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Articles 31 - 60 of 112
Full-Text Articles in Construction Engineering
How New, Innovative Technology Can Be Implemented To Combat The Construction Industry Labor Shortage, Noah David Jackson
How New, Innovative Technology Can Be Implemented To Combat The Construction Industry Labor Shortage, Noah David Jackson
The Professional Constructor
This essay addresses the construction industry’s need to compensate for the current and projected labor shortage through innovative technologies. In the first portion of this essay, three technologies that are most feasible for implementation – the Internet of Things (IoT), Drones, and Prefabrication – are detailed. The challenges faced are then discussed before the second major portion in which steps for implementation are outlined. These steps include forming partnerships, learning the process, communicating, training, implementing, and adapting and improving. The essay concludes with a discussion of how the AGC organization, and members within, can aid the industry in meeting this …
The Adaptative Construction Industry, Rhett Cox
The Adaptative Construction Industry, Rhett Cox
The Professional Constructor
The construction industry is an industry that always unites to find ways to solve problems. It is very complex and requires considerable organization, hard work, specific skills, and a whole lot of determination. In this paper, I will discuss three ways that the industry is making strides to make construction better and more efficient: (a) increased use of modular construction and prefabrication, (b) use of drones, and (c) Building Information Modeling (BIM) use. With the construction process becoming more and more complex, improving efficiency and safety has gained more attraction, especially when coping with fundamental issues such as labor shortage, …
How New, Innovative Technology And Project Execution Tools And Techniques Can Be Used To Improve The Construction Process (Including Safety And Efficiency), James L. Craig
The Professional Constructor
Humanity has often sought to utilize tools and technology to make working faster, more efficient, more comfortable, and more accurate. While humans may have started with stone tools, we have since developed complex and sophisticated mechanical and digital technologies. The construction industry has been utilizing construction technology and equipment for these same reasons for generations. While other industries have embraced the use of smart, autonomous technology and robotics, the construction industry has steadily fallen behind in this effort. In this paper, I will discuss current work using these tools and possible applications for future development.
The Impact Of Climate Change On Building Energy Demands And Mitigation Measures In Florida, Aiyin (Erin) Jiang
The Impact Of Climate Change On Building Energy Demands And Mitigation Measures In Florida, Aiyin (Erin) Jiang
The Professional Constructor
Tropical and subtropical parts of the world are projected to be the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change on building energy consumption demand. Few studies, however, focus on all four greenhouse emission scenarios defined by International Panel of Climate Change, which would be useful in assessing the energy demand challenges areas such as Florida. This study applies the most recognized climate change model downscaling approach, the morphing method, to investigate the impact of climate change on the commonly used commercial buildings in Florida’s climate zones under all four emission scenarios. It also analyzes the efficacy of various mitigation …
Frequency And Magnitude Of Cost Growth In Public Works Contracts, George Fulton, Panagiotis Mitropoulos
Frequency And Magnitude Of Cost Growth In Public Works Contracts, George Fulton, Panagiotis Mitropoulos
The Professional Constructor
Cost overruns are a persistent issue in the construction industry. This paper investigates factors that may drive cost growth on public works contracts. The study collected data on 1,043 public works projects completed over a three year period. The analysis examined the impact of four factors on cost overruns: (1) Project type, (2) Contract size, (3) Contract duration, and (4) Construction placement (value per day). The data were analyzed using a combination of basic descriptive statistics along with statistical hypothesis testing of means for various factors affecting cost growth. Cost growth was found to vary significantly by project type, contract …
Case Study Of Real-World Emissions Rates Verus Epaemission Standards For Motor Graders, Boshra Karimi, Phil Lewis
Case Study Of Real-World Emissions Rates Verus Epaemission Standards For Motor Graders, Boshra Karimi, Phil Lewis
The Professional Constructor
Using the Volkswagen emissions scandal as motivation, the purpose of this case study was to investigate whether or not heavy-duty diesel construction equipment exceeds EPA emissions standards for nonroad diesel engines. The equipment analyzed included four separate motor graders with EPA emissions standards Tier 0, Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 engines. The analysis was based on a dataset of real-world emissions rates collected from in-use equipment on actual jobsites. The results showed that mass per time emissions rates for hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter decreased as the EPA emissions standards became more stringent. Furthermore, there …
Understanding Sub-Contractor Selection Factors In Thebuilding Construction Industry For The Southeastern United States, Dhaval Gajjar, Cayla Anderson
Understanding Sub-Contractor Selection Factors In Thebuilding Construction Industry For The Southeastern United States, Dhaval Gajjar, Cayla Anderson
The Professional Constructor
The primary entities within building construction industry consists of the owner, the architect / engineer, and the general contractor, that ensure the success of any construction project. On a traditional project, the owner selects and contracts with the general contractor to construct a building designed by the architect. A considerable amount of research has been conducted to understand the owner’s selection factors to hire a qualified general contractor. However, the general contractor selected for the project seldom self-performs the entire construction of a building. The general contractor might self-perform some aspects of the actual building construction, but they will typically …
The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 45, Number 02
The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 45, Number 02
The Professional Constructor
No abstract provided.
Change Management In Construction: Necessity, Obstacles,And Suggested Solutions, Ihab M. H. Saad
Change Management In Construction: Necessity, Obstacles,And Suggested Solutions, Ihab M. H. Saad
The Professional Constructor
The construction industry is one of the major harbingers of the economy of any industrialized nation. Its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product is undeniable. The major economic downturn that lasted from 2008 to 2011 resulted in a lot of change in the industry personnel at both the administration and labor force levels. This resulted in expediting the retirement of a generation of seasoned professionals, and creating a gap in the ranks of construction firms that is still to be completely filled. Similar impacts followed the uncertainty resulting recently from Covid-19 and the economic instability and uncertainty it caused. One …
Pert, Cpm And The Tangled History Of Network Scheduling, Charles Christopher Smith, Vivek Sharma, Gregory B. Baecher
Pert, Cpm And The Tangled History Of Network Scheduling, Charles Christopher Smith, Vivek Sharma, Gregory B. Baecher
The Professional Constructor
The origins of two network scheduling techniques: The Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT); and the Critical Path Method (CPM) are examined. Prior accounts hold that each are different and were created separately. PERT, developed within the U. S. Navy’s highly classified POLARIS nuclear missile program which began in 1955. CPM, the creation of American industrial concerns E. I. du Pont de Nemours (du Pont) and Remington Rand UNIVAC. With the objective of settling “an acrimonious dispute over parentage,” this research examines the literature and the original forms of PERT and CPM noting their ‘dead ring’ resemblances, synchronous development timelines, while …
Identifying Challenges To Project Outcomes From A Transportation Project Owner Perspective, Evan D. Bingham, Clifton B. Farnsworth, Rebecca O. Warr, James P. Smith
Identifying Challenges To Project Outcomes From A Transportation Project Owner Perspective, Evan D. Bingham, Clifton B. Farnsworth, Rebecca O. Warr, James P. Smith
The Professional Constructor
Transportation project owners are often concerned with the risks associated with construction, because these challenges can directly affect project outcomes and often lead to increased time and cost for projects. It is, therefore, vital to identify challenges early within the project life cycle. Transportation project delivery has evolved to strengthen the influence that the owner has upon the project, transitioning away from the exclusive use of traditional Design-Bid-Build to the more innovative and involved approaches of Design-Build and Construction Manager / General Contractor. Unfortunately, this has resulted in increased owner risk. In this research, transportation project owners were asked to …
A Culture-Based Analysis Of Construction Management Students’ Conflict Management Styles, David W. Martin
A Culture-Based Analysis Of Construction Management Students’ Conflict Management Styles, David W. Martin
The Professional Constructor
The use of collaborative project delivery systems in the construction industry requires cooperation and shared management of the construction process to achieve success. This growth in collaborative systems requires project representatives to effectively manage conflict. Project failures utilizing collaborative methods are frequently attributed to an inability of project representatives to collaboratively resolve conflict. Research suggests that minorities are prone to use a collaborative conflict management style and the inclusion of minorities in construction management (CM) roles can reduce negative conflict. The growing evidence that increasing workforce diversity in CM is beneficial to the industry indicates that there is value in …
Role Of Infrastructure In The Success Of Residential Developments In Michigan, Aditi Hardekar, M.G. Matt Syal
Role Of Infrastructure In The Success Of Residential Developments In Michigan, Aditi Hardekar, M.G. Matt Syal
The Professional Constructor
Infrastructure systems are critical for the success of a residential development. These systems include the infrastructure within and around the development as well as facilities and amenities in the surrounding area. Most of the residential development literature tend to focus on the planning, layout, social aspects, and the residential units itself, but lack emphasis on the infrastructure systems. This paper identified supporting infrastructure for residential developments based on the review of research and industry literature, and several case studies nationwide. The availability and absence of infrastructure systems were investigated in each case study. The review led to the identification of …
The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 45, Number 01
The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 45, Number 01
The Professional Constructor
No abstract provided.
Identifying And Positively Addressing Real And Perceived Barriers To Inclusion In Construction, Lisa Breitenfield
Identifying And Positively Addressing Real And Perceived Barriers To Inclusion In Construction, Lisa Breitenfield
The Professional Constructor
The construction industry is facing difficulties in recruiting and training new skilled workers. My essay will identify some methods companies and the AGC can use to attract new employees. Some potential solutions involve encouraging schools to expose students to the construction industry, recognizing and assisting working parents with childcare issues, companies offering employees personalized career advancement schedules, and recruiting students focused on the arts and history for detail oriented roles in the industry. The Associated General Contractors can help by advising individual companies on attracting employees and facilitate greater mentorship programs between companies and educational institutions.
Current State Of The Employee Assessment Process In The Construction Industry For Southeast United States, Dhaval Gajjar, Shima Clarke, Cayla Anderson
Current State Of The Employee Assessment Process In The Construction Industry For Southeast United States, Dhaval Gajjar, Shima Clarke, Cayla Anderson
The Professional Constructor
The employee assessment process (EAP) is a formal evaluation system used by an employer to evaluate employee’s performance and behavior within a company. The objective of this paper is to determine the current state of the most common used practices for EAP in the construction industry; specifically in Southeast United States. Existing literature was reviewed to understand the historical context and the current documentation of existing EAP processes in other industries and within the construction industry. Literature revealed that there is no formal standardized process documented for EAP practice within the United States construction industry. Based on the literature findings …
State Department Of Transportation Suas Program Development And Operational Deployment, Dennis Bausman, Joseph Burgett, Ajay Jadhav, Scott Shaffer, Eric Stuckey
State Department Of Transportation Suas Program Development And Operational Deployment, Dennis Bausman, Joseph Burgett, Ajay Jadhav, Scott Shaffer, Eric Stuckey
The Professional Constructor
Over the past several years small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) have gained popularity in the private sector. Recent studies have shown an increasing interest from state DOTs in the U.S. for the use of drone technology. However, most of the studies did not fully investigate the depth of program integration or application. This study combines the findings of recent studies to identify state DOTs with the most extensive sUAS operational experience. The drone champions for the six states identified, were interviewed to gain substantive insight regarding program initiation and organization, the spectrum of agency use, perceived benefits, and the DOT’s …
Increasing Diversity And Inclusion Through Mentoring Underrepresented Groups, Corban Williams
Increasing Diversity And Inclusion Through Mentoring Underrepresented Groups, Corban Williams
The Professional Constructor
The Construction Industry historically has struggled to gain traction with underrepresented groups, such as women, African-Americans, and the Hispanic/ Latinx community. To combat this, industry-wide action is necessary to increase diversity and inclusion. Underrepresented communities have misconceptions about the construction industry including a lack of knowledge about the wide range of possible careers. By the AGC establishing a mentoring program with career goals and psychological attributes for grades 6-12 and college students, a positive dialog about the industry would be established. Visibility and promotion of the program would encourage students of underrepresented communities to consider a career in the construction …
Perspectives On Diversity And Inclusion In Construction, Anna A. Pasha
Perspectives On Diversity And Inclusion In Construction, Anna A. Pasha
The Professional Constructor
The construction industry is rapidly growing and contractors are optimistic about the immediate and long-term growth of the industry. As demand increases, the construction industry faces a projected labor shortage crisis. As the construction industry grows, it must rise to meet the challenge of solving this labor shortage by diversifying and widening its labor pool and strategically attracting new talent. This essay offers a detailed solution that includes a redefinition of approaches to diversity, ideas for short-term policies and creative long-term policies, and a lasting vision for the industry that will guide us to continue growing progressively and avoiding crises …
Examining The Pre-Construction Professional: Career Evolution, Responsibilities And Skilles, Aaron D. Sauer, Hariharan Naganathan, Kevin M. Hubbard
Examining The Pre-Construction Professional: Career Evolution, Responsibilities And Skilles, Aaron D. Sauer, Hariharan Naganathan, Kevin M. Hubbard
The Professional Constructor
The construction industry is constantly evolving to meet the needs of clients in light of significant technological and regulatory change. The Pre-Construction Professional is one example of a new career path that has emerged in response to changing market conditions. This study investigated the Pre-Construction Professional in an effort to define when the career path emerged and why it was needed. The researchers also sought to describe the role of the Pre-Construction Professional and document their requisite knowledge and skills. The research design was based on extensive interviews with working Pre-Construction Professionals and supported by available literature. The findings of …
Assessing The Equity Gap In Construction Education, Jared M. Burgoon, John Killingsworth, Jonathan W. Elliott, Molly M. Weisshaar
Assessing The Equity Gap In Construction Education, Jared M. Burgoon, John Killingsworth, Jonathan W. Elliott, Molly M. Weisshaar
The Professional Constructor
There is a documented demand for an educated construction management workforce. To help meet this demand, construction education programs at numerous post-secondary institutions have established objectives and goals to recruit, train, and graduate high-quality students; and, many of these programs are charged with providing educational opportunities to students who have been traditionally underserved in higher education (e.g., female, minority, first generation students, etc.). This study compared the enrollment and retention rates, interdepartmental migration patterns, and student satisfaction and graduation success outcomes of undergraduate students enrolled in a CM program at a public university as a means of identifying trends and …
The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 44, Number 02
The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 44, Number 02
The Professional Constructor
No abstract provided.
Commercial Construction Schedule Collaborators And Current Scheduling Practices, Evan D. Bingham, Jay P. Christofferson, Mark Hutchings
Commercial Construction Schedule Collaborators And Current Scheduling Practices, Evan D. Bingham, Jay P. Christofferson, Mark Hutchings
The Professional Constructor
Construction mangers use the project schedule to communicate aspects of construction timing critical to project success. These schedules may be created using the collaboration of multiple project stakeholders or be the creation of a single manager. The tools used to create and communicate the schedule could range from hand drawn to critical path computer software. Because these practices may vary from company to company, commercial construction mangers can benefit from an understanding of common scheduling practices in the industry. This paper is a report of findings for commercial contractors working in the western United States. Construction managers working for 23 …
Attraction And Retention Of Minority Managerial Employees At Electrical Contractors, Ben F. Bigelow, Anthony J. Perrenoud, Anusree Saseendran
Attraction And Retention Of Minority Managerial Employees At Electrical Contractors, Ben F. Bigelow, Anthony J. Perrenoud, Anusree Saseendran
The Professional Constructor
Diversity in the managerial workforce in construction is limited, with a shortage of talent in the industry and the demand projected to grow over the next ten years. The challenge of attracting and retaining managerial talent is exacerbated for trade contractors as they have historically promoted management from the trades. This study explored differences, based on ethnicity, when it comes to factors that attract and retain managerial talent in electrical construction. Data was collected through a nationwide survey of management employees of electrical contractors. It was found that while some factors were influential for all ethnic groups, certain factors became …
Building Information Model-Based Quantity Takeoff – Leadership Support And Training, Morgan Tagg, James P. Smith, Jay P. Christofferson, Kevin R. Miller
Building Information Model-Based Quantity Takeoff – Leadership Support And Training, Morgan Tagg, James P. Smith, Jay P. Christofferson, Kevin R. Miller
The Professional Constructor
Building Information Modeling (BIM) plays an important role in the modern construction industry. BIM models are tools that help stakeholders perform a variety of functions including communication, visualization, trade coordination, and clash detection. A less commonly utilized functionality of BIM that shows strong potential to improve efficiencies and reduce error is model-based quantity take off (QTO). The literature identifies eight challenges to implementing BIM QTO. This paper focuses on the leadership and training elements inherent to two of the identified challenges – 1) New skills and training, and 2) reluctance of employees to adopt. Through semi-structured interviews with estimators, preconstruction …
Effects Of Organizational Trust And Project Delivery Variables On Bim User Confidence, Jason D. Lucas, Saw Sri Neeharika Vijayarao
Effects Of Organizational Trust And Project Delivery Variables On Bim User Confidence, Jason D. Lucas, Saw Sri Neeharika Vijayarao
The Professional Constructor
The use of Building Information Models (BIM) for construction planning has increased in all areas except for automated processes such as quantity take-off. Many model users lack confidence that a model, typically created by a third party, has accurate enough information in it to rely on the data for planning the project. This research is looking at how factors of organization trust and variables related to project delivery can raise user confidence in these situations. Factors of organizational trust were identified through a literature review. Two surveys were utilized to identify which factors were significant in raising user confidence. Finally, …
Accuracy Of Drone Based Surveys To Measure Stockpile Volume, Joseph M. Burgett, Scott Shaffer, Eric Stuckey
Accuracy Of Drone Based Surveys To Measure Stockpile Volume, Joseph M. Burgett, Scott Shaffer, Eric Stuckey
The Professional Constructor
This paper outlines a two phase experiment evaluating the accuracy of volumetric calculations using a commercially available drone and structure-from-motion (SfM) software. In the first phase, a large cardboard pyramid with a known volume was used to simulate a stockpile. Using georeferenced images collected by a Phantom 4 Pro drone and the SfM software ContextCapture, the computed volumes ranged between 1.5% and 3.3% of the actual volume. In the second phase of the experiment, a photometric survey was created of a large SCDOT borrow pit. The volumetric calculations were computed using conventional survey practices and with drone collected images. There …
The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 44, Number 01
The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 44, Number 01
The Professional Constructor
No abstract provided.
Implementing Unbiased Decision-Making In Construction: A Lean Approach, Somik Ghosh, Michelle Robinette, Howard Tapia
Implementing Unbiased Decision-Making In Construction: A Lean Approach, Somik Ghosh, Michelle Robinette, Howard Tapia
The Professional Constructor
Construction project-teams are frequently faced with the task of decision-making as part of their responsibility. The positive effects of the decisions made at various stages of the projects lead to improved project performances, while negative effects can hinder the performances. The project teams take up the task of decision-making surrounded by multiple criteria, which can be arduous and clouded with subjectivity. This paper presents an approach based on the Lean principle of providing more autonomy to the project-teams and supporting collaborative and decentralized process in pursuit of unbiased decision-making. This Lean way of decision-making is formalized as Choosing by Advantage …
Attracting And Retaining Future Top Performing Employees: A Student Perspective, Julia Allen
Attracting And Retaining Future Top Performing Employees: A Student Perspective, Julia Allen
The Professional Constructor
This essay provides insight as to how construction companies can both attract and retain top performing employees. By making the standard interview and recruiting processes more personal, construction companies can evaluate potential hires to see is they are a good fit for the company for years to come. Once employees are hired, companies then need to provide opportunities for both personal and professional growth. From personal experiences, I share the characteristics I find most important in an ideal employer and emphasize the importance of having an in-depth, genuine conversation with potential hires.