulation model based on a case project to compare the workflow of five major specialty trades (i.e., bar placer, carpenter, scaffolder, pipefitter, and concreter) in 267 scenarios. A resource-oriented 3D visualization tool was developed to help project managers monitor project schedules. The research established a risk control framework using value-at-risk (VaR) and conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) approaches to associate extreme outcomes with their occurrence probability. Simulation results indicated that pipefitters significantly affected workspace overlap, whereas bar placers and carpenters predominantly impacted project duration. The scholarly contributions are (1) the creation of an intelligent system to generate a project schedule from workforce assignments specified by project managers, (2) development of a tool to visualize the three-way resource dynamics of workforce, time, and space on a 3D model for all possible scenarios, and (3) development of a framework for project managers to balance planning strategies between subjective risk tolerance and objective system reliability. This research provides project managers with a dynamic 3D visualization of space, time, and workforce utilization and interaction in uncertain environments, further facilitating reliable project scheduling decision-making.}, number={2}, journal={JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT IN ENGINEERING}, author={He, Chuanni and Liu, Min and Zhang, Yuxiang and Wang, Zhigao and Hsiang, Simon M. M. and Chen, Gongfan and Li, Weiqiang and Dai, Gongfu}, year={2023}, month={Mar} }
 @article{chen_liu_zhang_wang_hsiang_he_2023, title={Using Images to Detect, Plan, Analyze, and Coordinate a Smart Contract in Construction}, volume={39}, ISSN={["1943-5479"]}, url={https://publons.com/wos-op/publon/61520142/}, DOI={10.1061/JMENEA.MEENG-5121}, abstractNote={Reliable construction workflow relies on timely discovery, analysis, and checking of compliance with contract terms, which are time consuming and inefficient tasks. Smart contracts enabled by blockchain technology have demonstrated promise in addressing the inefficiencies of data communications due to their merits of traceability, immutability, transparency, and self-enforceability. However, a smart contract’s inability to interact with real-world data is the main issue that impedes further implementation. Today’s increasing availability of as-built data provides automatic condition assessments that have great potential to automate smart contract executions. This research area is uncharted territory for the industry. This research selects a case study to present an automatic decentralized management framework by exploring image-based deep learning solutions to automate and decentralize the conditioning of smart contract executions enabled by a web3.js-based decentralized blockchain application. It was found that the model can automate management intelligence with minimal workflow interruptions by timely identification of bottleneck activities and enforcement of mitigation strategies. Project managers can use the blockchain prototype to enhance information sharing, remove key risks, and enable a reliable workflow with minimal management efforts.}, number={2}, journal={JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT IN ENGINEERING}, author={Chen, Gongfan and Liu, Min and Zhang, YuXiang and Wang, ZhiGao and Hsiang, Simon M. and He, Chuanni}, year={2023}, month={Mar} }
 @article{he_liu_zhang_wang_hsiang_chen_chen_2022, title={Exploit Social Distancing in Construction Scheduling: Visualize and Optimize Space-Time-Workforce Tradeoff}, volume={38}, ISSN={["1943-5479"]}, url={https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/%28ASCE%29ME.1943-5479.0001037}, DOI={10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0001037}, abstractNote={The COVID pandemic has given rise to the necessity of social distancing regulations, which has brought the importance of workspace management on the construction site to an unprecedented level. Understanding and visualizing the interaction and tradeoff among space, time, and workforce is critical for construction managers to schedule and deliver projects on time. Therefore, the objectives of this research are to investigate how the critical path method (CPM) and Takt-time planning methods utilize space, time, and workforce differently, develop a tool to visualize the space–time–workforce interactions, and investigate the space–time–workforce tradeoff based on different managers' preferences. This research selected a high-rise office building project and collected 889 sets of productivity data of five specialty trades. The research built a simulation model to investigate productivity and project performance under 267 scenarios of different combinations of the three resources. A dynamic tool was then developed to visualize workspace, time, and workforce interactions. Finally, a Choquet integral–based evaluation and decision tool was developed. The simulation results show that the Takt-time planning method can reduce up to 80% of workspace overlap compared with the actual production plan with less than 20% of duration extension. The contributions to the body of knowledge are (1) creating a visual framework for managers to understand the interaction and tradeoff among space, time, and workforce quickly and accurately, and (2) developing an innovative Choquet integral approach for managers to evaluate planning strategies according to project preferences. The framework and analysis method can be adapted to other construction projects to assist managers to visualize and optimize the space–time–workforce tradeoff under uncertain project drivers. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Management in Engineering is the property of American Society of Civil Engineers and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)}, number={4}, journal={JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT IN ENGINEERING}, author={He, Chuanni and Liu, Min and Zhang, YuXiang and Wang, Zhigao and Hsiang, Simon M. and Chen, Gongfan and Chen, Jiang}, year={2022}, month={Jul} }
 @inproceedings{he_liu_wang_chen_zhang_hsiang_2022, title={Facilitating Smart Contract in Project Scheduling under Uncertainty—A Choquet Integral Approach}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/9780784483961.097}, DOI={10.1061/9780784483961.097}, abstractNote={The expected benefit of smart contract (SC) relies heavily on its completeness and adaptability. Previous studies have discussed the application of SC on construction at the conceptual level, while a method to reflect human preferences as action items to enforce schedule executability is not available for construction managers. The objectives of this research are (1) to develop a method to generalize human preference as scheduling practices, and (2) to utilize SC technology to facilitate the execution of the practice. Performance data of different labor investment and production rate arrangements were obtained through a simulation of a high-rise construction project operation. This research used a Choquet Integral-based approach to aggregate owners’ preferences on workspace overlap, manpower utilization, and project duration to customize the optimum scenarios for resource utilization. Such decision rules were bundled with payment transactions and then embedded as agreements in an SC-based scheduling platform. The SC platform developed can provide the optimized resource utilization solution under different preferences, meanwhile timely disseminate schedule information and facilitate payment transactions. The research findings will assist project managers to quickly react to unexpected changes in management preferences in manpower, space, or schedule by developing adaptable resource utilization solutions. It will also help them to enforce the execution of the plan timely using the SC scheduling platform.}, booktitle={Construction Research Congress 2022}, publisher={American Society of Civil Engineers}, author={He, Chuanni and Liu, Min and Wang, Zhigao and Chen, Gongfan and Zhang, Yuxiang and Hsiang, Simon M.}, year={2022}, month={Mar} }
 @article{bonilla_rasdorf_liu_al-ghandour_he_2022, title={Inequity Reduction in Road Maintenance Funding for Municipalities}, volume={9}, ISSN={["1552-7549"]}, DOI={10.1177/I087724X221130047}, journal={PUBLIC WORKS MANAGEMENT & POLICY}, author={Bonilla, Minerva and Rasdorf, William and Liu, Min and Al-Ghandour, Majed and He, Chuanni}, year={2022}, month={Sep} }
 @article{he_liu_alves_scala_hsiang_2022, title={Prioritizing collaborative scheduling practices based on their impact on project performance}, volume={0}, ISSN={["1466-433X"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2022.2048042}, DOI={10.1080/01446193.2022.2048042}, abstractNote={Abstract Collaborative scheduling (CS) and related practices impact the performance of construction projects which can be measured by key performance indicators (KPIs). However, little is known about which of these practices are implemented and how their combined implementation might impact KPIs. The objectives of this research are to identify perceptions of CS practices that drive project performance, define CS practices used by industry that impact KPIs, and establish practices that are more commonly implemented and have a higher potential to positively impact KPIs. The research team conducted a nationwide survey in the United States and obtained 241 usable responses. Utilizing an information theory approach to measure the uncertainty of implementation and impact of each practice, the research built a set of Chow–Liu tree models to determine the most efficient sequence of actions to improve CS. Results indicate that meeting owners’ expectation throughout the life-cycle of the project from design through construction and commissioning, using the schedule to support a strong project culture, and an effective communication plan were the top CS levers for overall KPI improvement. An innovative method was developed to help construction project managers discover the value of each CS practice, the relation between CS practices, and CS practices’ influence to project KPIs so that managers can improve KPIs efficiently by prioritizing their CS practices according to their own project needs.}, number={0}, journal={CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS}, publisher={Routledge}, author={He, Chuanni and Liu, Min and Alves, Thais da C. L. and Scala, Natalie M. and Hsiang, Simon M.}, year={2022}, month={Mar} }
 @article{liu_li_he_2021, title={STUDY ON DYNAMIC INFLUENCE OF PASSENGER FLOW ON INTELLIGENT BUS TRAVEL SERVICE MODEL}, volume={36}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3846/transport.2021.14343}, DOI={10.3846/transport.2021.14343}, abstractNote={To improve the service quality and convenience of bus travel services, this paper proposes the Intelligent Bus Travel Service Model (IBTSM). The IBTSM makes it possible to provide a travel strategy considering every aspect of bus travel, specifically, delay in the peak period arising from limited carrying-capacities of buses. A three-step approach was executed toward implementing the IBTSM. First, the bus travel-time was predicted using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). Next, the crowding level in the bus was evaluated using a fuzzy expert system, based on which a reasonable start-off time was planned, and the delay caused by large passenger flow was circumvented. The k-Nearest Neighbours (k-NN) algorithm was used to provide input data of passenger flow. In this study, the correlation between passenger flow variation and bus services was investigated to extend the provisions of the travel strategy to include start-off time scheduling and target bus selection, rather than only bus running-time estimation. The proposed model was evaluated using a bus in China as a case study, and its reliability and positive impact on promoting both the quality of bus services and development of intelligent travel were demonstrated.}, number={1}, journal={Transport}, publisher={Vilnius Gediminas Technical University}, author={Liu, Sha and Li, Xiang and He, Chuanni}, year={2021}, month={Feb}, pages={25–37} }