Engineering Commons^™

Vr-Based Safety Training Program For High-Rise Building Construction, Sahar Badr

Theses and Dissertations

The rates of fatal and non-fatal accidents within the construction industry across the globe are surging despite the massive efforts that are being exerted toward maintaining a safe working environment. Past research has proved that the provision of effective safety training programs is a primary course of action that should be taken to minimize construction accidents, fatalities, and both fatal and nonfatal injuries.

However, in acknowledging the limitations of traditional safety training programs within the construction industry, several researchers have addressed the urge to incorporate novel training practices that are based on the modern virtual reality (VR) technology to promote …

Implications Of Good Faith In Construction Contracts, Nadine Rashed

Theses and Dissertations

The principle of good faith is making inroads and continues to significantly impact various contractual arrangements. In most civil legal systems, good faith is present as a core principle. Nevertheless, its definition is beyond doubt scarce in the construction industry. However, the common law lacks the good faith obligations. Good faith is one of the fundamental principles that impact the contractual obligations between the contracting parties. This paper creates an urge to address the implications of good faith on construction contracts in the pre-contract and post-contract award stages. Therefore, the paper’s objective is to propose a legal/contractual clause that meets …

Spatial Data Analysis For The Development Of Expected Adverse Weather Charts For Transportation Construction Projects, S M Rahat Rashedi, Akosua Ofosua Okyere-Addo

SDSU Data Science Symposium

Problem - Seasonal and daily weather events impact construction projects across the various climate regions of South Dakota in differing fashions. Additionally, the impacts for similar weather events can impact grading, surfacing, and structural construction activities in various ways. Adverse weather conditions can cause major delays which may lead to time extensions and increase project cost.

Purpose – To address these issues, South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) developed Working Day Weather Charts in 1998. However, advances in construction practices and weather prediction as well as climatic changes have occurred over the interim 25 years. This study is focused on …

Electrochromic Smart Glass: Supplier Comparison Return On Investment Analysis, Hayden Stewart Owens

Construction Management

In recent years, sustainability in construction has become the focus of how the industry can progress with minimal environmental impact. As sustainability certifications become more desirable, key companies in the construction industry have started to seek greener alternatives to standard building systems. There are many sustainable products that are released, but these products are typically so complex that members of the industry are not familiar with these new systems. One novel piece of technology introduced to the industry is electrochromic glass, or smart glass. Electrochromic glass windows examine sunlight and heat exposure from the surrounding environment and change their opacity …

United Methodist Children Center Drain Project, Ethan Mikio Lin

Construction Management

No abstract provided.

United Methodist Children Center Drain Project, Andy Abdelnour

Construction Management

The United Methodist Children Center in San Luis Obispo is a preschool for young children in our community. Some of these students are the children of Cal Poly faculty and staff. The previous drain was not draining water properly and was uneven with bumps and dips that became a hazard for the children. Children would trip, fall, and hurt themselves on the drain. A team of two Cal Poly Construction Management students Ethan Lin and Andy Abdelnour worked together to estimate, design, coordinate, demolish, and construct a new section of the drain that would be safe for the students. The …

Evaluation, Comparison, And Improvement Recommendations For Caltrans Financial Programming Processes And Tools, Wenbin Wei, Nigel Blampied, Raajmaathangi Sreevijay

Mineta Transportation Institute

The California Transportation Improvement Program System (CTIPS) is the main tool used by Caltrans’ Division of Financial Programming to support the business of transportation programming. It is a multi-agency joint-use project programming database system applied to develop and manage various state and federal transportation programming documents. The goal of this project is to evaluate CTIPS and explore various new options that will maintain the current functionality of CTIPS, meet legislative guidelines for ADA compliance, ensure security of the system, and have sufficient scalability and capabilities for integration with other systems in the future. The research is based on the review …

An Artificial Intelligence Tool For The Selection Of Delay Analysis Technique In Construction, Mostafa Farouk

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing complexity and magnitude of projects impose greater impact of delays on stakeholders. Construction delays are a major source of disputes in construction projects. Since a construction project depends on interactions and shared responsibilities among parties, research works were directed toward identifying delay causes, quantifying their impacts, and proposing ways to deal with them. Several delay analysis techniques (DATs) are available, but when applied to the same project’s delays provide different results. Thus, the selection of the DAT to use in evaluating delays becomes vital. Reviewing the literature, it has been realized that often there are disagreements, which lead …

Price Prediction Models Of Metals Considering International Crises, Haidy Ghali

Theses and Dissertations

Steel, copper, and aluminum are essential raw materials in the construction industry and are used in any construction project whether commercial, industrial, or mega projects. During normal market conditions, the prices of these metals normally fluctuate due to general inflation in the economy; however, during crises, the prices of these metals significantly fluctuate exposing both contractors and suppliers to an unexpected financial risk. Various researchers have developed metal prediction models for normal market condition and did not consider testing it on the crises time; also, the developed models are devised using past metal prices or macroeconomic indicators of trading countries …

An Artificial Intelligence Framework To Contractor Financial Prequalification, Salah Elgamal

Theses and Dissertations

Financial distress in the construction industry always causes major disruptions that

usually result in a rippling effect on the economy. Avoiding such defaults is a top priority for employers to meet their demands. Artificial Intelligence (AI) models have provided increased accuracy in predicting financial distress compared to statistical, fuzzy and logistic regression models, and other classification models. The main objective of this work is to support project employers in pre-qualifying contractors by predicting the status of construction contractors during a bid analysis to disqualify contractors with a high probability of experiencing financial distress during the project duration. Eight financial indicators …

Optimization Of Contractor’S Cash Flow Based On Subcontractor’S Payment Management Plans, Helen Ghali

Theses and Dissertations

In many counties, the construction industry relies heavily on outsourcing packages to execute their projects and expand their businesses to fit in the diverse market. Such extensive integration of outsourced subcontractors is becoming an influential factor in contractors' cash flow management. Accordingly, subcontractors’ price selection and their respective payment plans are important phenomena and pivotal components for the well-being of the contractor’s cash flow. Cash flow management is considered one of the most critical areas analyzed by contractors when getting into a project. Contractor’s cash flow is built from a pool of interrelated information depending on subcontractors, suppliers trade credit …

Development And Prediction Of A Construction Price Index In Egypt, Mohamed Ramadan

Theses and Dissertations

Cost overrun is one of the most recurring issues in the Egyptian construction industry. The effect is not only on the construction industry ,but also influences the overall economy of a country like Egypt. Therefore, a construction performance index and a construction price index could be an integral indicator of the performance of the industry. These indices can reduce construction companies’ losses and decrease the effect of any sudden economic depression on the construction industry. Several research were conducted to predict construction indices. However, many uncertainties disturb the prediction of these indices. The trend in the prediction models for construction …

The Infrastructure Metaverse Already Exists, Ankur Mitra, Ahmed Hassan, Mark Mulville

Articles

The construction industry is currently undergoing a profound digital transformation, primarily driven by the innovative concept of digital twins. The United Kingdom's National Digital Twin Programme (NDTp) stands as a visionary initiative striving to establish a cohesive digital ecosystem wherein all forms of infrastructure, both existing and newly constructed, are replicated in the digital realm. Digital twins are not merely static visual representations; they serve as the cornerstone for a comprehensive information management framework that enables real-time data sharing. This data-sharing capability spans the entire lifecycle of construction projects. What makes this technology particularly powerful is its capacity to facilitate …

Virtual Accident Curb Risk Habituation In Workers By Restoring Sensory Responses To Real-World Warning, Namgyun Kim, Laurent Grégoire, Moein Razavi, Niya Yan, Changbum R. Ahn, Brian A. Anderson

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Faculty Publications

In high-risk work environments, workers become habituated to hazards they frequently encounter, subsequently underestimating risk and engaging in unsafe behaviors. This phenomenon has been termed "risk habituation"and identified as a vital root cause of fatalities and injuries at workplaces. Providing an effective intervention that curbs workers' risk habituation is critical in preventing occupa-tional injuries and fatalities. However, there exists no empirically supported intervention for curbing risk habituation. To this end, here we investigated how experiencing an accident in a virtual reality (VR) environment affects workers' risk habituation toward repeatedly exposed workplace hazards. We examined an underlying mechanism of risk habituation …

Marshall, Il Brownfield/Superfund Site Project, Nathan Myers

2022 Fall Reports (Marshall, IL)

This course will examine modern public policymaking in the United States. We will examine the different forms that policy can take and how each branch of government can leave a lasting impact on policy. The course will investigate the environment in which policy in the U.S. is shaped and the key official and unofficial actors involved. The course will investigate how public policy issues are defined and earn a place on the policy agenda. The remainder of the course will focus on various criteria for evaluating policy: effectiveness, efficiency, equity, liberty, security, and resilience. The manner in which policy often …

Marshall Residential Development, Kimberly Smith

2022 Fall Reports (Marshall, IL)

Introduction and development of the design process through the exploration of abstract and realistic problem-solving applications. Design solutions are presented through the development of two- and three-dimensional presentation techniques.

Marshall, Il Housing Affordability Project, Nathan Myers

2022 Fall Reports (Marshall, IL)

This class is designed to provide a basic working understanding of statistical methods which are commonly used in the social sciences, including public administration. Students will learn the mathematical logic behind the procedures by calculating statistical formulas. Students will also gain proficiency in completing statistical procedures using Microsoft Excel (the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, or SPSS, may also be used).

Survey Data: Optimising Retrofitted Insulation For Irish Residential Building Walls, Rakshit D. Muddu, Aimee Byrne, Anthony Robinson Dr.

Datasets

A survey was conducted to determine the preferred set point temperature and heating pattern among Irish households. The survey was sent to 237 people living across Ireland, out of which 32 respondents skipped the survey and 9 surveys were found to be incomplete. Amongst the counties in Ireland 71.1% respondents were from Dublin, 6.34% from Kildare, 5% from Meath, 5% from Wicklow and in all the remaining counties response rate was below 2%. Part 1: This section of the survey recorded information regarding characteristics of the building such as house type, wall type, insulation type, period the house was built. …

How Can Visual Programing Be Used To Aid The Development Of A Structural Scheme Design Process Utilising Geometric Data Within An Architectural Revit Model?, Ed Carthy, Kieran Lakhera O'Shea

Reports

The early-stage structural scheme design of a building is a complex task requiring the collection of multiple information categories such as geometry, loading and materials. The collection and review of this information is traditionally conducted in a 2D environment. This is inefficient, time-consuming, and tedious. This paper provides a review of how structural engineers’ understanding and implementation of BIM has evolved significantly in recent years, validated by extant literature in areas such as BIM automation, visual programming, and structural optimisation in the structural engineering sector. Structural engineers are growing more aware that BIM provides a vast repository of data to …

Engaging Industry Mentors In A Construction Management Capstone Program, Janet E. Merriman

ASEE North Midwest Section Annual Conference 2023 Publications

Background: Engineering capstone courses utilize industry to present the problem and work with student teams in creating a solution, resulting in direct exposure of engineering students to industry members that benefits the student, the industry, and the program. The purpose of this paper is to introduce an approach used to incorporate direct industry involvement in a construction management capstone course to effect similar outcomes.
Method: To create a similar capstone environment to engineering courses, in which industry works directly with student teams, South Dakota State University’s construction management program implemented a capstone industry mentor program. During the capstone course industry …

Investigating Michigan’S Skilled Construction Laborer Shortage Within The Great Lakes Region, Jennifer E. Russell

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The construction industry has been facing a decline in skilled trade labor for decades. This study asks three overarching questions: (a) What are the causes and influencing factors of Michigan’s skilled construction laborer shortage? (b) How are Michigan stakeholders in the Great Lakes Region remedying the shortage? (c) What new solutions can be implemented to remedy Michigan’s skilled construction laborer shortage? A literature review was conducted to identify causes, influencing factors, and research gaps. Closed surveys questioning 69 construction project managers and 101 skilled trade laborers in Michigan were conducted online and on construction sites. A quantitative analysis of the …

Key Factors Affecting Labor Productivity In Offsite Construction Projects, Rayan H. Assaad, Islam H. El-Adaway, Makarand Hastak, Kim Lascola Needy

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Offsite construction has been shown to possess many advantages and benefits in dealing with the construction industry's challenges, which include poor labor productivity. Nevertheless, all previous productivity-related research studies have focused mainly on factors impacting labor productivity in traditional stick-built construction methods. This paper filled this knowledge gap by following a multistep interrelated research methodology. First, a research team of 19 construction professionals and academics developed and distributed an industry survey to (1) quantify the likelihood of occurrence and relative impact of risk factors that adversely impact labor productivity in offsite construction projects; (2) identify and prioritize key risk factors …

Synergising Bim And Real-Time Data For Improved Efficiency: An Irish Case Study, Ahmed Hassan, Ankur Mitra, Alan Hore, Mark Mulville

Conference papers

The evolution of 3D visualisation and the Internet of Things (IoT) presents a substantial opportunity for integrating real-time data with Building Information Models (BIM) to improve its functionality and construction workflow efficiency. Integrating real-time data with BIM can enhance the digital representation of construction buildings’ physical and functional characteristics and provide recordable status of on-site operations. Nevertheless, the integration between Visualisation and IoT technologies with BIM remains in its preliminary stages and faces a myriad of technical and operational challenges. Furthermore, developing advanced solutions to facilitate this complex integration requires a considerable understanding of the viability and feasibility of merging …

Challenges And Opportunities For Automating Physical Compliance On Construction Sites, Ankur Mitra, Mark Mulville

Conference papers

The construction project lifecycle includes several compliance requirements that need to be checked at multiple levels and at different phases of the project. Inability to comply with these regulations due to lack of time and resources or human oversight can affect the project throughout its service lifecycle with the potential for severe outcomes. Following a number of high-profile failings and owing to the high stakes nature of compliance, digitalisation has been introduced in this field of construction over the past few decades to reduce mistakes and neglect. Although the compliance checking process in the design phase has seen significant digital …

Value Propositions, Adoption Factors, And Implementation Considerations: Building A Path Towards Construction Innovation, Makram Bou Bou Hatoum

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

The construction industry has been influenced by a wave of technological advancements and trends that were introduced by the fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0. Mapped as Construction 4.0, these technologies are disrupting the way projects are designed, planned, constructed, delivered, and operated. While existing research has predominantly focused on technology adoption and use cases across the project lifecycle, limited attention has been given to the organizational perspective and explored Construction 4.0 as a transformative vision. As such, there is a significant need for decision science research to support decision-makers in understanding the value of Construction 4.0, gaining leadership buy-in, …

Identifying Design-Build Decision-Making Factors And Providing Future Research Guidelines: Social Network And Association Rule Analysis, Ramy Khalef, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

There is a dire need to rebuild existing infrastructure with strategic and efficient methods. Design-build (DB) becomes a potential solution that provides fast-tracked delivery as a more time and cost-efficient project delivery method. Past research studied factors influencing DB but without providing a holistic analytic approach. This paper fills this knowledge gap. First, a systematic literature review is performed using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses techniques, and a set of factors affecting DB projects are then identified and clustered, using k-means clustering, based on the whole literature discussions. Second, a graph theory approach, social network analysis …

A-Eye Tech: Framework To Evaluate An Ai Construction Visibility Platform, Ahmed Hassan, Alan V. Hore, Mark Mulville

Conference Papers

The authors present the early stages of an Irish government-funded project, A-EYE. This disruptive technology seeks to create a construction visualisation platform that enables measurable productivity advantages through passive data capture and real-time delivery of mission-critical information in an accessible form. The authors outline how they will utilise data captured during construction site operations using camera and sensor equipment to monitor construction resources and processes. Moreover, the positive impact of easy access to visualised data on collaboration between construction stakeholders is discussed. Extensive user-experience research data will be captured after deploying the technology on live projects to create interactive dashboards …

Nondestructive Evaluation Of Structural Defects In Concrete Slabs, Ehsanul Kabir

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Nondestructive testing (NDT) is a reliable method for determining the structural integrity of new and old construction and understanding the condition of structural defects. It is widely acknowledged that the interpretation of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) has a significant impact on the reliability and consistency of this technology. However, NDT data acquisition remains subjective and heavily dependent on the operator’s knowledge and expertise. As a result, there are still issues to be resolved regarding the imaging and diagnostic procedures for NDT-based concrete inspection. NDT methods such as ground penetrating radar (GPR), and impact-echo (IE), have been extensively used to inspect concrete …

A Bim-Based Digital Platform For Assessing The Whole Building Circularity Indicators Of Modular Steel Projects, Yin Min Maung

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The construction industry is undergoing a paradigm shift towards sustainable practices, one of which is circular economy (CE). Adopting the CE concept is a complex undertaking, which is characterized by a set of indicators capturing its key aspects. Various tools and techniques are employed to implement this novel concept. An essential step of CE implementation is evaluating the circularity of buildings. This research develops a BIM-based digital platform for assessing the whole building circularity indicators (WBCI) of modular steel projects. The platform is designed to assist in computing these indicators, which requires diverse data inputs and complex interrelated equations. The …

Implementing The Circular Economy Concept In Construction Supply Chain Management Of Modular Steel Projects, Thet Htar San

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The circular economy is a modern economic model where the value of products, materials, and resources is maintained in the economy as long as possible, whereas the generation of waste is minimized. The current linear take-make-dispose model prevalent in construction supply chain management is increasingly unsustainable, marked by significant resource wastage and environmental impacts. The conventional linear supply chain models in modular steel construction contribute to unsustainable resource utilization and environmental impacts. This research explores the transition from linear to circular supply chain models. We identify key actors, potential barriers, and opportunities for implementing circular economy practices in modular steel …