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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Optimizing Locations And Sizes Of Asphalt Concrete Plants In Karbala, Iraq, Ghayath Ali, Sawsan R Mohammad, Alaa M. Abdulhussein Mar 2023

Optimizing Locations And Sizes Of Asphalt Concrete Plants In Karbala, Iraq, Ghayath Ali, Sawsan R Mohammad, Alaa M. Abdulhussein

Al-Bahir Journal for Engineering and Pure Sciences

This study develops and presents a methodology for determining the optimal geographic distribution and size of asphalt concrete plants in Karbala, Iraq, in order to minimize the cost of asphalt concrete produced. The purpose of this study is to discuss these points. The methodology can identify potential locations for asphalt concrete plants within a study area, considering the plants' operation and capital costs and the costs of transporting raw materials to the plants and asphalt concrete to demand centers. Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB) software have been used to program the methodology. This methodology has been applied to Karbala using actual data. …


Optimizing Heavy Civil Internships Based On Student Interest, Nicole Nguyen Jun 2022

Optimizing Heavy Civil Internships Based On Student Interest, Nicole Nguyen

Construction Management

Many Cal Poly Construction Management students are expected to have at least one internship prior to graduating. With that being said, the construction industry has many sectors of work that one may enter. Internships are a good way for students to determine what kind of work they would like to go into whether it is commercial, heavy civil, residential, etc. The purpose of this research paper is to analyze what can be done to optimize a heavy civil internship based off student interest and experiences. Research was conducted via survey that was sent out to all Cal Poly Construction Management …


Using Project Production Methodology To Compare Onsite Prefabrication Steel Erection To Traditional Stick-Built, Corinne R. Nalder Mar 2022

Using Project Production Methodology To Compare Onsite Prefabrication Steel Erection To Traditional Stick-Built, Corinne R. Nalder

Construction Management

Project production management provides continuity, predictability, and optimization of a process in comparison to the traditional approach of project management. Prefabrication is an example of project production management in which there is continuity of the product, reduced variability, and where the assembly process can be altered for best results. This paper will examine the benefits of project production management and compare two methods of steel erection in which one method performs an onsite prefabrication process while the other method employs the traditional stick-built process. The two methods will be modeled by a tool that replicates a repetitive process similar to …


The Optimization Of Financial Investment In Project Safety Practices, Ryan Stewart Nielsen Jun 2021

The Optimization Of Financial Investment In Project Safety Practices, Ryan Stewart Nielsen

Construction Management

This research paper explains the notable benefits to pursing a comprehensive safety plan complete with the most cost-effective safety practices in the industry. Through communication with environmental health and safety professionals within the construction industry, it was determined that certain safety practices are deemed essential on any active jobsite. Enforcing mandatory jobsite safety training to all individuals entering a jobsite serves as the first line of defense when attempting to protect individuals and mitigate risk. This educational and effective safety practice highlights the potential safety concerns of a jobsite while also mitigating contractor liability if an accident were to occur. …


Evaluating The Practices Of A Small Business: A Case Study, Madeleine Anne Bernadicou Jun 2018

Evaluating The Practices Of A Small Business: A Case Study, Madeleine Anne Bernadicou

Construction Management

Companies are in constant search to increase profits. The company success is dependent on its standard operational procedures, otherwise known as SOP. Golden State Irrigation and Noack Pump is a non-union merit shop contractor that performs irrigation work in the California’s central valley. This paper researches the utilized methods of the company to see if it is operating at an optimal level. The methodology used in this project is a case study, where multiple jobs, income statements, and cash flows were analyzed, along with conducted interviews. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected in the investigation of this case study. …


Risk-Based Decision Making Support For Construction Corporate Resource Management, Reza Sheykhi Nov 2016

Risk-Based Decision Making Support For Construction Corporate Resource Management, Reza Sheykhi

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Competitive bidding typically challenges contractors to stay in business by reducing contingency and limiting profit margin, which imposes more prudent resource utilization and allocation decisions during both planning and construction phases of projects. Many of these decisions must be made considering uncertainties that affect resource production and construction performance through several factors such as weather, managerial practices, job-type, and market conditions, etc. Construction decision makers will therefore have varied approaches to deal with these uncertainties based on their risk utility or perception. This research presents the development of a model for investigating the impact of risk-based approaches on construction network …


Maximizing Environmental Sustainability And Public Benefits Of Highway Construction Programs, Charinee Limsawasd Mar 2016

Maximizing Environmental Sustainability And Public Benefits Of Highway Construction Programs, Charinee Limsawasd

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Transportation agencies face a challenging task to repair damaged roads in an aging transportation network with limited funding. In addition, the funding gap is forecasted to continue widening, which has direct impacts on the performance of surface transportation networks and the nation’s economy in the long run. Recently, transportation agencies were required by a newly enacted law to include national performance-based goals, such as environmental sustainability, in their programming and planning efforts for highway repair and rehabilitation. Therefore, the current practice in the area of highway rehabilitation planning is inadequate to handle this task and new practices are needed to …


An Integral Framework For Sustainable Building Design, Bushra Asfari Jun 2014

An Integral Framework For Sustainable Building Design, Bushra Asfari

Masters Theses

Selection of materials for building design is a delicate process hinged of a number of factors which can be cost or environmental related, depending on the objectives of the design. This process becomes more difficult when designers are faced with several material options for each building component. This thesis presents the design and development of a framework that enables designers understand the trade-off between cost and environmental related factors when selecting materials for building design. The framework is based on the integration of Autodesk Revit, Microsoft access, and modeling modified Harmony search multi-objective optimization tool adapted to account for material …


The Benefit Of Using Simulation To Improve The Implementation Of Lean Manufacturing Case Study: Quick Changeovers To Allow Level Loading Of The Assembly Line, Jack J. Mcclellan Sep 2004

The Benefit Of Using Simulation To Improve The Implementation Of Lean Manufacturing Case Study: Quick Changeovers To Allow Level Loading Of The Assembly Line, Jack J. Mcclellan

Theses and Dissertations

In today's competitive manufacturing environment, companies are constantly looking for ways to improve. Because of this, many companies are striving to become "lean" by implementing lean manufacturing, which is a difficult process. To aid in the implementation of lean manufacturing, simulation was used to reduce the trial-and-error period of lean manufacturing and find to optimum approach to implement the lean manufacturing principle. In this research, a case study of implementing level loading of the production schedule for BullFrog International, L.C. will be examined. To make it possible to implement level loading, the thermo-former machine at the beginning of the operations …