Assessing The Efficacy: Statistical Models Vs. Machine Learning (Ml) Approaches For Prediction Modeling In The Construction Industry, Stuti Garg

All Theses

The construction industry has witnessed a significant surge in the daily volume of objective data (i.e., precise data sources representing actual project progress) accumulated across a project's lifecycle. This abundance of data presents an opportunity to extract valuable organizational insights and potential remedies for project management issues. The construction technology landscape is gradually evolving towards integrated software platforms to meet customer needs more effectively. However, the construction sector lacks comprehensive predictive analytics solutions for projects or industry-wide applications - a significant portion of descriptive analytics tools rely on trade association surveys or dashboards constructed from collected company data, suffering from …

Navigating The Future: The Material Effects Of Sea Level Rise On Lighthouses Along The East Coast Of The United States, Brianna Schmidt

All Theses

Multiple aspects of climate change will affect coastal structures. One type of structure in these coastal environments that will be affected is lighthouses. These structures are and important symbol for marine navigation. Without their presents, the coastline loses an important aspect to its significance. There have already been cases of climate change scenarios affecting these structures such as erosion and wave impacts. This thesis focuses on the material vulnerability of lighthouses when in contact with new sea water levels. How vulnerable are lighthouses in terms of their material property to submersion in salt water due to sea level rise along …

The Machine In The Rice Field: A Spatial Analysis Of Mechanized Rice Processing Infrastructure Along The Cooper River, 1780 - 1830, Jacob Hockenberry

All Theses

This thesis examines the spatial and physical characteristics of mechanized rice processing infrastructure along the Cooper River in South Carolina’s Lowcountry between 1780 and 1830. Historic rice plantation plats and modern geospatial data provided new information regarding the location of rice processing machines in relation to other plantation landscape features. This research analyzed seven rice plantations that contained these machines. Each plantation plat was georeferenced using ArcGIS Pro to support a detailed spatial analysis of these processing sites. While literature has extensively detailed the social, economic, environmental and enslaved aspects of rice culture in the Lowcountry, little research has specifically …

Tracking The "Soiled Doves": A Cultural Landscape Of Sex Work In Charleston, South Carolina From 1880-1939, Rachel Fore

All Theses

Sex work in the United States has become a more widely studied subject in the last twenty years. Most of these studies focus on the historical or archaeological evidence left behind by sex workers. Many of these studies focus most heavily on sex work in the western United States. Studies have looked through a variety of different lenses including gender, race, and economic impact. Despite these varied lenses, little attention has been paid to sex work in Southern cities such as Charleston, South Carolina. The purpose of this thesis is to add to the basic understanding of the prevalence, placement, …

An Analysis Of The Demolition Of Seismically Damaged Historic Structures After The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, California, Claire Ann Cox

All Theses

The Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989 was an event that greatly impacted the lives of those living in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. The 6.9M_w earthquake severely damaged buildings and infrastructure, inevitably leading to the demolition of some of these structures. Older buildings constructed before modern seismic codes were most vulnerable to damage. Yet, age is the same reason many of these buildings were considered historic and valuable in their communities. In the wake of Loma Prieta, an alarming trend of the demolition of historic buildings arose.

This thesis analyzes the demolition of historic structures due to damage …

A Building Worth Its Salt: Residual Chloride Exposure From Frequent Inundation In 19th-Century Masonry Construction On The Battery Of Charleston, South Carolina, Sarah Gaston

All Theses

The growing frequency of intense storm events, minor coastal flooding, and salinity levels of the rising groundwater tables in Special Flood Hazard Areas, including those within Charleston, South Carolina, are affecting historic buildings and their masonry materials in a manner that is only beginning to be discussed in the field of Architectural Conservation. By determining the quantity and location of salt deposits within the mortar measured vertically along historic brick walls, this thesis contributes to the understanding of flooding impacts on historic buildings. This thesis analyzes the distribution of chloride vertically up brick or stucco-clad walls of 19th-century masonry buildings …

Evaluating Company Culture Of Roofing Contracting Companies To Attract And Retain Women In The Industry, Gopika Viswanathan

All Theses

The US construction industry, similar to many other industries, has a low representation of women. This difference is even more pronounced in construction trades, such as the roofing industry. The admission of more women into the industry is important to address workforce shortage issues that the industry is facing. Company culture has been cited as one of the primary reasons why women choose not to enter the industry or face barriers during their careers. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the company culture of roofing companies through factors identified by literature and by women and companies in …

Ahead Of The Digital Curve: Digitally Documenting And Interpreting The Historic Built Environment In Museums, Hannah St. Onge

All Theses

Digital documentation technology came into the mainstream of preservation in the late 20^th and early 21^st centuries. These technologies have also begun to make their way into museums, another piece of the preservation field. Literature detailing the use of digital documentation technology in museums focuses largely on isolated case studies, often from museums in Europe and Asia. The research on the topic currently lacks a broad understanding of the use of these technologies in museums across the United States.

This thesis utilizes a survey method to determine the scope of digital documentation technologies usage to create 3D digital …

Quantifying Hurricane Effects On Housing: Evaluating Damage, Loss, And Shelter Demands Using Historical And Simulated Storm Tracks, Adish Deep Shakya

All Theses

This research introduces an advanced framework which employs parametric wind field models for peak wind speeds, and building fragility curves, loss functions, and demographic data to estimate for estimating housing damage and loss. The uninhabitable units immediate displaced households, short-term and long-term shelter need households are determined. with a particular focus on those eligible for FEMA assistance. The framework's validity is reinforced by a high correlation in the analysis of recent hurricane events between estimated numbers of displaced households and actual FEMA aid recipients, where FEMA aids about 20-60% of the predicted long-term displaced households. A novel application of the …

An Analysis Of Communication Trends Of East Coast Historic Preservation Nonprofit Organizations, Caroline Byrne

All Theses

Communication in preservation is key to elevate the momentum of preserving the built environment, historic communities, and cultural landscapes. Effective communication should expand diversity and inclusion of key demographics that have not been sufficiently reached via current or historic outreach methods. Intentional and direct strategies to message specific communities could make an impact on the future success of preservation.

This thesis uncovers the trends of current communication practices at historic preservation nonprofits along the East Coast in an effort to evaluate factors that impact methods and evaluation. The purpose of this study is to understand the current methods deployed by …

Ethnographic Interviews Of Five Community Leaders Preserving African American Heritage In The Lowcountry, Paige Regna

All Theses

As more African American communities pursue preservation initiatives in their communities, it is becoming increasingly important to examine why the leaders of these communities preserve their heritage, what projects they undertake, and how they accomplish their preservation initiatives. This thesis aims to answer to answer the question: How do five current leaders of preservation in African American communities in Charleston compare in terms of their preservation sites, motivations, goals, and strategies to each other and early preservationists in Charleston? The author used an interview methodology for this thesis and asked fourteen core questions to five preservationists in African American communities. …

Nowhere To Grow: Rationale Behind The Expansion Of The College Of Charleston Campus, 1960-2024, Gabriella Marie Rowsam

All Theses

There is constant pressure for a higher education institution to expand and modernize to continue to attract potential students, but for those located in dense historic cities their campus expansion is often impeded by the surrounding built environment. This statement proves true when examining the case study of the College of Charleston, which is situated in the compact historic city of Charleston, South Carolina. This thesis explores the multitude of influential factors that have impacted the growth of the College of Charleston’s campus from 1960 to 2024. These factors include a growing student population, political dynamics, administrative vision, financial considerations, …

Historically Char-Ming, Deryn Candelaria

All Theses

Within the field of Historic Preservation, wood is an essential building material to understand and develop effective treatments to preserve given its wide spread use in history in particular the United States and North America. One of wood's fatal properties is its combustibility. Fire is a constant threat to all historic structures, and materials which requires considered interventions. Over time, advancements in building technology, methods and materials have emerged to combat wood’s propensity for combustion. Intumescent paint, a fire protective coating, which can be used as passive fire protection, has been adopted in the Historic Preservation field in decades since …

Something Old, Something Blue: An Analysis Of Identification Methods For Determining The Presence Of Indigo Within Historic Textiles For The Charleston Museum, Chris Cone

All Theses

Identification methods for the analysis of indigo dye within textiles have been compiled in multiple studies. Though few examples demonstrate chemical analysis and phase separation as a technique that can assist in the identity of the dyestuff. The inclusion of nontechnical methods, techniques that require little knowledge of chemistry and can be completed without the assistance of high-tech machinery, can contribute toward these efforts. The goal of this thesis was to provide a simple testing procedure where eight historic textile samples dating from the mid-eighteenth to the mid-nineteenth centuries were subjected to chemical analysis and phase separation to determine the …

The Catalyst For Preservation: Assessing The Impact Of Historic Tax Credit Leverage On Surrounding Property Values In The State Of South Carolina, John Sutton

All Theses

The historic rehabilitation tax credit, in its many forms, is the single greatest driver of historic preservation investment in the United States. Despite this, very little research has been done regarding the secondary effects of historic tax credit leverage. The goal of this thesis is to assess the impact that substantial historic tax credit projects have had on the value of the properties that surround them in the state of South Carolina. Property tax assessment records were solicited from three different county governments within South Carolina to analyze the change in the assessed value induced by the introduction of tax …

In Search Of A Blind Tiger: A Cultural And Historic Landscape Analysis Of Prohibition-Era Charleston, Chloe Martin

All Theses

Though Charleston, South Carolina is known as a historic city, many of its historic landscapes lack representation within modern compiled histories. One such landscape is that of Dispensary and Prohibition-era Charleston, which can be defined as the period between 1893, with the ratification of The Dispensary Act, and the repeal of the National Prohibition in 1933. This thesis research documents and assesses the cultural and historic landscape of the Charleston peninsula during the Dispensary and Prohibition eras. This study intends to create a baseline with which this period in Charleston can be studied, both culturally and architecturally.

The primary data …

Carved Wreaths And Mortuary Flowers: An Investigation Of A Mid-Century Southern Stone Carver’S Work In Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, Sc, Jacquelyn Elie Nahman

All Theses

This study analyzes the work of Charleston stone carver William T. White in Magnolia Cemetery between 1850 and 1870. The purpose of this study is to survey the creations produced by a mid-nineteenth-century stone carver to better understand the patterns of iconographic styles and personalization of stones throughout his career. The attention of many cemetery studies in America is on the Northeast so focusing on the work of a Southerner’s work contributes to the regional gap in former studies. To perform this study, W. T. White’s signed stones were surveyed and documented throughout the cemetery using Esri’s ArcGIS Survey123, recording …

Keeping Tradition Alive: Studying The Evolution Of Sweetgrass Basket Stands On Highway 17 In The Charleston Lowcountry, Megan Adornetto

All Theses

Sweetgrass baskets are a popular souvenir for tourists visiting the Lowcountry and for collectors who admire the folk art of the Gullah Geechee people. The stands at which these baskets are sold can be found along Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant, SC. This area was once a rural community that has been developed due to suburban sprawl since the early 20th century. Due to this development, as well as the lack of availability of sweetgrass and other natural resources to create these baskets, the landscape of roadside business at these basket stands is different than it was when the first …

Choices Behind The Color: An Analysis Of Paint Finish Variations In South Carolina Slave Dwellings, Lyrik Castro-Bailey

All Theses

This research sought to discover what analytical methods would allow a preservationist to access, analyze, and interpret the agency enslaved people had in selecting the interior finishes of their living quarters. Ten sites ranging in construction from 1712 to 1847 were analyzed including: Lavington Plantation Slave-Quarters, Drayton Hall Cellar, Nathaniel Russell House Kitchen-Quarters, Aiken-Rhett Slave-Quarters, John Fullerton House Kitchen-Quarters, 38 Church Street Kitchen-Quarters, 72 Anson Street Kitchen-Quarters, 54 Hasell Street Kitchen-Quarters, Capers-Motte House Kitchen-Quarters, and the Heyward House Kitchen-Quarters. Photomicrographs collected by the author and conservationist Dr. Susan Buck were organized to examine the layers of pigments. Munsell Colors were …

Analysis Of The Right Sizing Approach To Healthcare Space Planning, Johnathan Anspach

All Theses

Achieving optimal spatial design in healthcare facilities is crucial for efficient operations and high-quality patient care. This study investigates the application of the right-sizing approach to healthcare conceptual design, with a specific focus on the Medical-Surgical Unit (MSU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) departments within inpatient wards. Utilizing a robust methodology, foundational parameters and constraints were established to align with the functional requirements of a 100-bed hospital case study. Through a systematic process, industry practitioners contributed valuable insights via surveys, facilitating the quantification of parameter rankings essential for spatial decision-making.

Analysis of the data revealed significant correlations between parameters, emphasizing …

Assessing Equitable Distribution Of The Urban Tree Canopy At The Neighborhood Scale In Greenville, South Carolina., April Riehm

All Theses

We are living in an era that necessitates adaptation and resilience. The Earth is warming. Our climate has changed (EPA, 2016). Our planet is also rapidly urbanizing. It is predicted that 68% of people will live in cities by 2050. The City of Greenville is a rapidly growing city in South Carolina that has been losing its tree canopy to development(City of Greenville, 2023). The Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) is a community asset that provides many quality-of-life benefits including improved air quality, stormwater management, carbon sequestration, mental and physical well-being, increased mobility and access, aesthetics, a reduction in energy costs, …

Factors That Influenced Current Gen Z Undergraduate Students Enrolled In Construction-Related Programs To Pursue A Career In Construction, Bishesh Bharadwaj

All Theses

This retrospective survey-based study explores the various factors that influenced Gen Z undergraduate students currently enrolled in construction-related programs to pursue a career in construction, combining the insights from overarching studies divided into two segments. The first part of the study focuses on understanding the exposure and participation of Gen Z students in STEM and construction programs during their middle and high school years to better understand the influence of such programs at the school level for a career decision in construction. Structured academic frameworks like semester curricula and offered electives emerged as a significant channel of STEM exposure, with …

The Extent Of Drone Education Being Taught In Asc Schools To 4-Year Construction Students, Cheran Teja Dumpati

All Theses

The technology of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) is growing rapidly in many fields and has become one of the skills in demand in the industry. Universities are one of the primary sources of teaching drone technology with a career-oriented approach. The goal of this study is to investigate the content of the drone curriculum being taught in Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) schools. This includes the topics covered, practical training offered, and the key deliverables taught. This information serves as a foundation for the schools that are looking forward to start drone courses in their department. The research found that …

Women Building After The Charleston Fire Of 1838 Using “An Act For Rebuilding The City Of Charleston” Loans, Joyce Pope

All Theses

The subject of this thesis is women commissioning buildings using loans they obtained as part of An Act for Rebuilding the City of Charleston. The Act, which passed after the fire of 1838, made $2 million dollars in loans available to all Charlestonians to rebuild the city after the fire wiped out hundreds of buildings on the peninsula. As a result of the way the act was structured, at least ten women, including a formerly enslaved woman, received loans and built houses and commercial buildings using those funds. This thesis examines whether the loan program opened the door for women …

Exploring The Necessity Of Technology In Architectural Design: Moving Beyond Showcasing, Ertunc Hunkar

All Theses

Advancements in technology, particularly computational design tools, have transformed the field of architectural design. However, it is crucial to evaluate the impact of technology on the core principles of problem-solving and the design process within architecture. This study aims to examine the consequences and opportunities associated with the integration of technology in architectural design, focusing on the necessity of maintaining a strong problem-solving foundation. Architectural problem-solving involves spatial organization, functional requirements, contextual integration, and user experience. These principles guide architects in addressing design challenges and achieving successful outcomes. The design process comprises stages such as research, analysis, concept development, and …

Quantitative Techniques For Classifying Mouldings: An Exploration Of Logistic Regression Within Architectural Investigations, Chase Pilcher

All Theses

Since the passing of the National Historic Preservation Act in 1966, the realm of architectural history has evolved, becoming more interdisciplinary. There was a shift in focus from looking at architecture from a fine art point of view to looking at it through a social lens. The new social perspective approach focused not only on the buildings but also on the people that inhabited or constructed the space. Approaching architectural investigations in this manner has allowed for a deeper understanding of the influences that shaped the built environment. Advancements in technology have also aided in furthering our overall comprehension of …

Physical Accessibility And Historic Preservation In Historic House Museums Of The Southeast, Abby Milonas

All Theses

Museums are a public good, as they provide educational recreation and preserve cultural history, and so it is crucial that they are physically accessible to as many visitors as possible. The aim of this study was to understand what architectural features of historic house museums are the least accessible and what has been done to ameliorate these challenges. The survey used in the study was developed using the guidelines for making historic buildings accessible as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards. It was distributed by email to representatives of 220 historic sites, of …

Bringing Vanished Landscapes To The Surface: A Multi-Tool Approach To Unearthing Charleston's Walled City, Alexis Allen

All Theses

The early 18^th century historic fortification system that surrounded the urban town of Charleston has been a focus of excavations and historical research within the past two decades. However, while the outline of early Charleston’s walled city is hypothesized through the analysis of historic maps and plats, very few fortification locations have been visually confirmed. In order to determine their accuracy, this thesis georeferenced eleven historic maps and four plats to the modern landscape. As a result, possible locations of Charleston’s walled city were predicted. These were surveyed as test sites and remote sensing methods were employed that helped …

Investigating Consistency Of Landscape-Scale Green Infrastructure In Local Government Policy, Anna Wilson

All Theses

Planning for Climate Change is multifaceted and requires effort across all scales. Green Infrastructure networks of green spaces, natural lands, reserves, working lands, core habitat, riparian corridors, parks, open spaces, private conservations lands, and other complementary land uses work together to support life on earth and human existence through the ecosystem services provided. Clean air, clean water, carbon sequestration, food production, recreation, pollination, and spiritual and cultural benefits are only a few of the services that natural lands provide society. With climate change occurring due to human actions such as land use, development, and energy use, to name a few, …

Economic Impact Assessment Of Nature-Based Coastal Resilience Solutions In Charleston. Estimating Local Economic Effects With Algorithm-Based Supporting Tool., Oksana Veselkova

All Theses

Coastal cities are at the forefront of the risks induced by climate change. Local communities are adversely affected, but the essential cultural assets and economies are also at risk of damage or destruction. In the efforts to limit hazard risk exposure, local governments are increasingly planning for long-term flood protection. One prospective flood risk mitigation measure is living shorelines or nature-based adaptation. The coastal ecosystems, such as beaches, wetlands, barrier islands, oyster reefs, and salt marshes, deliver multiple benefits to communities, including recreation, natural resources, freshwater, and carbon sequestration. Moreover, when combined with structural solutions, they can effectively reduce water …