ABSTRACT

A successful construction business is a knowledge business. And knowledge must be managed effectively to be used efficiently, especially in a complex project-oriented business such as construction, where skills acquired and lessons learned on one project need to be applied to the next.

A holistic approach to knowledge management (KM) is taken in this book to incorporate all of the relevant themes, tackling technological, socio-cultural and organizational issues, with the creation of value as a focus throughout. Information is drawn from a broad range of sources to explain core theories and provide guidance on practical application. Topics covered include:

  • changing business relationships in a knowledge economy
  • knowledge creation processes and theories
  • data, text and knowledge mining techniques
  • the learning construction organization
  • future technology for knowledge management.

Written by the authors of the first EU-funded KM research project in the field of construction, this textbook is uniquely well-researched, and is the perfect introduction to KM for students across the built environment. It is also a crucial guide to the topic for practitioners.

chapter 1|11 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|9 pages

Changing business relationships

chapter 3|10 pages

Construction in the knowledge economy

chapter 6|19 pages

Knowledge management systems

chapter 7|14 pages

Domain conceptualisation through ontology

chapter 8|16 pages

Construction ontology development

chapter 9|22 pages

Complex problem solving

The use of evolutionary algorithms

chapter 10|22 pages

Application of genetic algorithms for design

chapter 11|17 pages

Future technology for knowledge management

chapter 12|14 pages

Knowledge-infused alliances of companies

chapter 14|11 pages

Value creation

The future of knowledge management in construction