Engineering Commons^™

An Investigation On The Effects Of Psychological Contract (Pc) Towards Site Safety In The South Indian Construction Industry, M. G. Soundarya Priya, K. S. Anandh, Sathyanarayanan Rajendran, K. N. Sen

Engineering Technologies, Safety, and Construction Faculty Scholarship

The construction sector is India's second-largest industry, contributing to the country's economy and providing many job opportunities. However, construction has been described as a hazardous industry with a high rate of injuries, accidents, and fatalities compared to other sectors worldwide. The "psychological contract of safety (PCS)" is one of the safety climate (SC) variables that influence worker safety behavior (WSB) actions on construction sites to improve safety. This research investigates the influence of SC factors on PCS and PCS on WSB in construction site safety. A quantitative research method has been adopted in this study, and the data is collected …

The Impact Of Various Safety Leadership Styles On Construction Safety Climate: A Case Of South India, S. Senthamizh Sankar, K. S. Anandh, Sathyanarayanan Rajendran, K. N. Sen

Engineering Technologies, Safety, and Construction Faculty Scholarship

The Indian construction industry is the second-largest job-providing sector in the country, which comprises many investments. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) report, India is a significant contributor to construction site accidents and fatalities among world nations. The poor Safety Leadership (SL) style and the diminished leader's commitment to quality safety outcomes have caused misfortunes in construction sites. This paper aims to identify the impact of various safety leadership styles on the Organisational Safety Climate (OSC) predictors and propose a conceptual model explaining the relationship between SL styles and OSC. The study identifies six leadership styles from the works …

Evaluating Smartrock Temperature Sensor Performance In Measuring Concrete Strength, Jack Dasch

Construction Management

Concrete testing is one of the most important parts of the concrete placement process. Traditionally, this is done through the use of 6x12 cylinders cured in a lab that are broken at various stages of the curing process. These cylinders are not necessarily representative of the in-situ concrete because of their differing curing conditions- indoors versus exposed to the elements. Wireless temperature sensors, like Giatec’s SmartRock, have the potential to determine concrete strength based off the temperature of the placed concrete over time, thus eliminating the need for cylinder breaks. Once calibrated to the specific mix design, these wireless sensors …

Building Services Engineering November/December 2022

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Skilled Labor Challenges And Automation In The Construction Industry, Olugbenro Ogunrinde, Rapheal Ojelabi, Opeyemi Oyeyipo

Mountain Plains Business Conference

The construction industry remains one of the most labor-intensive industries worldwide, creating an average gross domestic product (GDP) of 8% for the global economy and helping reduce unemployment. However, the last few years have brought a plague of skilled labor shortage and retirement, the most recent pandemic also playing a part in hastening retirement due to the present age cohort (baby boomers). Therefore, the need to begin to source viable alternatives to mitigate these issues that could be catastrophic is critical. One possible option is automation, but the industry remains lethargic toward innovation adoption and its use. Past and present …

Controlling Sars Related Illnesses In The Indoor Environment Using Hvac Ventilation Techniques, Natalie Mansson

Construction Management Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on a need for better ventilation systems due to the deadly spreading of the SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 illness through the air. As the positivity rate increases sharply, this study is pertinent in the fight against the virus. The implementation of MERV filters and ventilation rates while also understanding respiratory droplets and how they move through the air is an important part of understanding airborne transmission. Much research has been done on MERV filtration and respiratory droplets and their traveling methods in the air, and this research aims to find the commonalities between prior research, and …

Contested Agile Combat Employment: A Site-Selection Methodology, Zachary T. Moer, Christopher M. Chini, Peter P. Feng, Steven J. Schuldt

Faculty Publications

Numerous factors complicate ACE site-selection decisions including peer-to-peer threats, complex geopolitics, and resource requirements. The proposed site-selection framework identifies existing airports best suited for strategic utilization to support combatant commands as they optimize agile combat employment infrastructure.

The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 47, Number 02

The Professional Constructor

No abstract provided.

Differing Moisture Content In Concrete And Mitigation Methods: Research Of Sacramento, Taylor S. Tonda

Construction Management

The city of Sacramento and its concrete foundations face one of the most challenging conditions in the flooring industry, high RH Moisture. RH Moisture or Relative Humidity Moisture is one of the main causes for flooring systems to fail. The source of High RH Moisture consists of surrounding geographic features like rivers, flood plains, and elevation, as well as improper or nonexistent use of a vapor barrier beneath the concrete foundation. Mapping and other data is used to support these claims. If a flooring system is not properly prepared for high RH Moisture levels, issues such as bubbling, delamination, and …

Best Practices For Reducing Construction Accidents Involving Hispanic Construction Workers, Michael E. Asuquo, Khalid Siddiqi

The Professional Constructor

The objective of this study was to determine best practices for reducing accidents among Hispanic construction workers. It was hypothesized that language barrier between the Hispanics and American workers contributed immensely to high rate of construction accidents on industrial projects. Accident case studies and questionnaire survey were both used. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with Hispanic workers involved in industrial construction projects in Metro Atlanta. Findings from the study concluded that most accidents involving Hispanic workers were caused due to lack of communication from supervisors, ignorance of workers on work procedures, lack of equipment training, and worker negligence. Language …

Construction Management Internship: A Key Opportunity For Assessment And Continuous Curriculum Improvement, James S. Vaux, Bree Dority, Dana E. Vaux

The Professional Constructor

The internship is an integral part of most Construction Management curricula. Studies have noted the importance and reciprocal value of internships for the student, the employer, and the academic program. However, to date, no studies have specifically outlined the value internships provide to the CM program for assessment and evaluation. This paper examines the value of the CM internship as an indirect measure to assess and incorporate change into program curricula. With 10 years of qualitative and quantitative data collected from CM student interns, industry employers, and university internship supervisors, this study supports that CM internships are a valuable tool …

Construction Of Modular Concrete Footings For Use In Cal Poly’S High Bay Laboratory, Tyler W. Giddens

Construction Management

This project-based senior project had the end goal of creating two concrete modular foundations that can be used in the High Bay Laboratory for testing procedures. The concrete modular blocks are 6’ long by 3’ wide, and 1.5’ tall. The foundations each held 100 embeds. Each embed serves as an anchor point for various attachments for testing purposes. This was an interdisciplinary project amongst two CM students and one ARCE student. The ARCE student was responsible for the design of the blocks, encompassing the formwork and the rebar. The CM students were responsible for estimating, scheduling, and the construction of …

Building Services Engineering September/October 2022

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Cost-Benefit Analysis Of The Saudi Land Bridge Project, Faris J. Alotaibi

Theses and Dissertations

Projects are the backbone of economic thrive of nations, especially infrastructure projects. It’s counted as the base layer of allowing economic trade between beneficiaries. Railway projects have always been a huge element in increasing trade operations between Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world, by providing an efficient and environmentally friendly way that is capable of hauling large loads of exports all the way to the seaports and from there to the rest of the world. The Saudi land bridge project will cost about $11 billion and will provide a new link between the existent railway in the eastern …

Damage Detection And Damage Localization In Bridges With Low-Density Instrumentations Using The Wave-Method: Application To A Shake-Table Tested Bridge, Mehran Rahmani, Xintong Ji, Sovann Reach Kiet

Mineta Transportation Institute

This study presents a major development to the wave method, a methodology used for structural identification and monitoring. The research team tested the method for use in structural damage detection and damage localization in bridges, the latter being a challenging task. The main goal was to assess capability of the improved method by applying it to a shake-table-tested prototype bridge with sparse instrumentation. The bridge was a 4-span reinforced concrete structure comprising two columns at each bent (6 columns total) and a flat slab. It was tested to failure using seven biaxial excitations at its base. Availability of a robust …

Stick Built Vs. Precut Wall Framing For New Home Construction: A Comparison Of Framing Labor Hours, Waste Hauls, And Purchase Orders, Eric A. Holt, Mark Laliberte, Tristan Grant, Jordan Dentz

The Professional Constructor

Due to many trends in the construction industry (material cost increase, labor shortages, supply chain issues, pandemic, market demand outpacing supply), the homebuilding industry is looking for alternative ways to frame homes. In response to the National Housing Endowment (NHE) Request for Proposal, the researchers reviewed the literature on the housing market’s current state regarding the scale and scope of the skilled construction framers shortage and the current market share of single-family framing method; stick-built vs. precut framing packages. Working with industry partners, the team analyzed time studies for multiple new home builds. It was found that precut wall framing …

Total Cost Of Ownership Of Battery-Powered Vs. Hardwired Sensor Faucets In Commercial And Educational Construction Projects, Marie Patterson, Blake Wentz

The Professional Constructor

Owners who are pursing the construction of a new commercial building are becoming increasingly more interested in the sustainability, energy efficiency and life cycle costs of their proposed project. These owners are asking designers and construction companies to develop innovative strategies to lower their utility use and total cost in their projects. One area of opportunity to meet this owner need is the decision to use sensor lavatory faucets that are either battery-powered or hardwired.Several construction projects of various types and locations were analyzed to determine the total cost of ownership of both types of sensor faucets over a 12-year …

Optimising Existing Digital Workflow For Structural Engineering Organisations Through The Partnering Of Bim And Lean Processes, John Mclaughlin, Barry Mcauley

Conference Papers

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is now seen as one of the leading transformative processes within the Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector and has the potential to assist in streamlining the structural design process. However, its practical implementation can often add another layer to the existing workflow and can result, to its detriment, in the primary objective of optimising structural workflows being hindered. This can lead to structural organisations producing 3D models in tandem with traditional drawings, a lack of human intervention regarding software interoperability, and a reluctance to move away from conventional work methods. This paper will explore how …

Critical Evaluation Of Time And Cost Of Terrestrial Laser Scanning For Construction Automated Qa Analysis, Joao Rocha, Davitt Lamon

Capstone Reports

Many governments agencies and private owners are demanding up-to-date information related to the current conditions of their facilities. Conventional QA is time-consuming and inefficient; thus, 3D terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) technology has been adopted due to the fast speed and high accuracy in acquiring data. Automated QA analysis can reduce the labour and time needed, reduce the costs, and improve the overall project efficiency. However, very few research efforts have been made to study the benefits of the automated QA analysis in a quantitative way. The process of the TLS-based geometric QA based in an automated data analysis process is …

Evaluation Of Flood Damage On Cross Laminated Timber Wall Configurations, Mustafa Nezih Kaya

Theses and Dissertations

Greenhouse gas emissions are one of the critical factors that affect climate change, increasing flooding risk and threatening human life. The use of traditional construction materials is responsible for a higher percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions when compared to the use of sustainable materials in the construction industry. The substitution of current building materials with sustainable materials is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and positively influence climate change when the current construction demand in the world is considered. Wood is one of the primary environmentally friendly construction materials in regard to high carbon storage and low carbon emissions. …

Initial Exploration Of Reduced Gyrations For Arkansas Asphalt Mix Designs, Jocie L. Baker

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The most common distresses in asphalt pavement are cracking and rutting. These distresses plague almost every asphalt roadway in the world. Finding ways to mitigate these distresses will improve the performance of asphalt pavements. One way to combat the premature cracking of asphalt in the field is to ensure there is enough asphalt binder within the mix. This will help the flexibility of the asphalt undergoing large loads and deformation. However, it is widely accepted that mix designs across the country lack the appropriate amount of asphalt binder in their mixes, causing dry mix designs that are subject to cracking …

Utilizing Prefabrication In Order To Achieve Leed Credits, Phillip E. Waldman

Construction Management

This paper is a dissertation on the concept and benefits of utilizing panelization in construction to achieve LEED credits. Panelization is the process of prefabricating construction framing materials, such as walls, floors, and roof systems, to streamline and improve the construction process. This dissertation aims to examine: (1) how prefabrication can optimize construction through effective waste management (2) how prefabrication manufacturing plants are more efficient, cost-effective, and better for the environment with regard to material use and recycling than traditional construction methods (3) how prefabrication can be used to obtain LEED credit points for the Construction and Demolition Waste Management …

Typical Demolition Waste Of Tenant Improvement Projects: A Case Study, Gregory K. Jameson

Construction Management

Sustainable approaches to the waste generated in construction demolition have been on the rise over the past two decades. In this case study research project, the demolition waste of commercial tenant improvement projects from two separate companies across multiple projects was documented and analyzed. This case study was inspired by a motivation to gain a better understanding of what waste is typical in tenant improvement remodels, what is being done to repurpose this waste and what obstacles currently stand in the way of better waste management practices. After conducting extensive research and analysis of current waste trends in the construction …

Airborne Contaminant Dispersal In Critical Built Environments, Arup Bhattacharya

All Dissertations

The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), being one of the most significant exposures to human beings, encompasses the concepts of comfort and safety from unwanted contaminants. Whereas the thermal comfort is controlled through proper conditioning and distribution of ventilated air, controlling the airborne contaminants requires careful investigation of the flow characteristics. IAQ translates to different requirements, depending on the intended use of the indoor environment. In critical indoor spaces such as Operating Rooms and Cleanrooms, the principal focus of IAQ is to remove/contain/divert contaminants flowing with the airstream to maintain the required sterility, as contamination can lead to adverse patient/product outcomes. …

Machine Learning-Enabled Model-Based Condition Assessment Of Water Pipelines By Leveraging Hydraulic Monitoring Data, Ahmad Momeni

All Dissertations

Overpopulation and climate change have direly challenged the freshwater resources, specifically potable water supplied by water distribution networks (WDNs). One aggravating issue associated with the WDNs is associated with the pipeline leakage, which accounts for almost 20% of freshwater loss in WDNs throughout the US. Leakage detection and severity measurement are of top
asset management priorities in water utilities to minimize and mitigate complicated risks attributed to background and burst leakage. Accordingly, decline in other pipe condition parameters such as effective hydraulic diameters and roughness coefficients, which are complex and uncertain in nature, abets leakage by worsening the WDN status …

Crack Control And Bond Performance Of Alternative Coated Reinforcements In Concrete, Sachin Sreedhara

All Dissertations

Concrete cracking in structures is a ubiquitous problem which can lead to the deterioration of the structure. Other than affecting the strength aspect of a structure, cracking impacts the serviceability criteria as well. Although cracking phenomenon in any structure is highly inevitable, it has to be minimized in order to maintain a structure’s life effectively. Cracking in reinforced concrete structures is related to the bond strength developed between the bar and the concrete. It also depends on an ability of the bar to resist the stresses due to shrinkage to minimize the crack. Another important aspect is the resistance offered …

Evaluation Of The Chloride Ions Penetration Into Concrete Structure With The Surface Penetrants Served In Cold Marine Environment For 20 Years, Yanhua Kuang, Yuki Sakoi Associate Professor, Naoto Takashima Postgraduate, Minoru Aba Professor, Yoichi Tsukinaga Professor,

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The intrusion of chloride ions in concrete served in the marine environment is the leading cause of corrosion of steel bars. This paper examined the result of a long-term survey on the actual structure (the Tomakomai breakwater) treated with a set of penetrants partly. The survey was conducted twice, in the 12th and 20th years after construction.

The results showed that the penetrants could effectively reduce the penetration of chloride ions into concrete. After using the penetrants, the calculated surface chloride ion concentration was decreased by 5.04%/72.18% (the 12th year/the 20th year). As the service years increase, surface chloride ion …

Contracting Strategies: A Different Approach To Address Long-Term Performance, Maria Calahorra-Jimenez

Mineta Transportation Institute

For cost-efficiency, public safety, and sustainability, improving long-term performance in highway projects is imperative for public administrations. Project delivery and procurement methods provide an opportunity to align design and construction processes with this goal. While previous studies have explored whether project delivery methods impact the long-term performance of highway projects, these studies did not focus on how core elements within project procurement relate to long-term performance. Thus, to fill this gap, this research explores how and to what extent long-term evaluation criteria are considered in design-build best-value procurement of highway projects. To this end, the team conducted content analysis on …

Prefabrication And Modular Construction: Cm 214 Residential Construction Learning Module, Matthew V. Keeth

Construction Management

The residential construction industry in the United States has certainly stuck to the conventional methods of stick-built construction nationwide. What if there was a better way? This project seeks to educate future Construction Management students about a smarter, more efficient, and sustainable method of homebuilding: Modular Construction. Distinguishing the difference between prefabrication and modularization is a necessary standard. Prefabrication is defined as the process of manufacturing the essential structural components of a home at a factory off-site. The large scale structural components of a home are then transported to the jobsite for easy installation. In addition, Modular Construction is defined …

Building Services Engineering July/August 2022

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.