Although increasing expenditure nationwide on transportation construction projects raises concerns of overruns, delays, and poor contract administration, it is difficult to find consistency in data gathering and reporting, or validity in the analyses of contract performance, to look at trends and patterns within delivered projects. The reality is that construction projects are unique. They are of different types, sizes, materials, locations, construction methods, and complexity, and a proper classification of project types currently does not exist. The objective of this research is to develop a classification system for project types on the basis of data from Pacific Northwest transportation projects that are completed, active, and awaiting execution. The classification system will be based on several dimensions, such as type of system, geographical location, controlling scope of work, level of complexity, contractual constraint, project delivery method, and other parameters. Such standardization could improve the validity of research findings and enhance research and practice on highway projects within the Pacific Northwest and around the country.
Principal Investigator: George Okere, Construction Management, WSU
Sponsor: PacTrans
Scheduled completion: February 2020