Engineering Commons^™

A Case Study Of Zero Energy Home Built For Solar Decathlon Competition 2013, Sanjib Mulepati

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Energy consumption in residential homes has been a subject of research related to sustainability. Reduction in the consumption of energy is a goal of sustainable construction. The Department of Energy (DOE) started a Solar Decathlon competition in 2002 in which the students from different universities around the globe build an energy efficient and affordable home suitable for their climate and location. The main goal of this competition is to select the best home that is designed and built in a sustainable way. In this study, the home designed and constructed for participation in the competition by the students at University …

Developing Seismic Performance Factors For Prefabricated Bamboo Walls In Comparison To Conventional Timber Shear Walls, David Steenson, Davin Chan

Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering Senior Theses

In order to address the issue of rising demand in resources from providing a growing population with housing, a team of professors and undergraduate students worked to study bamboo's possible utility as a structural element. This team proposed the use of bamboo as a substitute for timber in conventional light frame construction, specifically in the form of bamboo shear walls, which resist lateral loads such as those applied by earthquakes and winds. In order to demonstrate the adequacy of these proposed bamboo walls as a substitute to the control softwood walls, the team used the document FEMA P-795 to develop …

Design, Construction, And Evaluation Of A Portable Reusable Plastic Container Dumper, Kevin J. Lau

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project discusses the design, construction, and evaluation of a portable RPC (Reusable Plastic Container) dumper. This RPC dumper is one piece of a citrus processing system to package citrus. Bee Sweet currently utilizes man power in order to dump its RPCs whereas this design will decrease the amount of man power needed to dump RPCs during high workloads.

The goal of this project was to design, construct, and test a custom fabricated RPC dumper that will decrease the number of people needed to dump RPCs and also the amount of damage on the oranges when being dumped from …

Cyber-Adaptive Physical Systems For Automated Construction Progress Monitoring And Asset Tracking, Syed Hammad Rasheed

Masters Theses

Despite the benefits of building information models as a means of communication, collaboration and integration in construction projects, their use is often limited to the design and tendering/bidding stage. Potential of building information models lies in its implementation during construction, operations and maintenance phases of a facility’s lifecycle. Tight Integration of building information model and physical facility by means of computational resources is required to achieve this potential such that changes in one environment are automatically reflected in the other. This is termed a cyber-adaptive physical systems approach. This research investigates the applicability of a cyber-adaptive physical systems approach in …

Implementation, Design, And Cost Analysis Of A Concrete Washout System, Omar Adina

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

With the increase of environmental pollution in today’s world, many strategies and regulations are being enforced. These enforcements come from the state and federal governments, but public awareness is often overlooked. Stormwater regulations here in California have dramatically changed over the last decade, as the topic is investigated more often.

This senior project encompassed the design prototype and cost analysis of a permanent concrete washout station for the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The design parameters given were to construct a steel bin for the excess concrete to be dumped into during …

Dc House Model Design And Construction, Mark Cabaj

Electrical Engineering

Approximately 1.6 billion people currently live without electricity. The only sensible solution to their energy problems is the use of renewable energy in an off-grid, autonomous home which is powered directly by direct current, rather than alternating current coming from a power line, which probably cannot be found nearby. The purpose of this project is to construct a prototype of the DC House. More specifically, this project focuses on the development and construction of the power distribution system of the DC House. The system will be put in place starting from the source side model down to the load side …

Construction And Demolition Debris Recovery And Recycling In Orange County, Fl, Michael Stephen Toth Ii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 2008, the State of Florida established a recycling goal of 75% to be achieved by 2020. In response to the Florida goal Orange County (OC), Florida has made the development and implementation of an efficient strategy for landfill diversion of its solid waste a top priority. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) estimated that 23 % of municipal solid waste was generated by construction and demolition (C&D) activities in 2009, with only 30 percent of C&D debris being recycled. Therefore, OC decided to create a solid waste integrated resource plan (SWIRP) initially focused on the recovery and recycling …

A Framework For Process Data Collection, Analysis, And Visualization In Construction Projects, Reza Akhavian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Automated data collection, simulation and visualization can substantially enhance the process of designing, analysis, planning, and control of many engineering processes. In particular, managing processes that are dynamic in nature can significantly benefit from such techniques. Construction projects are good examples of such processes where a variety of equipment and resources constantly interact inside an evolving environment. Management of such settings requires a platform capable of providing decision-makers with updated information about the status of project entities and assisting site personnel making critical decisions under uncertainty. To this end, the current practice of using historical data or expert judgments as …

Analysis Of Uncontrolled Concrete Bridge Parapet Cracking, Jeffrey D. Bazzo

ETD Archive

The Ohio Transportation has recently identified the problem of wide-spread premature cracking of concrete bridge parapets throughout its District 12 region (Northeast Ohio). Many of the bridge decks that contain these prematurely cracked parapets are of relatively recent construction. In severe cases, replacement of the parapet may be required before replacement of the bridge deck itself. This incurs a sunk cost upon the bridge owner, as the parapets will again be replaced during the regularly scheduled replacement of the bridge deck. In a recent instance, the replacement of a cracked parapet (without replacing the deck) cost District 12 approximately $140,000. …

Safety Issues Among Hispanic Construction Workers Along The Wasatch Front In Utah, Phavel Israel Loayza Chahuayo

Theses and Dissertations

During the last few decades immigration by foreigners seeking work in the construction industry in the United States has increased dramatically. Of those seeking jobs in construction, Hispanics represent the largest and fastest growing population. The proportion of reportable accidents among Hispanic on-site construction workers in the United States is higher than that of non-Hispanics. This trend of on-site construction accidents is evident not only in states that have traditionally high populations of Hispanics, such as New York, Florida, California, Arizona, and Texas, it is also manifested in the State of Utah. This research focused on causes of accidents among …

Sae Aero Design Project, Angela N. Mclelland

Honors Theses

The Union College Flying Dutchmen Team aims to compete in the spring 2011, SAE Aero Design® East Competition. This regional event, hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers International, is a threefold opportunity for teams from around the globe to showcase their understanding of engineering fundamentals. Competing in the SAE Aero Design® competition creates an arena for students to participate in hands-on design, to emphasize technological innovations in a competition setting, and to cooperate in a unique atmosphere where intellectual advancement and teamwork are championed above success. The underlying goal of the SAE Aero Design® competition is to design and …

Fate And Transport Of Escherichia Coli Within Sediment Basins On Active Construction Sites, Elizabeth Tempel

All Theses

The conventional method of controlling sediment-laden runoff on construction sites is the use of sediment basins. These basins slow the velocity of runoff and allow the particles to settle from the water column before discharge to surface waters offsite. This best management practice, however, may create a reservoir for pathogenic bacteria. Sediment is known to provide protection for bacteria; therefore, while these basins decrease sediment loadings to water bodies downstream, they may introduce harmful levels of pathogenic bacteria into these surface waters. In addition to causing human health risks, these high bacteria levels alter natural biological makeup of downstream ecosystems. …

Characteristics And Causal Factors Of Claims In Michigan Highway Construction Projects, Abel K. Sahlool

Wayne State University Dissertations

The US highway system is the largest road network system in the world. MDOT administers about 9,722 route-miles, (28,000 lane-miles) of roadway networks in Michigan. Every year, hundreds of projects worth millions of dollars are let by the State Transportation Agency (STA).

Majority of these projects are successfully completed within the original scope of work, budget, schedule, and without litigation. However; some projects end up in litigation and disputes costing tax payers a great amount of money and the STA a great amount of resources. The number and cost of these construction claims has been substantially increasing in recent years. …

Best Practices For Dealing With Price Volatility In Utah Commercial Construction, Justin Earl Weidman

Theses and Dissertations

In the commercial construction industry, the problem of price volatility as it pertains to materials and labor is a consistent problem. The changing instability of market conditions presents a challenge for construction companies to accurately estimate and complete projects within budget. This volatility can lead to higher costs and more risk to suppliers, contractors, and owners which can cause financial distress for all parties involved in the construction process. As lump sum contracts are typically being used on many projects, the owners seem to have the upper hand and are forcing contractors to honor lump sum contracts even when prices …

Data Analysis Of Utah's I-80 And I-215 Bridges - For The Use In The Development Of Accelerated Bridge Construction Standards, Erik S. Rosvall

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study discusses five bridges on Utah's I-80 that were replaced in the summer of 2008 using Accelerated Bridge Construction methods. Each superstructure was built offsite and moved into place with the use of Self-Propelled Modular Transporters. The bridges were instrumented and monitored during the moving process to investigate the effects of moving an entire superstructure into place. Collected data was analyzed to find the level of stress each superstructure experienced during lifting, moving, and placement of each bridge.

The change in supporting conditions from when the superstructure was built to being transferred onto Self-Propelled Modular Transporters caused significant stress …

The Relationship Between Information Technology And Construction Productivity, Dong Zhai

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Over the past decades, information technology has been impacting industries, economics, the way of life and even the culture throughout the world. Productivity has been attracting much attention as an important indicator of economics, and numerous researchers have investigated the relationship between information technology and productivity. Construction is one of the largest industries in the United States, but little research has been conducted to investigate the relationship between information technology and construction productivity.

The major objective of this dissertation is to determine the degree (if any) to which information technology usage, specifically the use of information technology to automate and …

The Study Of Superintendent Training And Its Effects On Homebuilding Cycle Time, John Wesley Burk

Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to determine how much time would be saved in the homebuilding cycle when field superintendents received training. The study took place during the 2007 calendar year with a production homebuilder in southern Nevada. New technologies and techniques were introduced during weekly training meetings that were held at both the corporate office and construction job sites. A scheduling tool was introduced along with new procedures and policies. The superintendents were required to report daily on the tasks that had been completed. This gave the superintendent and upper management the ability to follow the home throughout the building …

A Comparative Study Of Seismic Response Of R.C Low-To-Medium Rise Buildings Under The Egyptian Code Of Loads (Ecdl 2003), Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed Diab

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Computer-Aided-Learning Tool For Teaching Construction Engineering Decision Making: An Excavation Stage Educational Game, Hosnachah Ahmed Refaat Mekkawi

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Contractor Variability In Construction Of Cement Treated Base Layers, Maile Anne Rogers

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purposes of this research were to identify construction factors most correlated to specific mechanical properties of cement-treated base (CTB) layers and to determine which construction factors exhibit comparatively high variability within individual construction sections of the two pavement reconstruction projects included in this study. In addition, differences between construction sections tested in this research were evaluated. The research focused on the construction of CTB layers in two pavement reconstruction projects in northern Utah, one along Interstate 84 (I-84) near Morgan and one along U.S. Highway 91 (US-91) near Richmond. The significant predictor variables associated with California bearing ratio …

Payback Information: It's Effect On Home Buyers Regarding Energy Efficiency, Steven E. Sparti

Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to find out how payback analysis would affect consumer decision making with regards to home energy efficient upgrade packages. Three different home plans were obtained from a local builder and seven different energy efficient packages were created. Using Hot2000 the heating and cooling loads were calculated for each building, with each energy efficient package, in each of the four major cardinal directions. The averages were taken and the payback information was calculated. The payback information included the increased cost of the package, the increase in the mortgage payment, the annual savings from heating and cooling bills, …

Correlating Factors Between Student Participation And Student Learning Via A Service Learning Project In Secondary Education: A Case Study, Shawn V. Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

In this study a service-learning project was conducted with secondary students in a construction technology based course. Three research questions were considered; (1) does service learning projects help to engage student participation, (2) can students learn the course curriculum while participating in a service learning project, and (3) is there a correlation between student participation and student learning as it pertains to service learning projects? The data was collected through surveys, observations, interviews, and evaluations. The researcher concluded the following from the study; 92% of the students were actively participating in the two week service project, 76% of the students …

An Investigation Of Employee Satisfaction And Employee Empowerment Specific To On-Site Supervisors In The Residential Construction Industry, David Lars Halvorsen

Theses and Dissertations

Employee satisfaction and empowerment are vital elements to businesses in most industries. The construction industry has various types of employees, ranging from managers and executives to on-site supervisors and laborers. This study was conducted to obtain a greater understanding about the elements and levels of satisfaction and empowerment of on-site supervisors in the residential construction industry. An on-site supervisor in the residential construction industry is responsible for coordinating and managing employees, materials, equipment, budgets, schedules, contracts, and the safety of employees and the general public. They are also the employees most frequently perceived as accountable for the success or failure …

A Suggested Mortgage System Model For Egypt, Mohamed Mohamed Galal El-Barkouky

Archived Theses and Dissertations

This research tackled various gaps that existed in the Egyptian mortgage practice system pertaining to non-standardized loan underwriting procedure, inefficiency of mortgage brokers and real estate agents, absence of appraisal standards and qualifications, unclear land titles, inefficient procedure of property registration, absence of a qualified mortgage secondary market and lack of credit enhancement tools. Also, nonexistence of various types of mortgage instruments, relatively high mortgage lending rate, inefficient mortgage subsidies, unverified means of foreclosure were major areas of concern in the Egyptian mortgage practice system that were commented on. The study presents recommendations for improvements to the existing Egyptian mortgage …

The Purposes And Evaluation Methods For State Residential General Contractor Licensing, James Ellis Fenn

Theses and Dissertations

The main topic in the licensing debate is whether licensing affects construction quality. Available literature and previous studies indicate that it does not. The real question is not whether licensing improves quality, but whether the improving quality is the actual purpose of licensing. There is little information available on the purpose of licensing as defined by state licensing departments as well as a general lack of information on how states evaluate whether licensing is fulfilling the intended purpose. In order to effectively resolve some of the issues surrounding the construction licensing debate, the true purpose of licensing and the methods …

Construction Of Shopping Malls In Egypt, Ramez Wageih Shafik

Archived Theses and Dissertations

This thesis entitled "Construction of Shopping Malls in Egypt: Reasons For Delay and Estimated Duration" was prepared by Ramez W ageih Shafik under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Samer Ezz El Din at the American University in Cairo The construction industry is one of the most important and essential industries in the economy of any country. Time delay is one of the major problems facing the construction projects in Egypt. Facing the fact that the construction of shopping malls has picked up in Egypt during the last ten years, research is needed to identify the different factors that affect …

Efficacy Of Speed Monitoring Displays In Increasing Speed Limit Compliance In Highway Work Zones, Jeanne Marie Bowie

Theses and Dissertations

Safety in highway work zones has become a concern among Departments of Transportation (DOTs) throughout the country as the highway network has begun to age and more maintenance and construction work has been necessary. Safety in highway work zones is more compromised than in other areas for two reasons. First, the construction workers are near traveling vehicles as they perform their already dangerous work, increasing the risk of an accident. Second, the highway user is at increased risk because of the increase in roadside obstacles, because other vehicles are more likely to act in unpredictable ways (such as sudden braking …

Assessment Of Chloride Ingress Into Concrete, Mohamed Tamer Farouk Bassuoni

Archived Theses and Dissertations

The corrosion of steel reinforcement has been a prime concern for concrete users. Chloride ingress into the concrete matrix disturbs the passive layers in the vicinity of steel, which results in corrosion initiation. Cementitious materials were successfully implemented in concrete mixtures to enhance their properties and minimize chloride permeability into concrete. Although numerous tests and techniques have been developed over the past years, reliable assessment of chlorides remains a challenging task. Th.is study aims at enhancing the understanding of techniques used for the assessment of chloride ingress and investigating potential correlation between these techniques. The study comprised eighteen mixtures made …

Construction Delays Of High Investment Projects In Egypt, Nora Mohamed El-Gohary

Archived Theses and Dissertations

In evaluating the overall performance and success of construction projects, time is usually used as a major factor in such evaluation. Unsatisfactory time performance shows up as delays. Construction delays are very critical to the owner and contractor, because they suffer due to lost profit, additional overhead costs, increased costs of financing, and payment of liquidated or actual damages. Despite that, delays in completion of projects are repetitive in the Egyptian construction industry. Current Egyptian statistics and studies did not provide sufficient information and analysis of the delay phenomenon. Studying and analyzing the problem is a step towards its solution …

Framework For Developming A Standard Construction Information Classification System For The Egyptian Construction Industry, Rehab M Anwar Wahch

Archived Theses and Dissertations

The construction industry is known to be rich with information. Yet to-date there is no available system that standardizes this inormation so that it can be used as a common system throughout the design, construction, and management of a project and supports view conversion especially when different participants in building and construction represent different disciplines, each having his own view on information. This form of information standardization is termed as "construction information classification system (CICS) ". Currently the Egyptian industry does not have an adequate standardized construction information classification system (CICS). The only available systems in use are company-specific internal …