Thesis Supervision 

Abstract

Bangladesh's construction industry is experiencing a slowdown, with most companies still dependent on traditional manual methods for cost estimation and schedule management. The prevalent use of spreadsheets and paper-based systems results in frequent project delays, budget overruns, and operational inefficiencies. Despite the global adoption of digital technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM), their implementation in Bangladesh remains minimal, hindering local firms' productivity and competitive capabilities in the market. This study conducts a comparative analysis between Autodesk Revit, a BIM-based platform, and Microsoft Project, a widely used project management tool, to evaluate their effectiveness in cost and schedule control. Based on data from a real residential building project, cost estimates and construction schedules were generated using both tools and systematically analyzed for performance differences. The findings show that Revit improved cost estimation accuracy by reducing projected costs by about 9.1% and shortened project duration by about 3.7% compared to Microsoft Project. Revit’s automated quantity take-offs, early clash detection, and clear visual timelines made planning more efficient and reliable. In contrast, Microsoft Project required manual data entry and lacked built-in coordination features. Overall, Revit improves the accuracy and efficiency of cost and schedule estimation, highlighting its potential to enhance project outcomes in Bangladesh’s construction sector, though the study’s focus on a single residential project, reliance on software data, and limited stakeholder perspectives may restrict the generalizability of the findings. 

Keywords: Building Information Modeling, Construction Management, Cost Estimation, Schedule Optimization, Bangladesh Construction Industry. 

Abstract

Generation of waste due to the demolition of construction and worldwide urbanization requires solutions for sustainable infrastructure. This study explores the mechanical properties and environmental impacts of previous concrete (PC) made from both recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) and natural coarse aggregate (NCA) of different proportions. The primary objectives of this study were the evaluation of the mechanical properties of pile cap RCA-based pervious concrete and the analysis of its environmental impacts by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Mechanical properties of three concrete mixes RCA-0, RCA-30, and RCA-100, were evaluated through compressive strength and flexural strength tests. Microstructural characteristics were obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A cradle-to-gate LCA was conducted using OpenLCA software and Ecoinvent database to assess environmental impacts by CML-IA indicators such as global warming, abiotic depletion, and ecotoxicity. Results showed a reduction in compressive and flexural strengths, respectively, with higher RCA content. The compressive and flexural strength of RCA-100 PC are reduced by approximately 60% and 46% respectively, compared to RCA-0. SEM analysis showed those reductions were caused by higher porosity, increased microcracks, and weakening interfacial bonding. Despite this, all mixes achieved sufficient mechanical performance for non-structural and light traffic pavement applications. The LCA demonstrated greater ecological advantages with integrating higher RCA content, including carbon emission reduction, energy use, and depletion of natural resources. In conclusion, non-structural infrastructure such as sidewalks, parking, and pedestrian zones is suitable to be made by RCA-based pervious concrete, which is confirmed as mechanically viable and environmentally beneficial. 

Keywords: Pervious Concrete, Recycled Coarse Aggregate, Environmental Footprint, Life Cycle Assessment.