Using Alternative Project Delivery Methods to Enhance the Cost Performance of Trenchless Construction Projects

摘要

A project delivery system is defined as the comprehensive process by which a facility is designed and constructed. The traditional design-bid-build (DBB) system is sequential and often leads to inefficiencies; therefore, alternative project delivery methods (APDM) were developed to increase stakeholder integration and enhance project performance, and therefore have gained popularity in the design and construction industries. However, the use of APDM has not yet gained traction in the emerging trenchless construction industry, which focuses on the installation of underground infrastructure with minimal disruption to surface activities like traffic and business. The traditional lack of information sharing between engineers and contractors renders trenchless construction projects ideal candidates for APDM. Design engineers often are unfamiliar with trenchless construction means and methods, and constructors have not traditionally been involved during the design phase. APDM can be used to bridge this gap by enabling contractors to provide early insights, which can result in benefits over traditional methods. This paper discusses how APDM can improve the performance of trenchless construction projects through analyzing case studies of existing APDM trenchless projects. The findings demonstrate the potential performance impact of APDM on trenchless construction projects, namely cost savings ranging from two to 44 percent.