Data-Driven Analysis for Managing Causes of Disputes in Nuclear Power Plant Construction Projects

Abstract

Nuclear energy remains a key element of the energy mix in the United States (US) and other parts of the world, with renewed and increased interest in recent years, driven by rising energy demand across various sectors. This is due to its capabilities of generating a vast amount of reliable and carbon-free electricity, which are crucial advantages as compared to other energy sources. However, nuclear power plant (NPP) projects involve unique risks and complexities that have long hindered their progress and shaped dispute dynamics differently from other construction sectors. Despite extensive research on construction disputes, there is a lack of studies focusing on examining dispute causes within the distinctive context of NPP projects. This paper addresses this gap by analyzing common dispute causes and their interaction patterns in US NPP projects. To achieve this, the authors followed a four-step methodology: (1) 42 US litigation cases related to NPP projects were collected and analyzed; (2) social network analysis was conducted to visualize interconnectivity among various causes of disputes and identify the most common ones; (3) spectral clustering was performed to group the most interconnected causes; and (4) association rule analysis (ARA) was implemented to determine the most critical associations among the causes. Research results identified 30 causes of disputes in NPP projects, which were grouped into four clusters. ARA identified several critical associations of dispute causes representing these themes: (1) quality and engineering integrity; (2) due diligence and professional liability; (3) contractual and execution challenges; (4) project planning and control deficiencies; and (5) regulatory, permitting, and social challenges. These findings equip stakeholders in NPP construction with actionable insights and recommendations to proactively avoid disputes, resulting in enhanced project delivery.