Architecture Commons^™

Reducing Early-Age Shrinkage Cracks Of Bridge Decks And Rails, Soumitra Das, George Morcous, Jiong Hu

UNL Student Research Days Posters, Graduate

Early-age shrinkage cracking of concrete bridge decks and rails accelerates the penetration of water and chemicals which leads to reinforcement corrosion, delamination, and eventually spalling. All this results in shorter service life, road closure, and costly repair. Development of Low-cement concrete(LCC) mix to reduce early age shrinkage crack through aggregate grading optimization was done in this research work. This approach also reduces concrete cost ($15-$20/cyd) (15–25%) and its carbon footprint (≈15%).

The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 47, Number 01

The Professional Constructor

No abstract provided.

Building Services Engineering March/April 2022

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Using Flight Simulation As A Convenient Method For Uas Flight Assessment For Contractors, Colin Dees, Joseph M. Burgett

The Professional Constructor

Operating an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for commercial purposes in the United States requires the pilot to pass the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) knowledge exam to earn their UAS license. The exam does not include a practical component where flight proficiency is assessed. This represents a source of risk for contractors if flight proficiency is not evaluated in another way. The National Institute of Standards and Technology is a federal agency and has developed the Basic Maneuvering Test (BMT). It is the only nationally recognized UAS flight proficiency exam. While not required, the construction industry can benefit by using this …

Current State Of The Workforce Demographics And Knowledge Transfer Strategies In The Southeast United States, Vivek Sharma, Dhaval Gajjar, Kapil Madathil, David Davis, Shreyas Patel

The Professional Constructor

The construction industry is a very diverse industry due to the unique nature of projects and expertise within various construction companies driven by multiple regional/national factors. The United States Department of Labor reported 44% of the current US employed population will be above 65 in eleven years by 2028, making workforce studies and knowledge transfer a key driver in leading construction business models. This study conducted an in-depth investigation in the southeast region of the US on the current state of workforce demographics and the need for knowledge transfer within the ranks of management coupled with trade personnel. The study …

Perceptions Of Remote Work Within The Construction Industry Resulting From The Covid-19 Pandemic In The South Central United States, Sara B. Overturf, Ben Bigelow, Matthew Reyes

The Professional Constructor

Working remotely became increasingly popular over the previous two years, given organization’s need to rapidly adjust to changing conditions as a result of the Coronavirus. It allowed companies to more easily adapt to stay-at home orders and create a safer environment for their employees. While working remotely can have a positive impact on employees, there are also challenges to overcome for both employees and organizations. This study focused on understanding both the prevalence and implementation of remote work within the commercial Construction industry to face the professional challenges resulting from the Coronavirus. This paper provides insight into companies that have …

Educating The Construction Client: Training Strategy For Buyers Of Commercial Design And Construction Services, Michael J. Emmer

The Professional Constructor

Business owners can face a myriad of challenges when venturing into a new construction project. Most of the design and construction process is unfamiliar territory as compared to their customary business operations and owners face a wide assortment of issues when making the decision to build a new facility. Consequently, the majority of owners are entirely out of their business element when deciding to enter into the undertaking of a new building project. Since most of the risk with any given project rests with the Owner, better training and strategies for owners will lead to a higher likelihood of project …

Impact Of Covid-19 On Sense Of Community / Student Engagement, Aaron Sauer, Richard Gebken, Richard Bruce

The Professional Constructor

The spring of 2020 was a time of unprecedented change for higher education institutions. The COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to re-think instructional delivery and the undergraduate experience as they implemented measures to protect students, faculty, and staff. Unraveling the impact of the pandemic on higher education will take many years. This study investigated how the institutional response in the return to campus following the pandemic influenced sense of community, a component of student engagement. A previously developed instrument was delivered at two construction management programs in the U.S. Midwest before and after the pandemic. The two schools were similar in …

The Integration Of Virtual Reality In The Commercial Construction Industry, Justin T. Gin

Construction Management

Virtual reality has recently been spreading throughout the commercial construction industry rapidly. Some of its capabilities are safety training, helping spot Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) issues, logistics planning, and virtual walkthroughs. Many construction companies were starting to utilize virtual reality's advantages until COVID-19 hit. The initial wave of COVID slowed down construction in general as well as the need or use of virtual reality. Now, some companies are worried about the health risks and implementation issues that virtual reality headsets might bring while other companies are optimistic about the future of virtual reality. This report will explore the different …

Proposal For Adobe Earthbag Disaster-Relief Structure, John Camacho

Construction Management

The science behind creating an adobe house has been around for thousands of years; the primitive mixture contains only dirt, water, and straw. Left to cure in bricks or as a single cast-in-place system, the structure will provide long-lasting protection from the elements. Science has taken this a step further with the introduction of cementitious admixtures and reinforcement. The result is an adobe structure with exemplary thermo-retentive properties and load-bearing capabilities. This project provides an analysis on the “SuperAdobe” earthbag system that has been put into practice by independent contractors and housing-relief initiatives. The goal of the project was to …

Strategic Energy Master Planning For Carbon Neutrality, Marie Patterson

CSU Journal of Sustainability and Climate Change

Universities across the United States are generating goals to be more sustainable and carbon neutral. The energy used in existing buildings on campuses amount to a large volume of greenhouse emissions and must be reduced to help achieve neutrality goals. Strategic Energy Master Plans are instrumental to support these goals through the development of recommendations to reduce energy. Calculating the energy use intensity for existing buildings, a main component of a Strategic Energy Master Plan, can help the campus understand where energy is being used the most. With this information the highest energy consuming buildings can be the focus of …

Affordable And Sustainable Housing, Brandon Gibson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Due to the current state of the world, families around the world have started to invest in their homes. This change in lifestyle has caused the average cost to build a new home to increase to nearly $300,000, with an additional $35,872 due to the pandemic-related uptick in material costs. Custom homes take an ample amount of planning, construction time, along with excessive amounts of materials. I am looking to put my spin on a recent trend that allows an efficient construction timeline, along with the reduction of materials and waste.

Shipping Containers. Though their history of utilization has solely …

Building Services Engineering January/February 2022

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Causes Influencing Construction Waste Generation During The Design Process: An Analytical Study, Aya Saad, Ayman Ahmed Ezzat Othman

Architectural Engineering

Despite the social and economic contributions of the construction industry towards achieving sustainable development objectives, it has an adverse effect on the environment such as the generation of waste, water, and energy consumption. Construction waste (CW) is the loss of materials that are produced during or after the construction process and has no remaining value. Several countries promote waste elimination plans at early stages to reduce CW at its source. The Egyptian government is expanding its investments in new mega projects and infrastructure facilities like new administrative capital, bridges, roads, energy projects which resulted in increasing the rate and amount …

Achieving Sustainability Through Reducing Risks During Architecture Design Process: A Lean Management Perspective, Sherouk Abdelrehim, Ayman Ahmed Ezzat Othman

Architectural Engineering

The construction industry, as one of the largest industries in the world, plays a critical role in achieving national and international social and economic sustainable development goals. Socially, it is concerned with delivering long-term projects that turn client and end-user requirements into designs that specify technical aspects, functional specific requirements, and standards of quality. Economically, the construction industry contributes to a country's gross domestic product (GDP) by creating jobs and providing the country's infrastructure. the construction industry's nature is more vulnerable than other industries. This is believed to be due to the complex and dynamic nature of construction projects, as …

Overcoming The Limitations Of The Green Pyramid Rating System In The Egyptian Construction Industry: A Critical Analysis, Ahmed Osama Daoud, Ayman Ahmed Ezzat Othman, Obas John Ebohon, Ali Bayyati

Architectural Engineering

Despite the tangible contributions of the construction industry to social development and economic growth, it is known for its natural resources overconsumption and solid waste (SW) generation both of which have major negative impacts on the natural environment. In the particular case of materials waste, the construction industry worldwide accounts for about 50% of global annual generated SW. In addition, construction materials may contribute up to 50% of the total project cost. Accordingly, the negative implications of the construction industry have compelled many nations to develop green building rating systems in order to preserve the environment, promote the economic efficiency …

Framework For Enhanced Applicability Of The Egyptian Public Procurement Law To International Administrative Construction Contracts, Amr Abu Helw

Theses and Dissertations

Local governments and public authorities conclude contracts for the purpose of acquisition of goods, delivery of services and construction of public facilities like bridges, infrastructures and public buildings. A public contract is an agreement to perform particular tasks financed by government funds to the benefit of the whole community. Private entities and corporations are subject to stricter standards in their dealings with the government than in private transactions. Conversely, the government must deal fairly and equitably with those who it contracted with to achieve successful implementation of the projects. On October 3, 2018, a new Egyptian public procurement law, namely, …

Development Of A Conceptual Design, Estimate, & Schedule For Cal Poly Track & Field Hurdle Shed, Jonathan Chagnon

Construction Management

This paper details the processes completed to produce the conceptual design, estimate, and schedule for a track and field hurdle shed at the Cal Poly Track facility. The main objective for this project was to create a conceptual idea for the track team that would make use of the current open space at the facility and create more storage space for current and future equipment obtained by the program. By completing this project, the track team would be able to receive a design that would allow them to push the concept forward as possible, an estimate that would give the …

City Of Guadalupe Cultural Arts & Education Center Veterans Memorial Wall, Alejandra Arroyo Perez

Construction Management

As a student in Construction Management, the importance of firsthand experience in the construction industry should not be taken lightly. The responsibility of every construction manager is to learn how to take a project from concept to reality. The primary five elements of construction management entail project programming, design development, material specifications, estimating, and scheduling. This paper documents the construction management process related to a Veterans Memorial Wall. Through coordination with the project stakeholders (i.e. property owners, engineer consultants, material fabricators, and vendors) a fully immersive construction management experience is gained. One of the stakeholder requirements was to establish a …

Modular Interior Partitions In Commercial Housing: A Case Study, Adam David Meleo

Construction Management

The ability to modify an interior space with ease and reasonable cost is beneficial to designers, owners, and end-users. Modular interiors are not a new concept. Modular interior partitions can come in the form of Japanese Shoji screens, as well as folding walls that would be found in a convention center. While not new in concept, the market for products that allow partitioning an interior space with ease appears to be growing with the introduction of innovative products and solutions. This paper will focus on two student housing projects in San Luis Obispo, California, with regards to their design and …

Analysis Of Self-Consolidating Concrete In Architectural Shear Wall Applications: Case Study, Peter Finocchio

Construction Management

Architectural concrete surfaces have always been a point of focus for concrete contractors, architects, and owners, especially when consolidation poses risks due to a high density of reinforcement. Contractors have begun using self-consolidating concrete (SCC) in exposed vertical applications to combat the risk of poor consolidation. This paper investigates the characteristics of SCC and evaluates a case study of a recent project that was completed on the Central Coast of California. The study examines the cost variance between using SCC mix and a standard mix in architectural shear walls. The analysis is done by evaluating a multi-story Type 1A structure …

Building Services Engineering November/December 2021

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 46, Number 02

The Professional Constructor

No abstract provided.

Arise (Certcoin)- Inspiring Demand For Sustainable Energy Skills, Barry Mcauley, Paul Mccormack, Andrew Hamilton, Eduardo Rebelo

Conference papers

The European AEC Sector now faces impending challenges over the next decade concerning escalating climate targets. To reach these targets, it vital that the green economy deliver a better-skilled workforce and develops new competencies and methods of working. Training in the domain of digital construction technologies and processes, such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), are now seen as essential upskilling vehicles that must be embraced if the sector is to transition towards a greener agenda. To assist in meeting these training needs a selection of partners from the BIM EPA will partake in the Horizon 2020 ARISE project, aiming to …

Introduction To Prefabrication And Automation In Construction, Luciana Debs, Jiansong Zhang, Yunfeng Chen

Bowen School of Construction Open Educational Resources

New developments and recent advances in construction methods have the potential to change the future of the architecture, engineering and construction industry. Prefabrication, along with modular construction, provides a safe and controlled environment for the production of building construction elements and raises the need for improved collaboration and coordination from design to manufacturing and from transportation to final assembly. Prefabrication also provides relief from the skilled construction labor shortage while opening up new opportunities for mass customization within the building industry. Prefabrication and modular construction automation are emerging expansion routes for the construction industry. In addition, integral to developing the …

Building Services Engineering September/October 2021

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of In-Cab Air Quality For Nonroad Diesel Construction Equipment, Phil Lewis, Sherif El Khouly, Adam Mayer, Jeremy Johnson

The Professional Constructor

Previous research indicates that air quality near the cabs of nonroad diesel equipment may exceed recommended exposure limits for certain pollutants. The objective of this case study was to collect and analyze air pollutant data near the cabs of nonroad diesel equipment while performing real world activities. Using state-of-the-art instrumentation, the research team conducted 24 tests on nine different items of nonroad equipment. The team collected data related to pollutant concentrations of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and black carbon. Average concentrations of carbon monoxide and nitric oxide did not exceed published exposure limits on …

Prefabrication In Buildings With Focus On Emerging Mep Rack Systems, Mark Daniels, M.G. Matt Syal

The Professional Constructor

The growth in technology and automation has influenced the construction industry to explore prefabrication alternatives in building design and construction. In addition, the shortage of skilled labor is accelerating the push for the adoption of prefabrication in building industry. This paper provides an overview of the present construction market and labor trends and summarizes various levels and categories of prefabrication. It then provides detailed information on an emerging MEP prefabricated solution known as the MEP rack systems. The implementation of the MEP rack systems is discussed with the help of a hospital case study project. It concludes with the discussion …

Case Study Of Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems To Support Bridge Inspections, Joseph M. Burgett, Gurcan Comert

The Professional Constructor

This paper presents the results of a case study conducted to evaluate the potential benefit of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, as a tool to improve the bridge inspection workflow. The study conducted two experiments to determine how well deficiencies could be detected using a UAS. Both experiments were conducted using the same test bridge. The first experiment was carried out by the bridge inspection engineers (BIEs), who had previously inspected the bridge using traditional methods. They used the drone to search for inspection points identified in the inspection report. The second experiment was conducted by …

Stick Built Vs. Panelize Wall/Truss Framing For New Home Construction: A Time Study Labor Comparison., Eric A. Holt, Jim Anzlovar, Alexander Welsh

The Professional Constructor

Due to many trends in the construction industry (material cost increase, labor shortages, supply chain issues, pandemic, market demand outpacing supply), the homebuilding industry is looking for alternative ways to frame homes. In response to the National Housing Endowment (NHE) Request for Proposal, the researchers reviewed the literature on the housing market’s current state regarding the scale and scope of the skilled construction framers shortage and the current market share of single-family framing method; stick-built vs. panelization. Working with industry part ners, the team analyzed time studies for multiple new home builds. It was found that panelized wall framing systems …