Building Services Engineering May/June 2025

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Bim-Based Automated System For Carbon Emissions And Construction Costs Estimation (Bas-Cc) In Modular Design And Production, Roshan Bandiwadekar

All Theses

Modular construction adopts a manufacturing-like construction process, enhancing the management of embodied carbon emissions in production and construction phases. However, estimating these emissions presents challenges due to the involvement of diverse stakeholders across various lifecycle stages. Additionally, cost considerations often influence design choices and material selections in modular constructions, neglecting the impact of embodied carbon emissions. To address these challenges, we present a proof-of-concept for an automated Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based system to estimate both carbon emissions and construction costs. This system automates the calculation of embodied carbon and cost implications of different modular designs and materials, enabling informed decision-making. …

The Impact Of Visual Stimuli And The Properties Of Green Walls On Human Well-Being In Built And Immersive Virtual Environments, Alireza Sedghikhanshir

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The built environment significantly influences human well-being, particularly in the context of stress recovery and cognitive restoration. This dissertation investigates the impact of visual stimuli, particularly green walls, on human responses related to stress, restoration, and thermal comfort. The research is guided by three primary objectives: (1) examining the role of visual stimuli and their properties in promoting stress recovery and restoration, (2) evaluating the potential of Immersive Virtual Environments (IVEs) as tools for delivering and studying restorative environments, and (3) investigating the influence of green walls on indoor environmental conditions.

A series of experimental studies were carried out to …

Building Services Engineering March/April 2025

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Framework For Integrating Industry Knowledge Into A Large Language Model To Assist Construction Cost Estimation, Prashnna Ghimire

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The construction industry generates a large amount of data across projects produced by digital devices, tools, and methods, and this volume is rapidly increasing. However, the industry lags behind in adopting data-driven technologies. On the other hand, the rapid advancement of generative AI (GenAI) in recent years, especially state-of-the-art large language models (LLMs), shows great potential and has been increasingly adopted in many industries; however, the construction industry is behind in adoption. While academic studies have proposed various machine learning applications for construction, industry implementation has lagged due to a disconnect between these proof-of-concept developments and practical industry needs. Also, …

Green Building Information Modeling Framework For Sustainable Residential Development In Egypt, Mohamed Ahmed Nabawy Dr., Ahmed Gouda Mohamed, Ahmed Osama Daoud Dr.

Civil Engineering

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Green Building Information Modeling Framework for Sustainable Residential Development in Egypt

by Mohamed Nabawy *, Ahmed Gouda Mohamed , Israa Awad and Ahmed Osama Daoud * Construction Engineering and Management Programme, Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, The British University in Egypt (BUE), El Sherouk City, Cairo 11837, Egypt * Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed. Buildings 2025, 15(7), 1035; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15071035 Submission received: 20 January 2025 / Revised: 23 February 2025 / Accepted: 27 February 2025 / Published: 24 March 2025 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Building …

Case Study: Cal Poly Housing Program (Cphp) - Student Housing Project At California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, Aidan Michael Toole

Construction Management

Full volumetric modular construction is a building technique that involves the off-site prefabrication of three-dimensional modular units, which are later transported and assembled on-site. California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and general contractor, Whiting-Turner, are building new on-campus student housing by utilizing full volumetric modular construction techniques. The buildings will be produced in modules that, when put together, reflect the identical design and intent of a site-built building. This paper will analyze the effectiveness of modular construction on a large-scale project and look at the project cost, schedule, and waste impacts from choosing this approach. The main driver …

Building Services Engineering January/February 2025

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Adaptation For Whom? Understanding The Impacts Of Dyke Policies On Small-Scale Farmers In Ca Mau Province Of Vietnam, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Van Minh, Nguyen Vo Chau Ngan, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Low-lying deltas worldwide are extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise. As the risks of climate-induced flooding become increasingly clear, the thirst for infrastructure-driven adaptation increases. This highlights a patent need to understand the impacts of engineering adaptation solutions, especially those targeting built structures such as dykes and sluices, on farmers from a bottom-up, farmer-centred perspective. The study addresses this call by examining cases where dyke policies, while successful in some dimensions, have undermined small-scale farmer livelihoods in Ca Mau ― Vietnam’s southernmost rural province. It identifies areas in need of attention and adds empirical data related to this group of farmers. …

A First Model Foundation Design Of Wood Pillar In Banjarmasin Swampland, Nursyarif Agusniansyah, Gusti Novi Sarbini, Akbar Rahman, Muhammad Tharziansyah

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Banjarmasin's swampland presents distinct characteristics that make it suitable for constructing homes, but it also requires special attention, especially concerning the foundation. The soil in this area often has extremely low carrying capacity, which poses a significant challenge for construction. Mistakes in choosing construction materials, coupled with mismatched building loads and inadequate foundation functions, often result in foundation failures—a common cause of building collapses. As the complexity and functionality of buildings increase, the need for more thoughtful house design becomes more crucial. The commonly used wooden pile foundation, while popular, has limited load-bearing capacity, necessitating modifications to enhance its strength. …

Developing Entrepreneurial Mindsets In Construction Management Through Experiential Projects, Dalya Ismael

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Entrepreneurial Minded Learning (EML), a framework supported by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN), promotes critical thinking and innovation by encouraging students to explore real-world problems through the 3Cs: Curiosity, Creating Value, and Connections. In construction management education, the focus often remains on technical skills and project execution, neglecting the development of entrepreneurial skills like adaptability, value creation, and stakeholder engagement, leaving a gap in preparing students for the challenges of the industry. To bridge this gap, micro-moment activities were introduced prior to the main project to prime students for EML-based thinking. These short, focused exercises encouraged students to solve …

From Equitable Access To Equitable Usage: Moving Towards Data-Driven, Evidence-Based Cycling Assets Management, Kewei Ren, Yunping Liang, Chun-Hsing Ho

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Cycling is increasingly recognized for its wide range economic, environmental, and health benefits as a mobility option. However, disparities in the provision and the quality of bicycle infrastructure persists. Ensuring fair access and usage of these benefits for all presents a significant challenge. As a result, establishing effective methodologies to evaluate cycling equity is critically important. This paper synthesizes research on infrastructure asset management with a focus on equity considerations in bicycle infrastructure. A systematic review of 19 North American studies critically examines how existing research categorizes vulnerable populations and assesses fairness. The results reveal that most existing analyses focus …

Temporal Analysis Of Construction Safety Incidents In Southeastern U.S. Using Machine Learning Techniques, Mayowa O. Oladele

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Construction safety incidents remain a significant concern, particularly in the Southeastern U.S. due to the high-risk nature of the industry. Analyzing patterns in these incidents can help improve safety practices and reduce accidents. Machine learning (ML) techniques were employed in this study to identify temporal patterns in construction safety incidents, aiming to enhance proactive safety management. The machine learning methods used in this research included logistic regression, decision trees, random forest, support vector machine (SVM), and K nearest neighbors (KNN).

The objective of the study was to analyze temporal trends in safety incidents and identify the most effective machine learningtechnique …

Sustainable And User-Driven Scope Development Framework For Engineering Design Services Of Transportation Infrastructure Projects, Ahmad Zaki Ghafari

All Dissertations

Rapid economic growth has led to a significant increase in transportation demands, exerting unprecedented pressure on infrastructure systems in the United States. State transportation agencies play a vital role in maintaining and developing transportation infrastructure networks within their regions. State transportation agencies face immense pressure from federal and state governments, elected officials, and the public to deliver projects efficiently and within budget. State transportation agencies rely on professional consultants for engineering design services. Engineering design services for transportation infrastructure projects are delayed due to incomplete inaccurate scope. For state Department of Transportation (DOTs), a streamlined scope development process is essential …

Comparative Analysis Of Design-Build And Design-Bid-Build Project Delivery Methods Through Cost, Schedule And Quality Performance For Warehousing And Storage Facilities, Vijaya Ravi Prasanth Reddi

All Theses

Storage facilities are essential for e-commerce operations, providing inventory, distribution, and delivery space. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of warehousing and storage businesses in the United States increased from 15,152 in 2010 to 21,287 in 2024, showing continuous growth over the decade. Given the recent surge, there is a need to understand the performance of these facilities better. This study aims to contrast the measure of quantitative performance of design-build (DB) versus traditional design-bid-build (DBB) project delivery methods (PDM) based on cost, schedule, and quality metrics for storage facilities. This research conducted a literature review to …

Building Services Engineering November/December 2024

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Concrete Jacketing On The Performance Of Steel Columns Under Blast Induced Progressive Collapse, Hanan Eltobgy Prof., Mohamed Saeed Refaey Dr., Mohamed Ahmed Aboshok Dr., Ahmed Emadel-Din Abdel-Aal Eng.

Journal of Engineering Research

This study investigates the influence of concrete jacketing on the performance of steel columns subjected to blast loading, which can lead to progressive collapse. Using Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations, the research evaluates concrete-encased steel columns with different concrete cover thicknesses to measure their resistance to lateral displacements induced by blasts. Findings reveal that increasing the thickness of the concrete cover markedly improves the column's ability to withstand such loads. The study also highlights that steel has better energy dissipation properties than concrete. It examines how the combined challenges of progressive collapse and blast loading influence the overall structural response …

Seismic Resilience Of Timber Homes, Melia R. Costa

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

The vast majority of residential buildings in California are wood-frame structures. A home is typically a very large investment for families, and damage to the home can be detrimental to a family’s economic success. Thus, reducing the economic impacts of an earthquake on residential timber housing is crucial. A full scale, two-story section of a residential timber house is in construction in the Parson’s Geotechnical and Earthquake Engineering Laboratory on the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo, California. Once built it will be put through earthquake simulation tests on a shake table with various magnitudes of seismic activity. Next, …

Building Services Engineering September/October 2024

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Trust: The Inertia Taxonomy Of Trust And Learning Outcomes Of Trust Building Exercises, Ann B. Lyons

All Theses

This study investigates United States construction professionals’ view of trust in the workplace. In particular the focus is on building trust through trust building exercises. In order to accomplish this, a literature review was conducted focusing on trust in the worldwide construction industry. This was followed by interviews with US construction professionals who focus on team building. These interviews informed a survey sent to a wide variety of US construction professionals. The survey had two sections of content questions, 1. view of trust indicators and 2. perception of trust building exercises. Finally, experts in the field of construction team building …

Integrating Artificial Intelligence And Augmented Reality For Enhanced Task Performance In The Construction Industry, Aasish Chandrika Bhanu

All Dissertations

The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector, characterized by its complex tasks, often faces challenges in adopting cutting-edge technologies, a trend that can significantly hinder productivity improvements compared to other industries. This dissertation explores the emerging integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR) within the AEC domain, investigating how effectively this can be implemented to potentially revolutionize industry practices. AI could be used in the AEC domain for advanced analytical and decision-making processes, while AR could be used for training, visualization, and remote collaboration.

In scenarios where construction site workers require expert guidance, these technologies could be helpful. …

Building Sevices Engineering July/August 2024

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Mitigating Uncertainty: Analyzing The Role Of Risk Management In The Construction Industry, Mike Nwafor

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

The construction industry, inherently dynamic and complex, faces a myriad of uncertainties that can significantly impact project outcomes. In this context, effective risk management emerges as a critical component in ensuring project success and sustainability. This abstract explores the role of risk management in the construction industry, highlighting its multifaceted impact on project timelines, costs, and overall quality. Risk management in construction includes detecting, assessing, and managing possible hazards and opportunities throughout the project's life cycle. It includes a proactive approach to anticipating, analyzing, and responding to uncertainties driven by factors such as design modifications, material shortages, labor concerns, weather …

A Machine Learning Framework For Predicting Fabrication Hours For Industrial Steel Structure Projects, Dalia Ibrahim

Theses and Dissertations

Construction projects are considered high risk projects especially due to their required large capital making them require extreme attention in estimation as overestimating a project will lead to losing bids and underestimating them will lead to incurring more costs than budgeted resulting in losses. However, estimators are often faced with very tight timelines to finish their estimates leading them to primarily rely on their experience disregarding some crucial factors resulting in inaccurate estimates. In the steel structures industry, the steel fabrication phase accounts for 30 to 40% of the overall project cost; in addition, the steel industry is labor driven; …

Ace Mentor Program - Central Coast Chapter, Brayden Samuel Groshart

Construction Management

For my senior project, I established a chapter of the ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) Mentor Program in San Luis Obispo, California. This program provides high school students with hands-on experience and exposure to careers in the architecture, construction, and engineering industries. The program spanned eight weeks, balancing theoretical knowledge and practical application. The curriculum began with sessions on the fundamentals of architecture, engineering, and construction. In order to expose the students to real world practices, we organized tours of an architecture firm, an engineering firm, and an active construction site. These visits allowed students to engage with professionals, observe …

Son Care Foundation – Lean To Shade Structure Design And Construction, Ryan Joseph Mccann

Construction Management

This paper discusses the design and construction of a lean-to-shade structure built for the Son Care Foundation in San Luis Obispo. The Son Care Foundation is a nonprofit organization that raises guide dogs for veterans and first responders with PTSD. This shade structure is 16 feet long and 6 feet wide, its height slopes from 9 feet in the front down to 8 feet in the back creating a roof pitch of 2:12. The sheet metal roof also has an overhang of approximately 1 foot. As requested by the client, the shade structure was designed to fit the aesthetic of …

Effect Of Pismo Clams As Partial Fine And Coarse Aggregate Replacement On Workability And Compressive Strength Of Concrete, Alan Munoz Pille

Construction Management

Concrete has been utilized for ages. Unfortunately, over the hundreds of years there has been little development in the applications of new aggregate materials. The world is moving towards a sustainable way of living and as a result seashells have come into the mix. Pismo Clams are a native species to San Luis Obispo County. This marine species has the possibility of becoming a partial aggregate replacement for fine and coarse aggregates in concrete. The results of prior studies indicate a possible application of seashell use in concrete. This paper evaluates the workability and compressive strength of concrete containing fine …

Sustainable And Cost-Effective Work Zone Scheduling On Two-Lane Highways With Managed Lanes, Ahmed Z. Edrees

Dissertations

Roadway maintenance projects greatly influence the roadway capacity, resulting in potential traffic disturbances captured by delays. Additionally, costs associated with these projects tend to be exorbitantly extensive. Most agencies and planners try to find a solution that minimizes roadway maintenance costs, traffic delays, crash risks, and environmental impact.

Work zones on two-way two-lane roadway typically avoids high-demand periods. Lane-closure scenario is commonly used and converts the open lane into a phantom intersection, alternating two-direction movements on one lane with the help of a flagger or a temporary signal. Alternatively, using shoulders as temporarily managed lanes allows for simultaneous two-way movements …

The Development Of A Convenient And Consistent Methodology For Flight Proficiency To Certify Multi-Rotor Uas Pilots For State Departments Of Transportation, Colin Dees

All Dissertations

To fly an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), commonly referred to as a “drone,” the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires pilots to pass a knowledge test. There is no requirement at the state or federal level for drone operators to demonstrate the ability to operate a UAS. The National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) has created an exam for public and private entities to assess basic UAS flight proficiency. It is the only nationally recognized flight proficiency protocol. NIST does not provide a scoring recommendation and leaves it to the user to determine the minimum criteria to pass. There is …

Building Services Engineering May/June 2024

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.