Investigating the relationships of the rework factors in highly damaged reconstruction of infrastructure

The number and cost of rework in most construction projects are usually greater than expected, but the the frequency and cost of rework in a reconstruction project in the midst of a chaotic and dynamic post-disaster environment are commonly even greater. Although a considerable number of research studies have been performed to identify the root causes of rework, few of them focus on reconstruction projects affected by disasters. The present study aimed to determine the key factors in the reconstruction of infrastructure that has been highly damaged by disasters (RHRs). In addition, the relations and interactions between the RHRs were investigated. A structured survey consisting of 46 questions was designed and distributed to professionals who had sufficient experience in post-disaster reconstruction projects. After collecting the data, it was statistically analyzed, and the results revealed that when the reconstruction project is highly complicated, the rework due to mistakes rise remarkably. The results also demonstrated that rework is directly related to shortages of resources such as materials and equipment. It was concluded that an adequate number of project managers with sufficient skills and similar project experiences should be assigned to projects to accelerate the pace of decision-making and to mitigate the opportunities for errors. The results of this research will help program managers and decision makers prevent unnecessary cost overruns and time delays in the reconstruction of highly damaged projects following extreme events.