Digital Commons Network^™

Detecting Speakers In Video Footage, Michael Williams

Master's Theses

Facial recognition is a powerful tool for identifying people visually. Yet, when the end goal is more specific than merely identifying the person in a picture problems can arise. Speaker identification is one such task which expects more predictive power out of a facial recognition system than can be provided on its own. Speaker identification is the task of identifying who is speaking in video not simply who is present in the video. This extra requirement introduces numerous false positives into the facial recognition system largely due to one main scenario. The person speaking is not on camera. This paper …

Modular Utility Rack And Accessory Line, Ian Philip Thomas

Construction Management

There is a large gap in the market for heavy duty work racks for fleet vehicles. Modular racks have recently been introduced to the industry allowing contractors the ability to customize them to their needs. However, all customizable racks are limited to lightweight applications. The high strength steel rack I have designed is both modular, and sturdy enough to handle up to an estimated one thousand pounds. On our website, contractors will be able to scroll through the available attachments for his make and model rack and view them built on to his vehicle in 3D computer generated graphics.

California & Foothill Tunnel Feasibility Project:, Tyler J. Rohde

Construction Management

Safety on and off campus while attending college is one of the fastest growing concerns around the country. Having a secure path to get to campus is also a large problem to a select number of students here at California Polytechnic State University. The "Rape" Tunnel at the corner of California and Foothill Boulevard is considered to many to be a danger because of its unpredictable accessibility and the stigma that surrounds it.

The Skilled Framing Carpenter Shortage On The Central Coast Of California: A Focus On Residential Construction, Trevor John Nally

Construction Management

The residential construction industry has many critical components. When one of these components is not operating optimally, it can be detrimental to the system as a whole. A critical component to residential construction is skilled craftspeople. Without them, there can be no significant physical work completed on any residential project. Currently the component of skilled craftspeople in residential construction is in a state of short supply. Throughout the United States, there is an inadequate amount of craftspeople to fill the demand for their skills. The Central Coast of California is experiencing this issue much like the rest of the nation …

Aligning Construction Management Students' Minors With The Needs Of Industry Professionals, Isaac Alexis Maximov

Construction Management

While in college, students will have to decide if they want to pursue a minor, in addition to their bachelor’s degree. To pursue a minor one has to take additional units, and one usually does this without any free electives, meaning their graduation date is most likely delayed. A minor, in theory, should provide additional benefits such as being more hirable and earning potential; however, in the construction industry, the minors construction management students are taking do not align with the needs of construction industry professionals in. And while most students believe having a minor will increase their salary, this …

Analysis Of Student Understanding Of The Change Order Process, Austin C. Eberle

Construction Management

Effective project management comes from controlling cost, time, and quality on a project. As construction projects become more complex, changes in the original contract documents will arise due to the nature of human error. How a project manager documents and addresses change events can alter the successfulness of a project. This study attempts to look at senior level construction management major student’s understanding of the change order management process. The goal of the study is to ascertain how well the students feel the construction management curriculum prepared them to manage change events in industry. Students were asked to demonstrate their …

Perceptions Of Efficiency In Construction Jobsite Safety, Jay Doyle

Construction Management

This project is to examine the perception of jobsite safety practices of California contractors. Preliminary research found that jobsite safety practices are not a hinderance on a project schedule when managed well. A survey of students and industry professionals was the methodology used to gather this information. This survey consisted of various questions about the perception of safety practices on jobsites the respondent has worked on themselves, as well as their perception about safety in the construction industry as a whole. Significant findings were that half of the surveyed individuals had worked on a job site in which they lost …

Bank Of Italy Building's Net Zero Energy Renovation: A Case Study, Joshua Kai Balaban

Construction Management

The designation of Net-Zero Energy describes a building that meets all of its energy demand with on-site renewable energy generation. The Bank of Italy Building, in Downtown San Jose, California, is currently undergoing design-development to transform a landmark historical site into a modern, Net-Zero Energy building. This paper will analyze the project team’s design approach to minimizing energy demand and meeting this demand with on-site renewable energy. It will also evaluate the unique challenges associated with preserving the historical character of the existing structure, while converting it into a high-performing building. The research will consider similar past projects and approaches; …

Cost Analysis Of Modern Residential Solar Installations, Alex Scott Adams

Construction Management

This paper is a detailed cost analysis of standard photovoltaic panels and Tesla’s solar tiles. This analysis is specifically for the San Luis Obispo area, and focuses on comparing and contrasting new and old styles of residential solar for the average single family dwelling. This is important because there will become more consumers of solar in this area as the price becomes more favorable, and as sustainable practices become the norm. This trend is set to continue because of the movement to combat climate change. Solar energy fits into this movement because it is a source of energy that is …

The Feasibility Of Implementing Solar Power On Construction Sites, Jordan Alves

Construction Management

The purpose of the research conducted in this project is to determine the feasibility of implementing solar on a construction site as means of providing power. Power requirements as well as costs from the established sources were compared to the current costs of solar, more importantly, to the current cost of the specific solar setup needed to provide consistent power to the site. As a baseline, the project power requirements were based of the requirements of the civil site the generator data was pulled from.

Influence Of Internal Bores On Larval Fish Abundance And Community Composition, Patrick J. Phelan, John Steinbeck, Ryan K. Walter

Physics

A persistent semidiurnal internal tidal bore feature occurs at the head of the Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon and drives regular intrusions of cold, subthermocline waters onto the adjacent shelf. In this study, we examine the influence of this internal tidal bore feature on the larval fish community using over a year of periodic larval fish samples collected coincidently with physical measurements. Larval samples were categorized into one of two water mass periods: a “warm period” representative of shallow coastal shelf waters and a “cold period” characteristics of colder waters present during internal bore forcing. Using multivariate statistical methods, we show …

Environmental Engineering At Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Harold M. Cota

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The story recorded here began with a timeline prepared by Professor Rod Keif outlining some of the important events in the formation of the Environmental Engineering Department at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. He expanded the timeline and added some comments in a 5-page History of Environmental Engineering at Cal Poly in 1998 (1).

Rod Keif was a key player in the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Department that eventually became the Environmental Engineering Department. He prepared his students to be leaders in the industry, received the Distinguished Teachers Award in 1967, and was chairman of the Academic Senate in 1969. …

Cartoon Corner

Focus

No abstract provided.

Theses And Professional Projects: 2016/2017 Ay

Focus

For fulfilment of the MCRP degree at Cal Poly’s CRP department, the student may choose between developing a thesis or a professional project, or a specific individual project in a final planning studio.

The following abstracts are from master’s theses and projects defended in the 2016/2017 AY. They are available to download from Cal Poly’s Kennedy Library at http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses.

Learning From California: Highlights From Crp Studios 2016/2017 Ay

Focus

These are some highlights of the studio projects from both BSCRP and MCRP programs during the 2016-17 academic year. The studios are fundamental in the learn-by-doing pedagogy embraced by the department, and help shaping students into professionals that are fully engaged with their communities.

Conversations With Alumni - Back To Basics: Planning In The Peace Corps, Rwanda, Michael Heater

Focus

Before studying planning, Michael worked as a professional photographer, primarily in the newspaper industry. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer from 2014-2016 in Rwanda with his wife. He is now working as a Realty Specialist with the General Services Administration. He and his wife currently live in Philadelphia with their adopted Rwandan cat. Check out Michael’s article with Brian Harrington “Creating more than a Snapshot: Photography for Planning and Design”, in FOCUS 9 (2012).

Conversations With Alumni: Nadege Dubuisson, Nadege Dubuisson

Focus

No abstract provided.

Developing A Resiliency Index For Csu Campuses, William Siembieda

Focus

Sustainability and resilience have become intrinsic to good planning and are particularly important to Cal Poly's Master Plan. Professor William Siembieda discusses his interdisciplinary elective Hazard Mitigation Planning and Design, and describes the students' efforts in developing an index to measure campus resiliency.

Urban Design Visions For Riverside, Paso Robles, Vicente Del Rio, Hemalata C. Dandekar

Focus

Following the CRP Department's tradition of community-oriented projects with real clients, the authors discuss their studio work for the City of Paso Robles Community Development Department. The students explored development scenarios and urban design ideas for the area between the Salinas River and the railroad tracks, including more memorable, walkable and livable spaces, and stronger connections to the downtown and the rest of the city.

Shaping A Vision For Old Town Newark, Hemalata C. Dandekar, David Christie, Gabriel Ward

Focus

This article describes the MCRP first-year studio project for Newark's Old Town, considered by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) as one of the region's Priority Development Areas. In collaboration with the city's Community Development Department, the proposal includes a vision and a development strategy to revitalize Old Town through mixed-use, development opportunities, and vibrant and memorable environments.

Sketching In The Crp Department, Vicente Del Rio

Focus

In this article, Vicente del Rio reflects on the importance of sketching for planners and urban designers, and reports on an elective offered in the CRP department in 2017. Sketching is understood as a skill and a tool to help observe, analyse, represent, and conceptualize spaces and places, as well as to communicate with other professionals, the clients, and the public.

Successful Planner/Developer Collaborations For “Workforce” Housing In California, Hemalata C. Dandekar

Focus

Housing affordability is a significant barrier to social and economic growth in California. In this article, Dr. Hemalata Dandekar reports on her research on successful housing projects for low and moderate-income families by private sector and non-profit developers in collaboration with city and county planning departments. The research was funded by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

Deconstructing Howard Through The Lens Of Hall: Lessons From The Garden City Reformer, William W. Riggs

Focus

In this provocative essay, William Riggs discusses the lasting legacy of Ebenezer Howard's and Sir Peter Hall's work and who it challenges us to think our solutions and deal with familiar issues like protecting green belts, equitable jobs and housing. The author notes that the resurgence of a stronger focus on physical design and the sustainability and eco-towns movements will help us move towards a Howard-inspired "Peaceful Path to Real Reform".

Between The One And The Other, Aruane Garzedin

Focus

The contemporary city is a polarized environment with increasingly strong divides between the public and the private realms. Public space has lost quality and does not stimulate new social practices; there is little surprise and diversity in the landscape. Aruane Garzedin has been using art interventions to provoke new urban perceptions and public engagement, encouraging a different city poetic.

The Culture Of Windows, Ivor Samuels

Focus

Windows are a fundamental element for both architecture and urban design. Ivor Samuels discusses the impact of daylight on housing practice, particularly in the United Kingdom. He claims that while the focus of research and regulations seem to be on sustainability and energy conservation, cultural context, privacy, and surveillance are equally important in planning and urban design. He calls for more interdisciplinary work in the study of the relationships between daylight, architecture and urban form.

Home Sharing: An Important Housing Option For Us Cities, Anne Wyatt

Focus

The housing crisis in the US is fundamentally an affordability crisis, particularly in larger cities and in expensive real estate markets. Planner Anne Wyatt has been a strong advocate for affordable housing in San Luis Obispo for many years. In this article, she discusses the importance of home sharing in helping to tackle the affordability crisis, its advantages, the problems that may rise, and the need to include it as a formal option in the General Plan's Housing Element and in affordable housing action plans.

The Rio Games Legacy In Mobility: Challenges Beyond Infrastructure, Simone C.R. Silva, Carlos E.G. Maiolino, Jacqueline A. Torres

Focus

The City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a city of 6.5 million inhabitants, had several years to plan, invest, and prepare for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. A significant part of these efforts were in mobility infrastructure and operations, as they would become a fundamental legacy for the city. Silva, Maiolino and Torres, who were involved in these efforts in various capacities, discuss this experience and some of the challenges that go beyond investments in infrastructure such as behavior and operational changes.

From Downtown To The Inner Harbor: Baltimore's Sustainable Revitalization - Part 2: The Inner Harbor Plan (1967 To 2005), Vicente Del Rio

Focus

Baltimore's effective revitalization efforts are internationally recognized in planning and urban design. After the successful Charles Center redevelopment plan in the late 1950s, Baltimore's efforts expanded to its Inner Harbor and waterfront. In this sequel to a two-part article that started in FOCUS 13, Vicente del Rio discusses these later efforts, and how Baltimore ensured a process for sustainable economic, social, and cultural revitalization.

Urban Economics By Design: Thinking From Down Under, Kobus Mentz, Susannah Goble

Focus

Based on their experience in Australasia, Kobus Mentz and Susannah Goble discuss how, by considering urban economics, urban design, and local governance concurrently, greater efficiency, prosperity and social equity can be delivered at differing levels of city scale. The authors are, respectively, director and planner of Urbanismplus, one of New Zealand's most respected and awarded planning and urban design private firms.

Broadband Applications For Digitally Based Public Transportation In The Smart City, Evandro C. Santos

Focus

Inevitably, cities are becoming more interconnected and dependent on smart wireless computer systems and networks. In this paper, Evandro Santos discusses broadband applications in generating Big Data, and the role of technology and communication in the efficiency of urban functions and services. He argues that digital and mobile technologies are making the connections between transportation service providers and users tighter, faster, and more personal to greater collective and individual b enefits.