Preface

Having conjoined efforts by academicians and industry professionals is necessary for the progress of the construction and built environment towards more efficient and cost-effective outcomes. This idea forms the basis in providing an avenue for sharing and exchanging ideas among academics and practitioners.

In recent years, the active research areas in civil engineering and construction are, for example, synthesis and design of advanced construction materials, development of low-carbon blended cement, high strength and high performance concrete, durable steel, and advanced pavement and foundation materials. Other active areas are the development of advanced analytical methods for structures and infrastructure, construction techniques, project cost management, and planning towards digitalisation, construction safety, health monitoring and forensic engineering.

The fourth Australasia and South East Asia Conference in Structural Engineering and Construction, ASEA-SEC-04, was held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, during 3 - 5 December 2018. ASEA-SEC conferences are part of the international conference series organised by the International Structural Engineering and Construction Society, ISEC, USA. ASEA-SEC-4 was hosted by the University of Southern Queensland, with the theme Streamlining Information Transfer between Construction and Structural Engineering.

The primary aim of the conference was to create a forum for academics, researchers and practitioners to discuss advances and innovations in construction and civil engineering fields.

Registered participants came from 20 countries. Papers in these proceedings cover a wide range of topics including architecture, architectural engineering, construction, cost and project management, construction safety, delay analysis, and dispute resolution, geotechnical and foundation Engineering, pavements and infrastructure, properties of concrete materials, concrete structures and nonlinear behaviour, prestressed concrete and bridge structures, and building structures and vibration.

Many authors and co-authors of the papers served as peer-reviewers in the abstract and manuscript review process. We are thankful for the cooperation and timely support provided by all the reviewers.

The conference venue and facilities supported by the University of Southern Queensland, Springfield campus are gratefully acknowledged. Finally, we thank all the participants, the technical committee members, and all our peers who participated and/or supported us, which led to the success of the conference.

Jim Shiau, University of Southern Queensland, Australia
Vanissorn Vimonsatit, Curtin University, Australia
Amarjit Singh, University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA
Siamak Yazdani, Heyer Engineering, USA
Editors