The UK government is mandating the use of building information modelling (BIM) in large public projects by 2016. As a result, engineering firms are faced with challenges related to embedding new technologies and associated working practices for the digital delivery of major infrastructure projects. Diffusion of innovations theory is used to investigate how digital innovations diffuse across complex firms. A contextualist approach is employed through an in-depth case study of a large, international engineering project-based firm. The analysis of the empirical data, which was collected over a four-year period of close interaction with the firm, reveals parallel paths of diffusion occurring across the firm, where both the innovation and the firm context were continually changing. The diffusion process is traced over three phases: centralization of technology management, standardization of digital working practices, and globalization of digital resources. The findings describe the diffusion of a digital innovation as multiple and partial within a complex social system during times of change and organizational uncertainty, thereby contributing to diffusion of innovations studies in construction by showing a range of activities and dynamics of a non-linear diffusion process.

In 2016, 9.68 million tons of solid waste were generated in Abu Dhabi alone where 67.8% was sent to dumpsites and landfills. In the same year, the construction and demolishing (C&D) industry produced 47% of the non-hazardous waste. This research aims to investigate the C&D waste management in UAE's construction industry, specifically in Abu Dhabi based on (a) official resources identifying authorized entities, regulations, implementation guidelines, and causes behind waste generation in UAE' C&D industry; and (b) unstructured interviews with construction professionals in Abu Dhabi revealing the waste management consideration process, enhancement methods, professionals' responsibilities and views toward the topic. While Abu Dhabi's sustainability framework (Estidama) requires a submittal of C&D Waste Management Plan (CDWMP) prior to any construction activity asking for a minimum of 30% waste diversion from landfills, relevant literature highlighted awareness as an effective factor in C&D management. Interviews for this study have shown that a lack of awareness is still affecting the C&D waste management and control negatively. Interviewees have also contributed in understanding the waste management consideration process, enhancement methods, professionals' responsibilities and views toward the topic highlighting that implementation practices seem to seek Estidama certification but not a sustainable environment.

Due to the scarcity of water and the harsh desert climate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), water and energy are two of the main challenges for the design of sustainable buildings in the UAE. Relevant literature calls for the consideration of building systems and materials at the design stage to achieve high-performing buildings and to save on the operational costs of the building. The aim of this research was to design a high-performance building that meets the environmental sustainability requirements for water and energy, in the city of Dubai to reflect the technological advancements of the UAE Mars mission. This has been achieved through following an integrated design process, which was mainly focused on the evaluation and specification of the building engineering systems based on performance, besides the goal of achieving visually appealing building with advanced structural design. The performance verification of the final building design, which considered engineering systems design from conception and through the design and detailed design stages, revealed a 15% reduction in water consumption and a 60% reduction in energy consumption. This provides a valuable contribution to architectural engineering practice, by demonstrating a case study for enhancing energy and water efficiency via building design, which consequently contributes to the environmental sustainability of the built environment.

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The construction industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is faced with negative project performance, including low productivity, higher costs, delays in project completion, and defects during construction. One of the main reasons for these issues is the engagement of unskilled craft workers. Despite these labor issues, demand for construction projects in the UAE has been explosively increasing, in part due to Dubai winning the hosting of Expo 2020, which has given rise to an unprecedented demand for skilled construction craft workers. This study aimed to investigate the views and experiences of construction project managers regarding the reasons and challenges associated with the hiring of skilled craft workers in the construction labor market of the UAE. To fulfill the study purpose, the authors conducted structured open-ended interviews with UAE construction project managers. The results revealed several reasons for hiring craft workers despite a clear lack of qualifications and suggest some potential solutions.