Offsite Construction for Emergencies: A focus on Isolation Space Creation (ISC) measures for the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The outbreak of a pandemic of global concern, the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has tested the capacity of healthcare facilities to the brim in many developed countries. In a minacious fashion of rapid spread and extreme transmission rate, COVID-19 has triggered a shortage of healthcare facilities such as hospital bed spaces and ventilators. Various strategies have been adopted by the worst-hit countries to slacken or halt the spread of the virus. Common Isolation Space Creation (ISC) measures for the COVID-19 pandemic containment includes self-isolation at home, isolation at regular hospitals, isolation at existing epidemic hospitals, isolation at retrofitted buildings for an emergency, isolation at Temporary Mobile Cabins (TMCs), isolation at newly constructed temporary hospitals for COVID-19. This study evaluates the ISC measures and proposes offsite and modular solutions for the construction industry and built environment to respond to emergencies. While this study has proposed a solution for creating emergency isolation spaces for effective containment of such pandemic, other critical COVID-19 challenges such as the shortage of healthcare staff and other facilities are not addressed in this study.

Modeling working shifts in construction projects using an agent-based approach to minimize the spread of COVID-19

“…reported the use of BIM for the design process of the hospital, combined with high-technology tools, such as drones and artificial intelligence, helped in quickly building an emergency hospital to fight COVID-19. Alternatives to minimize the spread of COVID-19 beyond sanitation practices on the construction field that have been discussed are using offsite construction [ 33 ], install physical barriers among workers, and divide the workforce into groups to increase the social distancing among workers [ 27 ].…”

Emergency architecture. Modular construction of healthcare facilities as a response to pandemic outbreak

“…4). These healthcare facilities include controlled access, management of contaminated waste, and enclosing in-unit conditions including ventilation, humidity, and temperature levels [12]. Additionally, healthcare facilities require an integration of buffer areas between the isolation wards, and spaces for acute healthcare equipped with oxygen, negative pressure, and suction systems [12].…”

Organizational characteristics and COVID-19 safety practices among small and medium construction enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria

“…Specifically, the pandemic has disrupted the construction industry workflows and supply chain. Other effects include workplace closures, poor economic prospects, travel restrictions, low productivity, job losses, workers anxiety and hardship, rise in H&S management budget and high cost of operations (Al Amri and Marey-P erez, 2020; Gbadamosi et al, 2020;International Labour Organization, 2020;Ogunnusi et al, 2020, p. 127;Shibani et al, 2020). As countries experience a steady increase in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections, movement restrictions and lockdowns are being instituted (Maragakis, 2020;Ogunnusi et al, 2020, p. 124).…”

“…274-280). Efforts to accommodate the new way of life occasioned by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated studies on the adaptability, effects and prospects, consequences, potential risks, control measures and impacts of COVID-19 on the construction sector (Al Amri and Marey-P erez, 2020; Ezeokoli et al, 2020;Gbadamosi et al, 2020;Hollingsworth, 2020;Ogunnusi et al, 2020;Shibani et al, 2020;Simpeh and Amoah, 2021). The global economy has been disrupted since the beginning of the pandemic (International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020; McKibbin and Fernando, 2020, p. 15).…”

“…Organizations differ in their strategic responses to institutional forces; organizations may decide to avoid, compromise, defy and manipulate the institutional environment based on organizational characteristics (Lama and Anderson, 2015;Moser et al, 2020;Oliver, 1991;Raynard et al, 2015;Shittu et al, 2016). However, a review of studies conducted on COVID-19 safety management falls short of explaining the role of organizational characteristics in shaping the attitudes of SMEs toward COVID-19 safety practices (Al Amri and Marey-P erez, 2020;Ezeokoli et al, 2020;Gbadamosi et al, 2020;Hollingsworth, 2020;Ogunnusi et al, 2020;Shibani et al, 2020;Simpeh and Amoah, 2021).…”