Construction Engineering Commons^™

Ua66 Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Newsletter, Cheryl Stevens, Dean

Ogden College of Science & Engineering Publications

No abstract provided.

Information Technology Project Management Of The New College Of Education Facility At Western Kentucky University, Christopher Lee Roberts

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Information Technology (IT) Project Management methodologies are numerous, often varying from organization to organization, and sometimes from project to project within the same organization. Although project type and scope can be a powerful indicator of what methodologies may work best for a given project, choosing which methodology to use can be daunting for project teams. At times, even after due diligence has been practiced to identify the management options available for a given project, there may not be a perfect fit. At such times, or when a formal methodology does not exist in an organization or project management office, the …

Bs News May/June

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Bs News March/April

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

An Introduction To Taking Off Building Quantities:An Irish Approach, Tony Cunningham

Other Resources

The purpose of measuring building work is to establish the correct amount of work to be executed. Calculating well presented accurate quantities in a clear manner while adopting a logical approach will help to reduce errors and will save time if the measurements need to be referred to at a later date. This paper describes and demonstrates an approach to hand-written taking off procedure informed by the techniques adopted by Irish consulting quantity surveying practices. The paper also discusses the ‘direct billing’ system used inIrelandand contrasts this with the procedures demonstrated in various UK textbooks, identifying key differences between the …

A Survey For The Construction Management Department At Brigham Young University, Daniel J. Foutz, Dr. Kevin Miller

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Kevin Miller and I conducted a survey for the benefit of the Construction Management Department at Brigham Young University. The survey also benefitted two professional associations of the construction industry, namely, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), and the Association of Building Contractors (ABC). The purposes of the survey were to: evaluate current use of software in the industry; gain information for seminars held by the AGC and ABC; determine the level of interest in a proposed graduate program for the Construction Management Department; and expand job opportunities for BYU’s construction management graduates and interns. In conducting the survey …

Impact Of Sustainable Cool Roof Technology On Building Energy Consumption, Prem Kiran Vuppuluri

Dissertations and Theses

Highly reflective roofing systems have been analyzed over several decades to evaluate their ability to meet sustainability goals, including reducing building energy consumption and mitigating the urban heat island. Studies have isolated and evaluated the effects of climate, surface reflectivity, and roof insulation on energy savings, thermal load mitigation and also ameliorating the urban heat island. Other sustainable roofing systems, like green-roofs and solar panels have been similarly evaluated. The motivation for the present study is twofold: the first goal is to present a method for simultaneous evaluation and inter-comparison of multiple roofing systems, and the second goal is to …

Method And System For Optimal Coordination Control And Soft Repair Of Multiple Rooftop Heating And Cooling Units, Haorong Li

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Techniques are described that may be implemented in an adaptive control device to regulate multiple zone environmental units based upon multiple temperature values and multiple airflow values, where each temperature value and each airflow value is related to the temperature and the airflow in a specific zone. In an implementation, the input interface of the adaptive control device is configured to receive multiple temperature values and multiple air flow values from multiple zone sensors. The adaptive control device may calculate multiple operational values based on the multiple temperature values and the multiple air flow values. An operational value indicates a …

Ua35/3 Memoranda, Wku Provost

WKU Administration Documents

Memoranda issued by the WKU Provost to WKU faculty and staff via email.

• Dean, College of Human & Health Services
• Summer Projects, 2014
• Directorship of the Kentucky Museum

Improving Enrollment In The Construction Management Graduate Program Through Students’ Perspectives, Mouloud Messaoudi

Master of Technology Management Plan II Graduate Projects

Low enrollment and the decrease in graduation and retention rates are challenges facing the growth of the Master’s in Technology Management – Construction Management (MTM-CM) program at BGSU. In addition, the competition between the universities to enroll and retain more in-state, out-of-state, and international students is aggressive. There is a need for a revaluation for the MTM-CM program in order to attract more students in the future. This study is a necessary step to know what the MTM-CM students think about the product delivered to them at BGSU. There was no prior study investigating the satisfaction level of the construction …

The Influence Of National Culture On Effectiveness Of Safety Trainings During Postdisaster Reconstruction, Behzad Esmaeili, Kevin Grosskopf, Amy Javernick-Will

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Non-English speaking workers constitute a disproportionately high number of workers involved in postdisaster reconstruction. Additionally, the rate of fatality among these workers is higher than the industry average. Research shows this population is more prone to unsafe behaviors in the working environment, conceivably because many of these workers are sent into the field prior to any formalized training. Recent studies show that the native culture of construction workers can impact risk-taking behavior. While numerous researchers have attempted to develop training materials for Hispanic workers, the number of studies that consider the impact of native culture on safety behavior is minimal. …

Virtual Surface Temperature Sensor For Multi-Zone Commercial Buildings, Yuebin Yu, Denchai Woradechjumroen, Daihong Yu

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Multi-zone structure is commonly used in small commercial office buildings, retail stores and supermarket. While there is no adjacent wall between the zones, the impact of a neighbor zone on the current zone can be approximated and analyzed through the application of virtual walls. It is critical to accurately estimate the virtual wall surface temperature in order to evaluate the model uncertainty and apply improved supervisory control on multiple rooftop air-conditioning units (RTUs). We propose an innovative virtual surface temperature sensor based on system-identification to solve this challenge. The validation of the virtual temperature model is processed by the three …

Shallow Flat Soffit Precast Concrete Floor System, George Morcous, Maher Tadros

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

A precast concrete floor system that eliminates the need for column corbels and beam ledges while being very shallow. The main advantages of the present system include a span to-depth ratio of 30, a flat soffit, economy, consistency with prevailing erection techniques, and fire and corrosion protection. The present system consists of continuous precast columns, prestressed rectangular beams, hollow-core planks, and cast-in-place composite topping. Testing results have indicated that a 12 inch deep flat soffit precast floor system has adequate capacity to carry gravity loads (including 100 psf live load) in a 30 ft x 30 ft bay size. Testing …

Behavior Of I-Section Gfrp Beam Including Retrofitting For Damage Effects, Mamadou Konate, Zia Razzaq

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper presents the outcome of a study of an I-section Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) beam including retrofitting for damage effects. A total of three beam tests were conducted in the following sequence: GFRP beam with no retrofitting and a single mid-span web brace; the partially damaged (cracked) beam with GFRP plates used for retrofitting; and the retrofitted beam re-tested with the lateral brace at the top flange level. Both cracking and lateral-torsional buckling behavior is studied and experimental load-deflection relationships recorded. Using the mechanical properties of GFRP based on the experimental data, theoretical predictions are made for the …

Hybrid Of Natural Element Method (Nem) With Genetic Algorithm (Ga) To Find Critical Slip Surface, Shahriar Shahrokhabadi, Vahid Khoshfahm, Hamed Nabizadeh Rafsanjani

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

One of the most important issues in geotechnical engineering is the slope stability analysis for determination of the factor of safety and the probable slip surface. Finite Element Method (FEM) is well suited for numerical study of advanced geotechnical problems. However, mesh requirements of FEM creates some difficulties for solution processing in certain problems. Recently, motivated by these limitations, several new Meshfree methods such as Natural Element Method (NEM) have been used to analyze engineering problems. This paper presents advantages of using NEM in 2D slope stability analysis and Genetic Algorithm (GA) optimization to determine the probable slip surface and …

Bs News January/February

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Facility Matters: The Perception Of Academic Deans Regarding The Role Of Facilities In Higher Education, Wallace Harris

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how academic deans perceived the characteristics of facility built environment and its impact on learning in higher education. Q methodology was used as the means to explore the subjective opinions of academic deans within the State of Florida regarding the facility built environment’s impact on learning in higher education. For this Q study, the concourse statements were the result of communications taken from the subject literature and participant responses to this study’s online concourse questionnaire. The resulting 32 item Q sample was sorted online by 43 academic deans, associate and assistant deans. …

Factors Related To Women's Undergraduate Success, Tanya Michelle Baker

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

To Lift The Leaden-Eyed: Ernest Boyer’S Career In Higher Education, Drew Moser

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Diffusion Of Energy Efficient Technology In Commercial Buildings: An Analysis Of The Commercial Building Partnerships Program, Chrissi Argyro Antonopoulos

Dissertations and Theses

This study presents findings from survey and interview data investigating replication of green building measures by Commercial Building Partnership (CBP) partners that worked directly with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL partnered directly with 12 organizations on new and retrofit construction projects, which represented approximately 28 percent of the entire U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) CBP program. Through a feedback survey mechanism, along with personal interviews, quantitative and qualitative data were gathered relating to replication efforts by each organization. These data were analyzed to provide insight into two primary research areas: 1) CBP partners' replication efforts of green building …

Managing Post Contract Variations Under The Principle ‘Traditional’ Irish Forms Of Contract - An Overview, Tony Cunningham

Other Resources

Variations are almost inevitable on all but the most simple of building contracts. This review examines the topic of variations in the context of the ‘traditionally’ procured building contracts in the Republic of Ireland. The study presents definitions of variations as set out in various contracts including the RIAI and GCCC Forms of Contract and identifies common sources of variations on building projects. The study sets out the legal framework supporting the right to vary work, establishes the nature of varied and/or extra work, and discusses the requirements for payment of such work. Variation procedures under the RIAI and GCCC …

Linking Effective Whole Life Cycle Cost Data To Parametric Building Information Models Using Bim Technologies, Dermot Kehily, Trevor Woods, Fiacra P. Mcdonnell

Conference papers

Abstract ̶ This paper demonstrates the capabilities of BIM (Building Information Modeling) in leveraging Whole Life Cycle Cost (WLCC) data requirements to perform WLCC calculations and produce WLLC estimates. The research determines the extent to which WLCC data, such as time, interest rates, escalation rates and real costs can be attached to parametric BIM data to be used effectively to create speedier and more accurate real-time WLLC analysis. Without incorporating WLCC data in the BIM, a complete picture of a construction project’s WLCC cannot be formed from the default outputs of the model. BIM 5D applications such as CostX utilise …

Bs News November/December

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Improving Project Performance Using Lean Construction In Egypt ., Marwa Gamal Swefie

Theses and Dissertations

There are numerous challenges and problems facing the construction industry in Egypt. The main criterion for success of any construction project is to deliver the project without time or cost overrun. Lean Construction is a new management technique that has been successfully implemented in many countries to increase the probability of a project success. This research examines the effectiveness of implementing lean thinking on the performance of Egyptian construction projects. First, the current appreciation and awareness of lean construction within the Egyptian construction industry is determined through an actual survey within one of the largest construction firms in Egypt. It …

Compression Testing And Failure Modes Of Steel-Concrete Composite (Sc) Structures For Nuclear Containment, Patrick Michael Wanamaker, Amit H. Varma

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Although being able to provide much cleaner power than burning coal and other fossil fuels, nuclear power plants are still a tough sell to the general public due to their history of being spontaneously dangerous. The containment structures surrounding these nuclear plants, however, can play a huge role in reducing the risks associated with them. Relatively new designs for these containment assemblies, known as SC (steel-concrete composite) structures, aim to increase the strength and durability of the containment facilities while keeping costs down. By varying the spacing between shear studs, the ratio of concrete to steel, and the ratio of …

An Analysis Of Safety Culture & Safety Training: Comparing The Impact Of Union, Non-Union, And Right To Work Construction Venues, Harry Miller Csp, Tara Hill, Kris Mason, John S. Gaal Edd

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

The construction industry is one of the most dangerous sectors of the US economy. As such, the safety attitudes and climate within small (residential) contracting firms may play a role in providing a safe culture and working environment. The intent of this practitioner-based research study is to compare and determine if there is a difference in safety practices—based on documented field inspections and their related original number of violations observed by OSHA—between union residential carpentry contractors in the St. Louis area and:

1) non-union residential carpentry contractors in the St. Louis area;

2) non-union residential carpentry contractors across Missouri; and …

Evaluation Of Phase Change Materials For Cooling In A Super-Insulated Passive House, Jeffrey Stephen Lauck

Dissertations and Theses

Due to factors such as rising energy costs, diminishing resources, and climate change, the demand for high performance buildings is on the rise. As a result, several new building standards have emerged including the Passive House Standard, a rigorous energy-use standard based on a super-insulated and very tightly sealed building envelope. The standard requires that that air infiltration is less than or equal to 0.6 air changes per hour at a 50 Pascal pressure difference, annual heating energy is less than or equal to 15kWh/m2, and total annual source energy is less than or equal to 120 kWh/m2. A common …

Ua3/9/2 2010-2022 Master Plan, Wku Planning, Design & Construction

WKU Administration Documents

WKU master plan map showing buildings needing renovation, proposed buildings, affiliated buildings and WKU property in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Bs News September/October

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Predicting Building Energy Performance: Leveraging Bim Content For Energy Efficient Buildings, Eddie Villanueva Aquino

Master's Theses

Reducing and managing the environmental impacts of building structures has become a priority of building stakeholders and within the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) community; although, conflicting approaches and methods to combat the issues are present. For example, green building standards are widespread throughout the world; however each one has its own characteristics and consequently its own specific requirements. While all have proven to be effective rating systems and have similar requirements, the distinguishing characteristic that separates them is their treatment of performance and prescriptive metrics. The feature they all severely lack or currently limit is the inclusion of strict …