Construction Engineering and Management Commons^™

Solar And Rain Catching Canopy. Urban Oasis, Afolabi Ibitoye, Langston Clark, Elena Zimareva, Evan Banks, Alexander Aptekar

Publications and Research

The Urban Oasis is designed to work within existing “pocket parks” in New York City as a combined rainwater collector, personal electronics charging station and resting designation for New Yorkers. Intended to not only lessen the demand on the city power grid by using renewable energy to charge devices, the urban oasis is also intended to mitigate grey water overfill in New York’s combined sewer system and, in general, serve as a model for responsible environmental stewardship in urban areas.

The important technical aspects of the canopy specifically analyzed were:

a) how much rainwater could the canopy be expected to …

An Engineer’S Rules For Running A Business, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Peter Ho sold everything he had to make his business a success; 10 rules guide his thinking

On a lobby wall of Singapore engineering firm HOPE Technik are 10 company rules that set the organisational tone. Co-founder and CEO Peter Ho describes them as “very personal”, none perhaps more so than the first two:

1. It is a passion and a career, not a job.

2. We are engineering commandos. Small in number, strong in force.

Effects Of Tension On Resonant Frequencies Of Strings, Blake Burnett

Senior Theses

This project tests and explores resonance of strings. Since all materials and mechanisms are affected by vibrations, it is important to know the frequencies at which resonance occurs. To explore this subject, strings were used as a model material to test the effect tension has on resonance. The fundamental frequencies and the corresponding modes of resonance were used to analyze the data. The results of this experiment show that increasing tension on a string increases its resonance frequency. Understanding the physics behind resonance frequency allows systems to be designed to take advantage of resonance properties, or to avoid resonance where …

Optimizing Construction Estimation: A Case Study Of The Etsu Football Stadium And The Etsu Fine Arts Center, John Paul Mitra

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Considering the complexity of the construction industry, it is vital to predict costs accurately throughout the entire planning, design, and construction process of a project. Various factors such as overhead, delays, cost variation, and program and scope play significant roles in determining the viability and profitability of a project. Thus, it is important to learn about what makes construction estimates so variable even among expert estimators within the same company. This study will look at the estimation methods used by BurWil Construction Company and Denark Construction, Inc. for the ETSU Football Stadium and the ETSU Fine Arts Center, respectively, as …

Professional Practice For Constructors, Tristan M. Soltero

Construction Management

This project based senior project focuses on the creation of a fully online topics course called CM 463: Professional Practice for Constructors. The course itself will be based on the project management body of knowledge and will cover several the chapters either in depth or briefly. A few of the topics introduced throughout the course will be: Project Scope, Project Time, and Project Cost. Although most students may have already touched basis on the subjects throughout the current curriculum, the management perspective of these project essentials are overlooked. While each chapter will be introduced throughout the course, a project lasting …

Case Study On 3d Printing Implementation Strategies, William J. Leonard

Construction Management

The construction industry is one of the slowest to adapt and utilize new technologies. As a result, the construction industry has remained stagnant while almost all others are improving efficiency. It is becoming incredibly important for the construction industry to adapt to new technologies in order to counter the current worldwide shortage in skilled labor. 3D printing is one of the most advanced technologies that can help increase efficiency and reduce cost across all sectors of the construction industry. This paper will analyze implementation strategies used on three different construction projects using 3D printing and will evaluate what made them …

Recommendations To Implement A Potential Case Study Module To All Cm Labs, Donald Wong

Construction Management

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo [Cal Poly for short] is notable for having one of the best undergraduate Construction Management programs in the nation. From winning consecutive regional competitions, such as the ASC Competition in Reno, to incorporating a “learn-by-doing” philosophy in all its classrooms, Cal Poly’s CM curriculum truly distinguishes itself from other CM programs nationwide. From the Cal Poly Construction Management website, it’s noted that upon graduation, “the department has virtually 100% placement in the construction industry” (“Cal Poly Construction Management”). However, while the CM program at Cal Poly truly excels in preparing its undergraduate students …

Spanish Language Topics Course With An Emphasis On Construction Safety, Austin Changras

Construction Management

The end goal of this research-based project is to evaluate whether a Spanish course with an emphasis on construction site safety would be beneficial to Cal Poly’s Construction Management (CM) program and how it might also benefit the industry. The research orchestrated will be to decipher whether or not there is even a need for this type of class to be included into the curriculum. Along with data research, two separate surveys have been conducted, one administered to the Construction Management student population and the other to industry professionals. Furthermore, George Healy, a fellow CM student, is working on the …

Executive Summary_Feasibility Of Harbor-Wide Barrier Systems: Preliminary Analysis For Boston Harbor, Paul Kirshen

Sustainable Solutions Lab

This report presents a preliminary feasibility assessment of harbor-wide barrier systems designed to protect Boston Harbor from coastal flooding caused by sea level rise (SLR) and storm surges. Conducted by the Sustainable Solutions Lab at the University of Massachusetts Boston and supported by the Boston Green Ribbon Commission, the study evaluates two primary configurations: an Outer Harbor Barrier (OHB) and an Inner Harbor Barrier (IHB). Using hydrodynamic modeling, economic cost-benefit analysis, and social vulnerability assessments, the study finds that while both barrier systems may reduce risk from extreme storm events, they do not mitigate regular tidal flooding without frequent gate …

Recommendation To Implement A Microsoft Excel Topics Course, Alexander J. Poksay

Construction Management

The purpose of my senior project is to recommend the addition of a Microsoft Excel course to the Cal Poly Construction Management curriculum. My interest in this topic was sparked when I began my internship at Decker Electric in San Francisco during the summer of 2017. As a result of this internship, I discovered how inadequate my Excel skills were and how important Microsoft Excel is to the construction industry. Upon graduation, Cal Poly Construction Management students enter a workforce that relies heavily upon many different types of software programs that analyze information used daily in construction. With a rapidly …

Student Led Service-Learning Initiative: Installation Of Photovoltaic Water-Pump Systems In The Ecuador Amazon Rainforest, Kelly M. Williams

Construction Management

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) student chapter at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California was selected by an association called ELECTRI International to participate in their Student Community Service Initiative program. The goal of the program is to “Encourage construction management and electrical engineering students to take an active role in improving access to electricity in developing communities” (“Student Passport Program”). This paper summarizes the findings of a student-led project made possible by ELECTRI International’s program. The project included coordinating, funding, and executing a project to facilitate the installation of photovoltaic water pump systems to indigenous …

Standardized Testing Tolerances For Auger Pressure Grouted Piles Additive "Panacea", Brian C. Spurgeon

Construction Management

Panacea is an admixture for auger pressure grouted piles in deep foundation construction which was created by Berkel and Company Contractors, a design build corporation. The admixture is designed to increase workability time and increase water retention to avoid seepage into surrounding soils and allow for the insertion of reinforcing steel after the grout has been placed. The objective of this research was to correlate initial set times with internal temperatures over time for scheduling purposes. Multiple batches with varying amounts of the additive were observed. The research also served to create a standardized set of tolerances for various variables …

Alternate Reinforcement For Structural Concrete, Barrett Lowe

Construction Management

Concrete has been utilized on construction projects for thousands of years, ranging from the Pyramids to the foundation your home is built on. Innovated upon, concrete and its properties have changed over the years, one of the greatest being the discovery of tensile reinforcement. Rebar, commonly known as reinforcing steel or reinforcement bars, have been used in the construction industry for decades. Ranging in size and application, rebar’s unmatched tensile strength and anti-corrosive properties make it the champion of reinforcing structural concrete. Though the advancement in technology has created a new era where other materials may take its place. Attempting …

Value Analysis Of Cm Professional Certifications For Newly Graduated Cm Students, Christopher John Coglianese

Construction Management

The construction industry has a staggering amount of professional certifications available to those who want to prove experience and expertise. There is usually a financial reason behind this. The more certifications a person has, the more likely he will be promoted and be paid more. As Cal Poly seniors entering the job market, they share these same incentives, and luckily there are plenty of certifications available to them. However, there are too many to choose from and some are too expensive. The question then lies, which certifications should graduating seniors spend their resources on? To answer this simple question, an …

A Case Study Of The Construction Labor Market And Impact Of Retiring Baby Boom Generation, Grant Bettisworth

Construction Management

Construction firms often analyze the impacts of schedule, cost, and quality when reviewing the risk associated with a project. An important aspect of the project execution effort; available skilled labor resources, can have a significant impact on the success of the project but may not always be considered as part of the risk analysis effort. The intent of this paper is to discuss the contribution of the baby boom generation, how the retirement of baby boomers will impact the labor market, what this means for the construction industry and how construction firms can mitigate risks associated with this phenomenon. Since …

A Comparative Study Of The Leed And Well Building Standards, Brent J. Zavada

Construction Management

Our current environmental and public health conditions have led our industry to create sustainability standards that address both of these current problems. With the addition of the WELL Building Standard, the first standard to solely focus on human health and wellness, it is now possible to promote public health, environmental conservation, and owner profits all in one project. This study looks to overlap the well-known LEED Certification standards with the new WELL standards to assist project teams in fully understanding what needs to be accomplished in order for their project to be on track for both certifications. It is meant …

Determining Interest For A Subcontractor Career Fair, Jesseka Zappe

Construction Management

Companies look to Cal Poly Construction Management as a great place to come and recruit for summer interns and new full time positions. But of the 141 companies that recruit at Cal Poly, only 16% of them are subcontractors. With so many general contractors, subcontractors often get passed over. This study looks at the interests from both students and industry to hold a separate recruiting event for subcontractors. It also investigates the best type of event to hold and other logistics.

Students Perception Of Health And Safety Training Practices In The Construction Industry, Adam Will

Construction Management

Since its inception in 1970, the Occupational Safety and Health Act has steadily decreased the rate in which construction injuries, illnesses, and deaths occur in the industry. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) helps enforce these new standards yet some research suggests that safety performance appears to be a response to safety initiatives beyond compliance. Identifying workers’ perceptions of the training they receive is critical to the design and development of effective workplace safety programs. Utilizing a quantitative survey, data was collected from the Cal Poly Construction Management student body to find out how they were taught jobsite safety …

Additional Business Courses In The Cm Curriculum, Jordan A. Thrailkill

Construction Management

With the growing size of the Construction Industry, an increased knowledge and understanding of the business side of the operation is becoming more important. This study attempts to look at construction management student’s interest in adding more business topic courses into the CM curriculum and if adding more business topic courses will better prepare students for industry. Students were asked to answer six questions -five survey and one free response. These questions were designed to provide quantitative and qualitative data that would allow for an increased understanding of student interest in regards to business.

Conclusion: Results indicated that students would …

Poly Canyon Observation Deck, Jordan H. Morofsky

Construction Management

The Poly Canyon Observation Deck is a project that I have been moving through preconstruction for the past year. It started as a solo project but quickly evolved into an interdisciplinary project involving two architectural engineers and myself. Together we developed a project proposal that we presented to Cal Poly Facilities along with our building permit application. They have approved our proposal and have awarded us a provisional building permit which will be approved after they review the 100% construction documents. We have been working the past two quarters to finalize the design, select materials, and perform a complete structural …