Digital Commons Network^™

Building Artificial Reefs From Recycled Construction Materials: A Feasibility Study, Nicholas H. Lew

Construction Management

Naturally occurring reefs are some of the world’s most biologically diverse ecosystems formed by jagged rocks tucked slightly below sea level. In recent years global warming began to pose a major threat to many reef habitats. Most relevant is the increase in surface seawater temperatures that cause coral to bleach, taking away major food sources for larger marine species. Researchers have combated this by deploying artificial reefs in substitution for naturally formed limestone rock formations in order to promote the expansion of coastal habitats. This project specifically aims to utilize construction waste towards the production of artificial reefs, effectively upcycling …

Developments In Construction Insurance And Their Effects On General Contractors, Luke Z. Martin

Construction Management

Before a construction project can begin, insurance must be purchased by each involved construction player to ensure the financial and physical health of the project and those working to complete it. The necessity of construction insurance on every project has turned it into a behemoth of a market sector, one that significantly affects the construction industry as well as a plethora of others. Although many are unaware, developments and shifts in construction insurance deeply affect the well-being of the public, from the roads they drive on to the buildings they live and work in. This research piece will delve into …

Cal Poly Construction Management 2022 Summer Bootcamp Team Service Project, Chris Montero

Construction Management

This paper describes the project logistics and pre-construction planning of the 2022 Cal Poly Construction Management Summer Bootcamp service-learning project, including a plan, schedule, and estimate of materials. The service-learning project will be a wooden park bench for the San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens. Four teams of six students each will be provided drawings and, throughout the week-long summer camp, each team will have nine hours and thirty minutes to interpret the plans, cut the materials, and build one bench. The first day will consist of a one-hour project introduction that focuses on the fundamentals of plan reading and preparation …

Las Vegas Commercial Contractors' Mitigation Techniques For Inflationary Impacts, Kannen I. Caldwell

Construction Management

Recent rises in inflation have impacted global business. The construction industry in particular has experienced a decrease in already slim margins due to a plethora of factors. Employers have had difficulty affording increased labor rates to accommodate higher costs of living, ultimately leading to a labor shortage in many areas. Supply chain issues are a product of this labor shortage, but also a myriad of other inflation related issues like the price of gas and global trade agreements. This has led to dramatically increased lead times and has posed major supply chain management issues for project management teams. Construction professionals, …

Growing Grounds Farm, Santa Maria - Greenhouse Planter Bench Tables, Joseph Miller

Construction Management

This paper covers the planning, fundraising, design, construction, and installation associated with building the Growing Grounds Farm of Santa Maria greenhouse planter bench tables. Growing Grounds prides itself on nourishing the local community through a combination of horticulture therapy, and vocational training for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. The farm offers various opportunities for socialization and interaction with coworkers and customers. After meeting with the farm managers, Anna Wiens and Keith Bartlett, it was clear that this project was of the highest priority. Upon agreement of the project, the farm managers and I determined the future vision and …

Urban Densification At Twin Creeks Apartments: High-Density Living With Low-Density Luxuries, Ryan Griswold

Construction Management

Urban sprawl is characterized by the rapid growth of the extent of cities and towns. In the United States, urban sprawl is greatly influenced by housing density. In the past half-century, developers have favored constructing and consumers have preferred living in neighborhoods of detached, single-family homes. This is because low-density living provides more housing services, or additional benefits, than most high-density developments, such as apartments and townhomes. Residents of low-density living often have more privacy, outdoor space, interior natural light, and many other benefits over residents of higher-density developments. However, Twin Creeks Apartments, located in San Luis Obispo, California, is …

Future Of Augmented And Virtual Reality In Construction, Cameron Ghoddoucy

Construction Management

A series of virtual design contractors were interviewed regarding the future involvement of augmented and virtual reality software integration with construction processes. Within the construction industry, VDC specialists rely on Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Computer Aided Design (CAD) to create digital models that can be used to analyze the design of a building from all points of view. The interviewees responded to questions about software implementation advantages, and related user experiences. Six interviews were conducted, amongst three industry leading companies. Their assumptions of future AR and VR usage in construction were based on learned knowledge and prior field exploration. …

Calculating MBh Scaling Relations For Agns Using 2d Galaxy Decomposition Software To Analyse Hst Images, Jewel A. Capili

Physics

This study uses the 2D galaxy decomposition software GALFIT developed by Dr. Chien Peng to analyse Hubble Space Telescope images of 14 Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) and obtain their M_BH-spheroid luminosity scaling relations for comparison with previous studies.

Sandspit Brewing Co., Hayley Bankhead

Graphic Communication

For this project, I created a fictional local brewery called Sandspit Brewing Co. and designed the necessary branding for this company to function. To begin, I created a main logo as well as brand guidelines, including a color palette, secondary logos, graphics, etc. Using what I come up with in terms of brand guidelines, I will design a label for two beer cans and will design additional assets as well. These will include coasters, stickers, and a website home/landing page.

An Aapi Haven: A Virtual Sanctuary And Brand Empowerment Initiative, Katrina Lin, Taylor Tran

Graphic Communication

The project focuses on creating a brand identity for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community of San Luis Obispo (SLO). The branding begins with research and analysis of the target audience and the organization's mission statement and values. This information is used to develop a brand strategy that aligns with the organization's goals and resonates with the AAPI community. The brand identity, including the logo, colors, and visual elements, is then created to reflect the organization's brand strategy and appeal to the target audience (Tarver, 2023). The brand guidelines ensure consistency in all marketing and communication materials. Overall, …

Photop App Design And Prototype, Emilie Camille Johnson

Graphic Communication

Even with social media, it can be difficult for people to find photographers and videographers for special events. I am a photographer myself, and I find it challenging to find work and connect with people besides friends and family to shoot for and collaborate with. LinkedIn and Handshake aren’t cutting it, nor are the platforms very portfolio friendly. I also noticed many ads for personal portfolio websites on google when you search for photographers, telling me many other photographers are having the same issue. My app Photop will directly solve this problem, providing a platform for artists to be easily …

Descent Music Festival, Avery S. Ahern

Graphic Communication

I developed the cohesive branding, marketing posts, and merchandise for a proposed music festival that features my favorite EDM artists and integrates culture and community values. For this project, I combined personal experience and research to develop the most effective design strategy for a new festival.

The final deliverables include lineup announcement posters, brand guidelines, social media posts, and merchandise mockups. To maximize the festival’s marketing potential, I utilize content marketing and eye-catching social media posts to reach the target audience. The cohesive branding and marketing strategy incorporates consumer buying behavior, color psychology, and current industry trends into strategic and …

Refridge App Concept, Claire I. Markarian

Graphic Communication

ReFridge is an app with the goal of helping reduce household food waste. When a grocery receipt is scanned, the app creates an organized fridge inventory that will help decrease the amount of food that is thrown out. The user will receive custom expiration reminders and suggested recipes while using meal prepping calendars and personalized shopping lists. Buying, cooking and consuming food will become more efficient and users will experience an increase in healthy and regulated eating habits.

Giuseppe's Rebrand, Taylor Allred

Graphic Communication

For this project, I will be working to update the brand image for Giuseppe's Cucina Rustica, an Italian restaurant local to San Luis Obispo. The goal of my project is to help create a brand identity that stays consistent throughout all customer touch points and streamlines branding processes for the future. I am creating a comprehensive brand guide, a new logo, take-out packaging designs, as well as a menu refresh with a new look for higher readability.

Laguna Love: A Sustainable Bikini Collection, Aubrianna L. Davenport

Graphic Communication

Graphic Communication can be applied to various industries of design. As a Cal Poly student I had the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy. During that time I studied fashion and product development, which sparked my desire to become a textile designer one day; I specifically hope to work in the surf apparel industry. Whilst taking textile design classes abroad, I learned that I could apply my love for graphic design to the fashion industry quite seamlessly; I am thankful that Graphic Communication has provided me with the skill sets in Adobe Creative Cloud, especially, when applying my knowledge …

Spotify: The Addiction, Madison Skye Jackson

Graphic Communication

The redesign of the Swedish digital music streaming service called Spotify gives it the potential to play an even larger role in the world by becoming its own social media platform. Even with Spotify's successes, Spotify currently still lacks the best social experience because of the limited ability to share music within the mobile app.

A redesign of the Spotify app offers interaction opportunities between users to make it a solid form of social media and a stronger competitor to the rising TikTok app. Combined with user experience criteria and new visualizations, I was able to build a prototype that …

The High Tide Inn Rebrand, Caroline Turnbull

Graphic Communication

For my Senior Project, I found a small Inn in Maine that was just purchased by a new owner. The previous owner of The High Tide Inn was very old and had owned the Inn for a long time, running on word of mouth and the quaint charm of the location. Their website was not a priority and had not been updated in decades. It was not mobile friendly, up to date, or easy to navigate. The logo reflects a charming sign on the property, but does not translate well digitally. In addition to this, there is no vector file …

Fire Life Safety Design Of Technology Office, Jared Ellis

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

The subject building is an approximately 180,000 SF technology office; the location and some details are omitted for privacy of the project and client. It is a 3-story heavy timber frame (Type IIIA) over 1 level of concrete basement stepped into a hillside.

The building is compliant with the prescriptive building code for egress, fire alarm, and fire sprinkler systems. A NFPA 72 compliant fire detection, notification and communication system is provided. The building is fully sprinklered with a system that is hydraulically designed per NFPA 13, 2016 Section 11.2.3 Water Demand Requirements – Hydraulic Calculation Methods. Water supply is …

Slo Coffee Co., Catherine Yoshida

Graphic Communication

SLO Coffee Co. is a fictional coffee brand based out of San Luis Obispo, California. Specifically, I focus on the creation of a comprehensive, intentional brand that includes a logo, the designs of three coffee bags, and an Instagram page, all of which are emphasized by grounding a brand through beautiful and deliberate graphics. SLO Coffee Co. branding targets a younger demographic and residents of San Luis Obispo. This is achieved through the implementation of brighter colors, fun and playful typefaces, and graphics that communicate the essence of San Luis Obispo and beloved local spots.

A local coffee brand based …

Agora: App Prototype To Improve The Live Event Experience, Taylor L. Leslie, Lexi Berryhill

Graphic Communication

Agora is a mobile application that aims to connect live event-goers with safety protocol and information about the event’s safety measures and plans. We are targeting live events with many attendees because there is a need for more safety and group planning support. Through initial conversations with friends, family, and peers, we discovered that it is constantly challenging to coordinate schedules, determine meeting points, message group members, and find medical and safety protocols at live events. This app will improve the user experience of live events and benefit attendees and event holders.

Agora’s prototype will feature solutions such as planned …

Savor & Share, Sarah Allison Salisbury

Graphic Communication

As an avid cook, I take pleasure in experimenting with new dishes and exploring diverse flavor combinations. However, I currently lack an organizational system for my recipes, as most of them remain unwritten. Unfortunately, when friends and family ask me to share my recipes, I often confuse them and make it difficult for them to follow the steps correctly with my verbal explanations. To address this issue, I have decided to compile my recipes into a cookbook that will serve as an organized and easy-to-reference collection. This will enable me to easily alter and share my recipes with others. The …

Amped Music Festival, Owen Kosel Christensen

Graphic Communication

With so many small and large-scale music festivals and events happening today, it becomes increasingly harder for festivals to stick out among the rest in terms of brand identity, values, and purpose. For my senior project, I’ve created a unique brand identity, marketing assets, and other relevant materials for a fictional music festival happening in San Luis Obispo to drive sales and immerse attendees in the festival experience. This paper explores the effectiveness of different integrated marketing communication materials in the music festival landscape and shares the deliverables and results of the festival branding I created.

Goodreads App Redesign, Lily Atazai

Graphic Communication

This project will be working on a redesign of the app, GoodReads. This app is used for readers to rate and comment on the books that they are currently reading or have finished. It allows for a community for readers to interact with one another, which essentially acts as a social media. All the users contribute to the rating of each book, which helps others decide if they would like to read it or not. There is also a filter function that allows readers to find new popular books, as well as search for them based on the genres they …

Tripy App Design, Kristen Kwasnica

Graphic Communication

Tripy is a trip-planning app that will plan your ultimate trip. All you have to do is fill in information such as your budget, preferred scenery, weather, specific activities, etc. and the app will work its magic to put together the trip of your dreams.

Mechanical Metamaterials, Brent A. Peluso, Oliver T. Parker

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical metamaterials are an emerging design strategy aimed at tailoring lattice structures to achieve specific properties such as negative Poisson’s ratios and guiding wave propagation. These metamaterials have received increasing attention from various application domains, including medical devices, aerospace, automobile, and infrastructure. The scope of this project is to vary a single lattice parameter and quantify its effect on the structural properties of the given 3D lattice.

Planar Element Alignment System, Benjamin E. Lavigna, Benny F. Cruz, Samuel Gierhan, Jacob Q. Henriksen

Mechanical Engineering

Precise alignment to the micron level is a necessity for microfluidic/micromechanical devices to function as designed. Because of this, a micro-alignment device was commissioned by Professor Hans Mayer on behalf of the Cal Poly Microfluidics Laboratory. Prototype creation was bounded by a set of requirements including, ability to align PDMS & Silicon wafer halves to ± 10 microns, total process speed of three minutes, and total budget of $3000. Some major design hurdles included an ability to verify alignment, possible non-planar alignment pieces, and an inability to contact any point on the face of the alignment pieces after bonding treatment. …

The Chumash War: Contested Memories Of Forced Labor, Rebellion, And Counter-Revolution In The California Missions, Joseph V. Payne

History

The Chumash War remains an under-explored flashpoint in California history and the history of the Mission system of Alta California for myriad reasons, which include a lack of contemporary documentation relating the motivations of the Chumash as well as a broader silencing of indigenous voices in state and colonial Spanish and U.S. history. For the hegemonic centers of power present at the time, the Catholic Missionaries and the Mexican Government, the impetus to ignore the grievances of Chumash and enact a counter-revolution couldn’t be clearer—both institutions depended directly on the forced labor and production of the Chumash at Missions Santa …

Reinforcement Learning Framework For The Unreal Engine, Justin B. Wheeler

Master's Theses

This dissertation addresses the need for using machine learning-based methods rather than traditional rule-based methods for controlling non-playable characters (NPCs). The goal of the Reinforcement Learning Framework for the Unreal Engine is to enable game development studios to create, train, and more easily implement smarter, more compelling AI characters in major video game releases. The framework contains three distinct software libraries: an Unreal Engine reinforcement learning library whose purpose is to enable Unreal Engine levels to act as reinforcement learning environments, a python library which provides convenient abstractions and implementations to the reinforcement learning process, and a flexible connection system …

Racketframes: A Dataframe Implementation For The Racket Programming Language, Shubham Kahal

Master's Theses

The DataFrame is a powerful table-like data structure used frequently in Data Science, the in-demand and innovative field focused on the extraction of valuable insights from data. Typically, datasets are not perfect upon collection and need to be prepared so that the resulting dataset is useful for statistical analysis. A DataFrame API supports optimized methods such as, selecting, aggregating and filtering rows, columns, and cells as well as renaming row and column labels. It also supports methods for normalizing data, merging data, adding new columns and labelling missing data among numerous other features. An API to work with tabular data …

Modeling Daily Fantasy Basketball, Martin Jiang

Master's Theses

Daily fantasy basketball presents interesting problems to researchers due to the extensive amounts of data that needs to be explored when trying to predict player performance. A large amount of this data can be noisy due to the variance within the sport of basketball. Because of this, a high degree of skill is required to consistently win in daily fantasy basketball contests. On any given day, users are challenged to predict how players will perform and create a lineup of the eight best players under fixed salary and positional requirements. In this thesis, we present a tool to assist daily …