Digital Commons Network^™

An Ergonomics Investigation Of The Application Of Virtual Reality On Training For A Precision Task, Delaney M. Bales

Master's Theses

Virtual reality is rapidly expanding its capabilities and accessibility to consumers. The application of virtual reality in training for precision tasks has been limited to specialized equipment such as a haptic glove or a haptic stylus, but not studied for handheld controllers in consumer-grade systems such as the HTC Vive. A straight-line precision steadiness task was adopted in virtual reality to emulate basic linear movements in industrial operations and disability rehabilitation. This study collected the total time and the error time for the straight-line task in both virtual reality and a physical control experiment for 48 participants. The task was …

Code Decomposition: A New Hope, Nupur Garg

Master's Theses

Code decomposition (also known as functional decomposition) is the process of breaking a larger problem into smaller subproblems so that each function implements only a single task. Although code decomposition is integral to computer science, it is often overlooked in introductory computer science education due to the challenges of teaching it given limited resources.

Earthworm is a tool that generates unique suggestions on how to improve the decomposition of provided Python source code. Given a program as input, Earthworm presents the user with a list of suggestions to improve the functional decomposition of the program. Each suggestion includes the lines …

Effects Of Food Consumption On Cell Proliferation In The Brain Of Python Regius, Stacy Star Habroun

Master's Theses

Neurogenesis is an important and vastly under-explored area in reptiles. While the ability to generate new brain cells in the adult mammalian brain is limited, reptiles are able to regenerate large populations of neuronal cells. Pythons exhibit a characteristic specific dynamic action (SDA) response after food intake with an increase in metabolic rate that facilitates processing the meal. Associated with this change in SDA, pythons (Python spp.) also exhibit impressive plasticity in their digestive and cardiovascular physiology due to the sheer magnitude of the increase in organ growth that occurs after a meal to speed digestion, absorption, and assimilation of …

Hand (Motor) Movement Imagery Classification Of Eeg Using Takagi-Sugeno-Kang Fuzzy-Inference Neural Network, Rory Larson Donovan

Master's Theses

Approximately 20 million people in the United States suffer from irreversible nerve damage and would benefit from a neuroprosthetic device modulated by a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). These devices restore independence by replacing peripheral nervous system functions such as peripheral control. Although there are currently devices under investigation, contemporary methods fail to offer adaptability and proper signal recognition for output devices. Human anatomical differences prevent the use of a fixed model system from providing consistent classification performance among various subjects. Furthermore, notoriously noisy signals such as Electroencephalography (EEG) require complex measures for signal detection. Therefore, there remains a tremendous need to …

A Geospatial Assessment Of Social Vulnerability To Sea-Level Rise In Coastal San Luis Obispo, Jesse A. Carpentier

Master's Theses

This project is an assessment of social vulnerability to sea-level rise in the unincorporated coastal area of the County of San Luis Obispo (County) using geospatial and statistical analysis. The intention of this assessment is to inform local climate adaptation efforts now required by state legislation. A social vulnerability index was generated at the Census block group level using 32 variables positively correlated with social vulnerability. The social vulnerability score for each block group is the sum of scores generated for the following principle components: (1) race/ethnicity and disability status, (2) social isolation and age, (3) income, and (4) housing …

On The Impact Of Android Api Evolution On Education Materials, Kennedy Owen

Master's Theses

The recent growing popularity of mobile devices has led to the establishment of several popular mobile platforms such as the Android operating system. To foster growth in this evolving market, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) were created to enable developers to create mobile device applications that utilize mobile device features and functionality for personal or widespread commercial use. However, as a result of excessive device and API evolution, mobile development faces increasingly complex issues, including an alarmingly rapid decay of development resources.

This thesis conducts a case study around one such resource: a series of Android app development lab …

Linewidth And Ranging Characterization Of A Vernier-Tuned Distributed Bragg Reflector (Vt-Dbr) All-Semiconductor Tunable Swept Laser System For Lidar In Autonomous Applications, Taewan Kim

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Linewidth and Ranging Characterization of a Vernier-Tuned Distributed Bragg Reflector (VT-DBR) All-Semiconductor Tunable Swept Laser System for Lidar in Autonomous Applications

Taewan Kim

Linewidth and ranging experiments of a Insight packaged Vernier-Tuned Distributed Bragg Reflector (VT-DBR) laser across its wavelength output range of 1522.13 to 1566.18 nm is done in this work to characterize it for lidar applications. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the laser’s potential to combine the advantages of lidar and FMCW radar for autonomous systems.

Linewidth measurements were done by using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer to set up a delayed self-homodyne measurement. The laser …

Estimating Transit Ridership Patterns Through Automated Data Collection Technology: A Case Study In San Luis Obispo, California, Ashley Kim

Master's Theses

Public transportation offers a crucial solution to the travel demand in light of national and global economic, energy, and environmental challenges. If implemented effectively, public transit offers an affordable, convenient, and sustainable transportation mode. Implementation of new technologies for information-harvesting may lead to more effective transit operations. This study examines the potential of automated data collection technologies to analyzing and understand the origin-destination flow patterns, which is essential for transit route planning and stop location placement.

This thesis investigates the collection and analysis of data of passengers onboard San Luis Obispo Transit buses in February and March 2017 using Bluetooth …

The Population Genetics Of Morro Bay Eelgrass (Zostera Marina), Julia Gardner Harencar

Master's Theses

Seagrass populations are in decline worldwide. Zostera marina (eelgrass), one of California’s native seagrasses, is no exception to this trend. In the last 8 years, Morro Bay, California has lost 95% of its eelgrass. Eelgrass is an ecosystem engineer, providing important ecosystem services such as sediment stabilization, nutrient cycling, and nursery habitats for fish. The failure of recent restoration efforts necessitates a better understanding of the causes of eelgrass decline in this estuary. Previous research on eelgrass in California has demonstrated a link between population genetic diversity and eelgrass bed health, ecosystem functioning, and resilience to disturbance and extreme climatic …

Cubesat Data Transmission And Storage Throughput Optimization Through The Use Of A Zynq Soc Based Cubesat Science Instrument Interface Electronics Board, Caleb Mosby Munsill

Master's Theses

The CubeSat standard sprang from the desire to create a satellite standard that would open the doors for universities and other lower budget research institutions by making it more feasible to get their work into space. Since then, many other institutions and industries have been adopting variations on the standard for their own use. As more people are seeking out to use the CubeSat standard as their main bus, the standards and practices of the community have grown and expanded and with this growth, new challenges have been created. One such challenge is the bandwidth limitation in the RF-downlink. When …

Whiting-Turner Plangrid Implementation On Oakland Global Logistics Center: A Case Study, Alex J. Cain

Construction Management

As construction project complexity continues to rise, there will be an increasing importance placed on a company’s ability to manage project information. This management is aided by the use of project management information systems (PMIS). These systems are made up of applications that help managers track project progress from start to finish. Whiting-Turner uses the application Plangrid within their PMIS. This paper will explore how Whiting-Turner implements Plangrid on the currently being constructed Oakland Global Logistics Center. In addition, this paper will review the fundamental concepts behind a PMIS, the framework of mobile computing applications, and the features of leading …

Introducing Concentrations Into The Cal Poly Cm Program, Kevin L. Barry

Construction Management

This paper explores the introduction and integration of industry related concentrations into the Construction Management program at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Specialization has been an integral part of not only the construction industry, but also throughout the industrialization of America. With these concentrations, students will be able to select either an industry sector or job function they are interested in pursuing and take additional classes that dive deeper into that specific facet of industry rather than only brushing the surface with general construction education classes. This program will better prepare students for industry and give those who have a …

Journeyman International: Hut2hut, Rwanda, Faith E. Johnson

Construction Management

This report details the project titled Hut2Hut, completed through the nonprofit humanitarian design organization, Journeyman International. Hut2Hut is a housing project designed to provide lodging for tourists backpacking through Rwanda. The structure is designed to house up to eight people. Features include an enclosed bunk space, a kitchen with basic appliances, wood-burning fireplace, collapsible wall-deck system to open up the living space to the outside, and two main outdoor deck spaces. The building will provide an affordable alternative to the more expensive resorts in Rwanda and aims to connect the visitors to the site and local culture. The proceeds will …

Self-Healing Concrete In Commercial Construction, James Anthony Frazier

Construction Management

Crack formation is common among concrete used for all different types of construction. While cracking is inevitable in concrete, it can create instabilities that can compromise an entire building’s structural integrity. New advancements are being made in the biological and engineering fields that are providing a solution to this problem. Certain bacteria and chemicals when mixed provide a reaction that creates limestone material to re-heal cracks in concrete. Using these materials to create this reaction, while incorporating the reactants necessary in concrete mixtures for building, it is possible to eliminate maintenance costs and improve building strength over time. Currently, these …

National Association Of Home Builders' Residential Construction Management Competition Guidebook, Eric Angelo Bet

Construction Management

With today’s universities, especially Cal Poly, stressing the concept of “Learn by Doing” to prepare students for successful careers, case competitions are gaining popularity and prestige amongst recruiters. By working well in team settings and showcasing one’s knowledge in front of a panel of industry judges, case competitions give students great undergraduate experience and confidence once they begin their full-time careers. One of these case competitions is the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Residential Construction Management Competition (RCMC). The NAHB RCMC asks students to create a fully-encompassing development proposal on a real-world site located in the United States. This …

Recyclable Waste Material As Substitute Aggregate In Concrete, Cannon Michael Lynch

Construction Management

Trash pollution is a serious problem that the world is facing and while there are current efforts to clean up the environment, there still exists the issue of what to do with the trash once collected. Waste material, especially plastic, is littering the ocean and poses a serious threat to wildlife. The construction industry makes a good effort of trying to limit its negative impact on the environment, but it can potentially solve the problem of pollution using one specific material, concrete. The best part about concrete is that its compressive strength can be manipulated by adding or removing certain …

Heavy Equipment As A Topics Course At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Construction Management Curriculum, Samuel G. Duner

Construction Management

In the construction industry it has been said that no project is the same. That each project awarded to a contractor will have new and unique details that were not faced in the previous projects. However, all the management skills acquired by the project team will be used to complete the current project. One of those skills that seems to be underutilized and does not receive enough emphasis, is the management of heavy equipment. The purpose of this paper will be to highlight details of heavy equipment management that need to be emphasized in the Cal Poly construction management curriculum, …

Remodeling Office For Growing Grounds, Kyle R. Fawley

Construction Management

This project was my first real re-condition project for a portion of an office space for Growing Grounds Farm here in San Luis Obispo. The purpose of this essay is to look back onto my experience and see how much I struggled and learned, and how I can benefit from it in the future. Throughout my project, I made sure there was constant communication between myself and Craig Wilson, program manager for Growing Grounds Farm, with clarifications and several updates. I made sure to fit and complete the project within my tight schedule and adjust it throughout the process. Throughout …

Football Stadium To Rodeo Venue: The Process. A Case Study At Cal Poly, Hunter L. Reaume

Construction Management

This paper is a reflection of the construction process concerning Cal Poly’s 77th Poly Royal Rodeo in Alex G. Spanos Stadium. The paper is an overview of how the project came about, the process of planning, new knowledge, deliverables, lessons learned, and how the experience applies to working in the construction industry. April 5-9, 2017 was the execution of a monumental process. 40,000SF of filter fabric, 2 semi loads (1500 sheets) of plywood, and 200 truckloads of dirt were laid on the live grass of Spanos Stadium to set the stage for a rodeo production unlike most people see in …

Building A Solar Farm On A Rolling Landscape: A Case Study, Jakob Riley Schork

Construction Management

The well-being of the environment in the United States is becoming dependent on a change from unreliable and scarce resources such as coal as a means to generate electricity to a more eco-friendly and abundant source. Solar farms provide the opportunity to generate electricity with no effect on global warming, no environmentally hazardous emissions, and are not affected by the fluctuating costs of fuel. One construction company in particular has noticed this as not only a terrific opportunity to improve the nations’ environmental footprint, but also as a tremendous business opportunity; Swinerton. Swinerton recently developed a renewable energy division that …

Journeyman International Construction Services Brazil Elementary School, Kotaro Kiriharo

Construction Management

This project-based senior project is a partnership with Journeyman International (JI), an interdisciplinary, non-profit organization that is based in downtown San Luis Obispo. JI matches students and volunteers with humanitarian projects all over the world. For the purpose of this project, students from the College of Architecture and Environmental design were paired in order to compile both design and construction service documents for an elementary school in Brazil. The Elementary School, which will be called Nossa Escola de Terra, will be built in Cabo de Santo Agostinho, a small town located in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. This paper highlights …

Montgomery High School Baseball Clubhouse Expansion, Armando Ramirez

Construction Management

After graduating from Montgomery High School (MOH) in 2013, I knew that I wanted to give back when the opportunity was given. More specifically, I hoped to help the baseball team. Throughout my years playing baseball at MOH, the coaches and players constantly expressed interest in expanding the clubhouse as it was deemed too small and uncomfortable. After the first meeting with the owner, Coach Hermosillo, a budget was established and preliminary design ideas were brought up. It was important for him to implement the feedback given from the current players. After several meetings and different iterations of the expanded …

South Bay Fire Department: Back Deck, Connor Ray Smith

Construction Management

Local fire station, Station 15, in the community of Los Osos, was in need of a deck to be built in the rear of the station. There was public support, funding, and a desire for an upgrade. With the help of the firefighters and administrative staff at South Bay Fire Department, a 285 square foot structure was constructed to operate as a relaxing area for on duty staff to use between emergency calls. The plan creation, estimating, and building of the deck took approximately a year to complete. An estimated 305 man hours were spent collectively on the project, with …

The Differences Between Cpm And Resource-Loaded Scheduling And How They Applied To The Martinez Tesoro Refinery Flare Header Replacement Project, Connor Steven Carone

Construction Management

A case study was conducted to analyze the scheduling challenges faced on a refinery construction project in Martinez, California. The main issues on the project were complications experienced by the general contractor in fulfilling a requirement to produce a resource-loaded schedule. Unable to create one, a CPM schedule was produced instead. Research on the differences between a CPM and resource-loaded schedule was conducted in order to uncover how they applied to the refinery project. The most significant differences between the two scheduling methodologies is that a CPM assumes infinite capacity, while resource loading recognizes that resources have finite limits in …

Case Study: Implementation Of Electronic Documentation On Heavy Civil Construction Projects, Andrew William Jenco

Construction Management

This paper identifies perceived benefits of transitioning to an electronic-based documentation program in a heavy civil subcontractor setting. Electronic documentation has shown to reduce costs through organization, review and retrieval methods. This study provides insight of heavy civil construction managers regarding the efficiency of transitioning to a shared document control system. RFI data among projects utilizing electronic documentation and traditional methods were compared. The RFI turnaround times among six projects that utilized traditional document control methods were compared to the RFI turnaround times of a project utilizing electronic documentation. The data collected from this study suggests that electronic documentation benefits …

Creating A Mentoring Program For Members Of The Cal Poly Women In Construction Club, Savannnah Monique Gauna

Construction Management

The construction industry remains one of the most male dominate industries in the workforce. With universities like California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly, SLO) is placing significance on construction related career paths by offering coursework and graduate studies in construction management. That means a more diverse group of people, including women, are getting exposed to the construction industry and pursuing a college degree so they can obtain a good job. At Cal Poly, a new club was created to empowering women in construction through mentorship, youth outreach, industry support, and strengthening department interrelations. The purpose of this …

Confidence Analysis Of Superintendents: Trades Vs. School, Paul S. Lavanne

Construction Management

Today, knowledgeable and reliable superintendents are in high demand throughout the construction industry. However, it seems to becoming more and more uncommon for a superintendent to come up through the more traditional route via the trades. It appears that it is becoming more common for superintendents to attend a university and attain a degree relating to construction. This begs the question though, does this new generation have what it takes to match their counterparts that come up through the trades? With this new direction being taken, it makes us wonder if universities are helping set a solid foundation for these …

Analysis Of The Construction Management Co-Op Program At California Polytechnic State University, Danile Stanley Leavens

Construction Management

Work integrated learning (WIL) programs such as internships or co-operative education programs are a common way of providing practical experience to students while they are completing their degree. This paper will examine the benefits of WIL programs for the students, companies, and universities that actively participate in them. In addition, this analysis researches the findings of other studies on student’s success as a result of WIL programs, how companies are improved with higher quality employees, and the networking connections that universities receive due to students creating great relationships with companies. In an attempt to improve the Construction Management co-op program …

Gaining Market Share As A Union Specialty Contractor In San Diego: A Case Study, Roy Lee Perrin Jr

Construction Management

San Diego is one of the few major cities in California to have a larger share of non-union labor compared to union labor in the private specialty construction sector. Although union labor is on the rise in large cities due to California’s strict labor wage laws, union specialty contractors are still running into challenges in terms of competitiveness in the San Diego area. Western Specialty Contractors has first hand experience with competing against non-union contractors in San Diego. This paper will outline the methodology Western Specialty Contractors took in order to gain market share in San Diego. This paper will …

Information Communication Improvements In B.I.G., Alexander M. Vlasity

Construction Management

Game based learning is a proven methodology of convening complex ideas and concepts to students. Game based learning creates an environment that is safe, enjoyable, stress free, and competitive. Construction management is no exception. In the classroom, there is only one way to provide real life experiences in creating and operating a business. That is through simulation software. Simulation software allows a user to experience many of the complexities that occur in real life while playing in an educational environment. This senior project will focus on one software package called The Building Industry Game. This simulation package provides its user …