Modelling Block Laying Productivity on Building Sites in Kampala

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Published: Jul 15, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21315/jcdc2020.25.1.6
Keywords:
Block laying, Productivity, Building sites, Regression modelling

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Allan Dickens Ouga
Department of Construction Economics and Management, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, UGANDA
Henry Mwanaki Alinaitwe
Department of Architecture and Physical Planning, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, UGANDA
Godfrey Mwesige
Department of Construction Economics and Management, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, UGANDA

Abstract

Block laying productivity is an important factor in planning, scheduling and control of labour-intensive building projects with significant bearing on project cost and delays. Despite the wide application of block laying on building projects in Uganda, no study has modelled the productivity of block layers in terms of work output in comparison with individual attributes of block layers. This article explores the modelling of block laying productivity on building sites in Kampala based on an individual block layer's attributes and work environment. The data was collected using a specially designed measurement sheet filled on-site and a survey questionnaire to collect data on personal attributes of block layers from 40 building sites. In the estimated regression model, work height, number of porters per block layer and a combination of education and experience were significant at 95% confidence level. The results further show that neither education nor experience alone is important in explaining a block layer's productivity. Based on the results, it is clear that an experienced and educated block layer yields higher block laying productivity, which is important for project planning applications. These results are limited to building sites in Kampala, work heights not exceeding 6 m above ground level and 400 mm × 225 mm × 200 mm blocks.

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How to Cite
Allan Dickens Ouga, Henry Mwanaki Alinaitwe, and Godfrey Mwesige. 2020. “Modelling Block Laying Productivity on Building Sites in Kampala”. Journal of Construction in Developing Countries 25 (1): 109–128. https://doi.org/10.21315/jcdc2020.25.1.6.
Issue
Vol. 25 No. 1 (2020)
Section
Articles
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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