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Constrained Multi-Group Project Allocation Using Mahalanobis Distance, Abdulaziz Saud Alkabaa Dec 2016

Constrained Multi-Group Project Allocation Using Mahalanobis Distance, Abdulaziz Saud Alkabaa

Doctoral Dissertations

Optimal allocation is one of the most active research areas in operation research using binary integer variables. The allocation of multi constrained projects among several options available along a given planning horizon is an especially significant problem in the general area of item classification. The main goal of this dissertation is to develop an analytical approach for selecting projects that would be most attractive from an economic point of view to be developed or allocated among several options, such as in-house engineers and private contractors (in transportation projects). A relevant limiting resource in addition to the availability of funds is …


Identifying And Prioritizing Critical Success Factors For Fixed Base Operators In The United States: A Mixed Method Approach, Yu Wang Dec 2016

Identifying And Prioritizing Critical Success Factors For Fixed Base Operators In The United States: A Mixed Method Approach, Yu Wang

Open Access Dissertations

Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) are major service providers for the general aviation (GA) sector, which closely connect the public with the aviation industry. However, over the past decade, the U.S. GA industry has experienced a decline in the numbers of registered aircraft, pilots, and airports. Due to the fact that FBOs significantly contribute to the aviation industry, further research studies regarding the FBO-sector at a national level are needed. The purpose of this dissertation was to identify and prioritize the critical success factors (CSFs) that promote the success of FBO operations in the United States.

The methodology consisted of a …


A Consideration Of Hydraulic Fracturing In The United States, Sarah Wagner Oct 2016

A Consideration Of Hydraulic Fracturing In The United States, Sarah Wagner

Student Writing

No abstract provided.


Using Building Information Modeling (Bim) And The Last Planner System (Lps) To Reduce Construction Process Delay, Zaid K. Ai Hussein Oct 2016

Using Building Information Modeling (Bim) And The Last Planner System (Lps) To Reduce Construction Process Delay, Zaid K. Ai Hussein

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The construction industry suffers from many practical problems and challenges; most being related to construction management. One of the most common recurring problems in construction projects is delay. Delay is a primary factor that can have an effect on project duration, scheduled delivery date, as well as the overhead cost of the project. This study investigated the problem of delays in construction projects. The research focused on the combination of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Last Planner System (LPS) together to measure the execution time of construction projects. The aim of this study was to determine whether using BIM and …


A Framework For Organizational Performance Assessment In The Construction Industry, Zenith Rathore Apr 2016

A Framework For Organizational Performance Assessment In The Construction Industry, Zenith Rathore

Open Access Theses

Organizations have been trying to increase their efficiency and improve their performance in order to achieve their goals. Organizational success is determined by various factors that impact organizational performance. Construction industry is a project based industry which is extremely dynamic in nature. The need to identify the weak points and search solutions to improve performance of construction organization is extremely crucial. Previous research works have primarily focused on the measurement of financial or tangible assets. Industry has always focused on measure of project success. However, previous studies lack the understanding of qualitative factors and their combine effect on organizational performance. …


Sustainable Architecture Design: Environmental And Economic Benefits, Michael Babcock Apr 2016

Sustainable Architecture Design: Environmental And Economic Benefits, Michael Babcock

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis examines the movement of environmentalism, and its impact on architecture and construction. During an interview with a professional architect, a basis for research of sustainable design was devised, when he explained that “good” architecture attempts to holistically integrate the external and built environment. Presently, the main measurement for sustainability is energy efficiency. Therefore, architects constantly implement new technology in an attempt to unify both the external and built environment in an energy efficient manner. Furthermore, this thesis provides an environmental and financial cost analysis of implementing sustainable design and build. Research shows that the life cycle and up-front …


Civil Engineer Company Grade Officer Training Needs Analysis For Contingency Operations, Brian S. Greszler Mar 2016

Civil Engineer Company Grade Officer Training Needs Analysis For Contingency Operations, Brian S. Greszler

Theses and Dissertations

In terms of active duty personnel, the USAF is the smallest it has ever been since its creation in 1947. With fewer personnel to accomplish essential tasks, the training of Airmen is more important than ever. Outdated and irrelevant training can lead to gaps in the knowledge of trainees. The purpose of this research was to analyze the training needs of Civil Engineer (CE) Company Grade Officers (CGOs) in the contingency environment. This was done by first conducting a Job Analysis (JA). The JA resulted in a list of 36 critical tasks and 58 important Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). …


The Welfare Effects Of Nationalization In A Mixed Duopoly Public Transport Market, Feifei Qin, Xiaoning Zhang, Eoin Plant Mar 2016

The Welfare Effects Of Nationalization In A Mixed Duopoly Public Transport Market, Feifei Qin, Xiaoning Zhang, Eoin Plant

Articles

Recently, many cities have launched new rail transit lines. Once these new rail transit lines start commercial operation, they will play important roles as competitors to conventional bus services. In this paper, the effects of nationalization on equilibria have been studied in a mixed duopoly public transport market, in which one publicly-owned rail transit operator competes with one private bus operator. Two numerical case studies show the nationalization of a rail transit company is always socially desirable both in Bertrand pricing game in the short run and in Nash non-cooperative game in the long run.


Thawing Out: The Role Of The Arctic Council Service In A Melting Arctic, Taylor J. Enos Mar 2016

Thawing Out: The Role Of The Arctic Council Service In A Melting Arctic, Taylor J. Enos

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

With the changing natural and political climate of the Arctic, conflicts over resource extraction and navigation will become inevitable. Empowering an intergovernmental institution like the Arctic Council Service may be the only solution. This paper analyzes the importance and history of the Arctic as a political environment, which is prone to abuse in the very near future at the hands of Russia and the United States.


Project Risk Propagation Modeling Of Engineering, Procurement And Construction, Alireza Atin Jan 2016

Project Risk Propagation Modeling Of Engineering, Procurement And Construction, Alireza Atin

Wayne State University Dissertations

The construction industry is complicated since it involves a variety of stakeholders, challenging environmental issues, huge investments, complex economic and political factors, and other features which may cause an uncertain and unpredictable environment for construction projects. Impacts of risk events can transfer from one phase (source) of a construction project to another phase (target) very quickly and can cause more damage in other phases. Thus, two surveys were conducted to understand the risk propagation phenomena among the engineering, procurement, and construction phases. We conducted two surveys and analyzed data acquired by using sensitive analysis and binary logistic regression modeling. Risk …


Main Contractor Selection On Construction Projects When Adapting An Integrated Project Delivery Procurement Strategy Within An Irish Context., Fiacra Mcdonnell Jan 2016

Main Contractor Selection On Construction Projects When Adapting An Integrated Project Delivery Procurement Strategy Within An Irish Context., Fiacra Mcdonnell

Other Resources

The Irish construction industry has experienced turbulent years over the last decade from an economic viewpoint. The industry has tended to be conservative in nature and slow to embrace change. However international influences have exposed Irish construction professionals to new more efficient systems and technologies, which although slow to take hold have started to gain traction within certain sectors of the industry. This study has focussed on the innovative procurement route known as Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), and its facilitator; Building Information Modelling (BIM). The overall aim of this study was to investigate whether Integrated Project Delivery was a viable …


Resolving The Policy Paradox: The Case Of Biofuel Production In Ireland, Alan Gilmer, Mark J. Mcgarrity, Vivienne Byers Jan 2016

Resolving The Policy Paradox: The Case Of Biofuel Production In Ireland, Alan Gilmer, Mark J. Mcgarrity, Vivienne Byers

Articles

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the status of policy design and policy implementation in the biofuel sector in Ireland. The focus of the work addresses the overarching operational context of the biofuel sector in Ireland and the role of different actors in shaping and resolving inconsistencies in policy outlook and practice. Design/methodology/approach – This study used a qualitative research approach involving a series of semi-structured interviews with members of the relevant sub-groups concerned. This study sought to address two questions – whether current or proposed policy is likely to affect consumption of indigenous biofuel feedstocks …


A Sustainability-Based Project Selection Algorithm: Socio-Technical-Economic Project Selection (Steps) Algorithm, Bharathi Bhattu Jan 2016

A Sustainability-Based Project Selection Algorithm: Socio-Technical-Economic Project Selection (Steps) Algorithm, Bharathi Bhattu

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Multi-dimensional aspects play a vital role in the task of project-decision making. Environmental effects are to be considered in addition to other technical and non-technical aspects in order to avoid undue environmental damage. This current work introduces a new decision-making algorithm (Socio-Technical-Economic Project Selection or STEPS) that is demonstrated with the use of RCA (recycled concrete aggregate) as riprap for slope stabilization and erosion control which leaches chemical arsenic when in contact with water. Arsenic has long been recognized for its lethal properties. The main intention of introducing this new algorithm is to use sustainability concepts of social, technical, and …


Decision Making Of Environmental Engineers On Project Selection, Millicent Amanda Davis Jan 2016

Decision Making Of Environmental Engineers On Project Selection, Millicent Amanda Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some environmental engineers do not understand how to perceive profitable opportunities in redeveloping the large number of contaminated brownfield sites in New Jersey. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to find effective decision-making strategies that help environmental engineers acquire profitable environmental redevelopment projects. The target population consisted of 4 environmental engineers in an environmental organization in Camden County, New Jersey who possessed proven decision-making strategies that helped them acquire profitable environmental redevelopment projects in the past 5 years. The conceptual framework for this study was the multiple criteria decision method (MCDM). Semistructured interviews were conducted with the …