Biography

During my first years as engineer I worked in structural engineering and urban planning. Afterwards, I got a management position in a supply company for mining operations. I returned to the school to get a ME and PhD in construction engineering and management from the Catholic University of Chile. In May 2010, I joined The University of Auckland to take the position of Lecturer in Construction Management within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. I am actively involved in research and I have published one book and more than 30 scientific papers in top international journals and conferences. I am also a member of scientific boards and reviewer of international journals and conferences. I have been visiting scholar in several Latin American universities. Actually I supervise a number of PhD students working on lean construction, simulation and AI, and sustainability.

Qualifications

2008 PhD Construction Engineering and Management, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
2004 ME Construction Engineering and Management, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
1998 BE (Hons) Construction Enginering, Universidad de Valparaiso, Chile
 

Research interests

•  Applications of discrete event simulation and/or artificial intelligence tools to construction management problems
•   Lean construction
•   Development of predictive decision support tools in civil engineering
•   Production Planning and Control
•   Construction Supply Chain
•   Sustainability issues in civil engineering
   

Teaching

•  CIVIL 707 - Construction Logistics
•  CIVIL 704 – Advanced Project Management
•  CIVIL 792 - Discrete-Event Simulation in Construction
   

Selected publications

Books

González, V. and Alarcón, L. F. (2010). "Uncertainty Management in Repetitive Projects using Work-In-Process Buffers", Editorial LAMBERT Academic Publishing AG & Co. KG, Germany (ISBN 978-3-8383-4551-2).

Journals

González, V., Alarcón, L. F. and Yiu, T. W. (2013). Integrated Methodology to Work-In-Process Buffer Design and Management in Repetitive Building Projects. Journal of the Operational Research Society, doi:10.1057/jors.2012.163 (in-press).
Palacios, J. L., González, V. and Alarcon, L. F. (2012). Selection of Third Party Relationships in Construction. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management Bilingual Special Issue, ASCE (accepted/in-press).
González, V. and Echaveguren, T. (2012). Environmental Modeling of Road Construction Operations using Discrete Event Simulation. Automation in Construction. Vol. 24, pp. 100-110 (July).
Forcael, E., Glagola, C. R. and González, V., (2012). Incorporation of computer simulations into teaching linear scheduling techniques. Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, ASCE Vol. 138, N°1, pp. 21-30.
González, V., Alarcón, L.F., Maturana, S. and Bustamante, J. A. (2011). Site Management of Work-In-Process Buffers to Enhance Project Performance Using the Reliable Commitment Model: A Case Study. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, ASCE, Vol. 137, N°9, pp. 707-715.
Rivas, R., Borcherding, J.D., González, V. and Alarcón, L.F. (2011). Analysis of Factors Influencing Productivity using Craftsmen Questionnaires: A Case Study in a Chilean Construction Company. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, ASCE, Vol. 137, N°4, pp. 312-320.

Administration

Programme Coordinator - Master of Engineering Studies in Construction Management
Deputy Chairman - Faculty Practical Work
Engineering Faculty Social Committee Member
CEE Department Task Processes Coordinator