Engineering Commons^™

Ensuring That The Needs Of The End User Are Effectively Communicated Through Bim During The Building Design Stage, Barry Mcauley, Alan Hore, Roger West, Louis Gunnigan

Conference papers

The Grangegorman Development Project is the largest single development of 3rd level education accommodation in the history of the Irish State. Planned for completion in 2023, it will relocate all of Technological University of Dublin’s (DIT) activities from their current 39 locations to a single campus. This is a once-off opportunity for DIT and it is therefore critical that the campus is designed to meet end-users’ needs. As part of the strategy to achieve this, it has been specified that all work packages within the campus must use Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the design, construction and the planning of …

Collaborative Public Works Contracts Using Bim – An Opportunity For The Irish Construction Industry?, Barry Mcauley, Alan Hore, Robert Kane, Simon Fraser

Conference papers

In Ireland, large and progressive contractors are claiming significant benefits in construction management efficiency through the implementation of BIM (Building Information Modelling). While these contractors note that the cost benefits to the project budget alone justify the implementation of BIM in the field, they are acutely aware that in 2011 the UK Government has mandated the construction industry in the UK to use BIM on all public projects by 2016. In the Republic of Ireland however, in 2007, the Government introduced the Public Works Contracts (PWC) suite for the procurement of all public sector works. After 8 years of working …

Adopting Of Pas 1192-2 By Irish Aec Companies – A Formula For Winning International Work, Robert Moore, Alan Hore, Barry Mcauley

Conference papers

Forfás Ireland policy advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation have recently recommended that the Irish Architecture Engineering Construction (AEC) industry should engage in more international work and in doing so have advised the industry to work within a Building Information Management (BIM) environment, so as to avoid the possibility of a competitive disadvantage in overseas markets. According to Forfás BIM can help develop the appropriate technical skills amongst Irish construction firms so that they can successfully compete in markets where BIM is widely adopted or a requirement. More importantly they have encouraged the industry to strive to …

Design Science: Choosing An Appropriate Methodology For Research In Bim, Dermot Kehily, Jason Underwood

Conference papers

This paper discusses Building Information Modelling (BIM) in relation to proposing design science as a methodology for BIM research. The paper firstly outlines how BIM is changing construction work practices to a more collaborative and integrated set of procedures, facilitated through the application of modelling technologies. The use of traditional research methods for BIM research in the context of developing and subsequently evaluating a BIM process or technology is then questioned. The premise of this rationale is that BIM revolves around new practices and emerging technologies that propose to provide efficiency in delivering constructed assets in the built environment. Traditional …

Bs News November/December

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Building Codes To Minimize Cover Collapses In Sinkhole-Prone Areas, George Veni, Connie Campbell Brashear, Andrew Glasbrenner

Sinkhole Conference 2015

Cover- collapse sinkholes are forming with increasing frequency under buildings. Analyses of sinkhole distribution in Beacon Woods, Florida, preliminarily indicate their occurrence is an order of magnitude greater in urban versus undeveloped areas, suggesting the structures themselves are enhancing the collapse process. The most likely causes are induced recharge via at least one of two sources. First, runoff and drainage from roads, structures, and impoundments that is not adequately dispersed will promote sinkhole development. Second, leaking water, sewer, and septic systems beneath or adjacent to a structure will also promote collapse. The process of cover-collapse from induced recharge is well …

Photocatalytic Concrete Pavements: Laboratory Investigation Of No Oxidation Rate Under Varied Environmental Conditions, Joel K. Sikkema, Sae-Kee Ong, James E. Alleman

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Concrete pavements containing TiO₂ can be used for air pollution control by oxidizing NO_X under UV-bearing sunlight. This study employed a bench-scale photoreactor to estimate NO oxidation rates for varied environmental conditions. Rates correlated positively with NO inlet concentration and irradiance and negatively with relative humidity. No correlation occurred with flow rate. A decrease in slab moisture (previously unstudied) positively correlated with NO oxidation rate at 0–2% loss of saturated mass, but negatively correlated at losses greater that 2%. Although prior researchers deemed temperature insignificant, data indicated a positive correlation. Overall, rates ranged from 9.8–64 nmol∙m^-2∙s …

A Semantics-Based Approach To Construction Cost Estimating, Mehrdad Niknam

Dissertations (1934 -)

A construction project requires collaboration of different organizations such as owner, designer, contractor, and resource suppliers. These organizations need to exchange information to improve their teamwork. Understanding the information created in other organizations requires specialized human resources. Construction cost estimating is one of the processes that requires information collected from several sources including a building information model (BIM) created by designers, estimating assembly and work item information maintained by contractors, and construction resource cost information provided by resource suppliers. Currently, it is not easy for computers to integrate the information for construction cost estimating over the Internet. This study discusses …

The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 39, Number 02

The Professional Constructor

No abstract provided.

Bs News September/October

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Comparisons Of Linear Regression Models For Properties Of Alkaliactivated Binder Concrete, Arkamitra Kar, Udaya B. Halabe, Indrajit Ray, Avinash Unnikrishnan

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Concrete with alkali-activated binder (AAB) is increasingly considered as a better alternative to conventional portland cement (PC) concrete due to its superior sustainable and green properties. In order to promote the practical usage of AAB concrete, a previous study by the present authors proposed models on correlations among their mechanical and nondestructive properties. The present study extends the previous knowledge by proposing new improved models using linear regressions to predict compressive strengths and modulus of elasticity from ultrasonic pulse velocities. The models are developed for both unstressed and stressed AAB concrete with different curing temperatures. The accuracies of the models …

Project Delivery Methods For The Construction Of Public Schools In The Southeastern United States, Dennis C. Bausman

The Professional Constructor

Construction of new facilities is a risky enterprise due to the situational aspects of the project, multiple parties involved in the process, timing and budget constraints, and the design features and quality levels required by the owner. Decision makers are charged with selecting a project delivery system to successfully manage the design and construction process in order to meet the owner’s needs. This paper documents the delivery methods utilized for the construction of public schools in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina from 2006 to 2012 and provides insight into the reasons for the delivery method selections made by …

Construction Degree Graduates: An Evaluation Of Depth Of Skill Understanding And Skill Priority By Construction Industry Professionals, Ben F. Bigelow, Edelmiro Escamilla, Lauren Kuecker

The Professional Constructor

Previous studies have been conducted to determine the skills the construction industry expects graduates and entry level professionals to possess. The majority of those studies report soft skills and technical expertise as the main qualities graduates should have upon entering the industry. Many differing skills have been reported, but neither the expected depth of understanding in those skills nor the industry’s priority of those skills have been explored. To do so, a survey was administered to members of the Construction Industry Advisory Council at Texas A&M University asking these questions. Depth of understanding was evaluated on a four level basis …

Accident Patterns In Road Construction Work Zones, Tariq Shehab, Leah Phu

The Professional Constructor

Traffic safety in road construction zones has always been a major concern for engineering practitioners, departments of transportation, law enforcement professionals, researchers and many others. Due to the deteriorated condition of road and underground infrastructure facilities in the United States, the number of rehabilitation projects and their associated traffic accidents have increased over the past few years. To perform the needed road and underground utility rehabilitation activities in safer environments, researchers need to understand the causes behind these accidents. Although many researchers have been exploring the safety of many construction activities, research pertaining to road construction projects is lacking and …

Reviewer Thank You, Jason Lucas

The Professional Constructor

No abstract provided.

A Framework For Small-Scale Construction Projects By Ngos In Developing Countries, James D. Goedert, Bradley Cory

The Professional Constructor

This paper outlines a theoretical framework for NGOs who are building small-scale construction projects in developing countries. The framework is a step-by-step procedure to guide NGOs from developing project parameters at the start of the project with the partner to a locally controlled sustainable project closeout. The authors used the integrative project delivery approach along with past construction research models and personal experience to guide the development of the framework. Steps within the framework are illustrated using five projects from three countries. This work assumes that the ultimate objective of the project is local operational sustainability with the NGO’s presence …

Vertical Icf Wall System, Purdue Ect Team

ECT Fact Sheets Archive

Traditional ICF systems’ installation is tedious and labor intensive resulting in out of level, bowing, and snaking walls with a significant amount of bracing adding to the cost. ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) walls are a form of structural walls used for construction. Hobbs Vertical ICF system uses less concrete, more recycled material and requires less labor for construction. The furring assemblies and retainer clips of the Hobbs VICF system are made from 100% recycled post-industrial waste.

Prefabricated Building, Purdue Ect Team

ECT Fact Sheets Archive

With the continuous demand for construction of new buildings, an easier, more sustainable, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly building method is necessary to save time, energy and cost. Hence, there has been an increasing need for a system such as BROAD sustainable building (BSB). A form of prefabricated building by BROAD Sustainable Building Co., LTD (BSB). It consists of flooring and ceiling, embedded shafts of ventilation, water supply & drainage, electricity and lighting. Other items include pillars, diagonal bracings, doors, windows, walls and sanitary wares, air conditioning, air quality products, lifts, building thermal insulations.

Post-Tensioned Concrete Shear Wall, Purdue Ect Team

ECT Fact Sheets Archive

The post-tension concrete shear wall by Tipping Mar will replace the conventional concrete shear wall in earthquake prone areas in many instances, depending on the height and scale of the building.

Rapid Drying Concrete, Purdue Ect Team

ECT Fact Sheets Archive

One of the essential problems that are faced during construction is the drying of concrete and the presence of moisture which affects floor coverings that need to be placed. The rapid-drying characteristic in Aridusâ concrete allows for the quick reduction of moisture vapor that travels through the concrete pores of the concrete.

Ap Alternatives Modular Solar Racking, Purdue Ect Team

ECT Fact Sheets Archive

Solar panels have been used to generate and supply electricity in various applications such as residential and commercial buildings. Therefore, a need for a quicker approach to installation as well as the need to reduce workmanship to speed up the process is needed. Solar racks are developed through the use of automated equipment to “preassemble the racking hardware, pre-install the solar modules, and drive helical anchors into the ground rapidly”. So instead of installing one panel at a time, AP Alternatives has created a new method that uses machines to make the process easier. This new automation of the installation …

3d Printing For Bricks, Purdue Ect Team

ECT Fact Sheets Archive

Building Bytes, by Brian Peters, is a project that uses desktop 3D printers to print bricks for architecture. Instead of using an expensive custom-made printer, it uses a normal standard 3D printer which is available for everyone and makes it more accessible and also easier for fabrication.

Influence Of Warping On Stress For Restrained Concrete Slabs: For Application To Crcp, Corey M. Beck, W. Jason Weiss, Nathan T. Todd

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Continuously-reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) is widely used in transportation system because of its low maintenance requirement. However, the need for large volumes of steel creates a high cost for new construction. The Illinois Tollway is preparing to substantially renovate highways in and around Chicago and this work seeks to understand how concretes of varying mixture designs can be made thinner by reducing the amount of built-in stress. The experiment examines warping in beams subjected to various degrees of restraint, in an effort to assess effectiveness at reducing warping in continuously reinforced concrete pavements. Value added methodologies such as internal curing …

Evaluate Students’ Learning Effectiveness Of Hvac System Using 3d Game Animation, Lalitha Devi Nandam

Department of Construction Engineering and Management: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

An important skill required for students in Construction Engineering and Architecture is to understand what the major components are and how the whole system and its components function. Students typically learn to understand HVAC equipment by reviewing two-dimensional (2D) CAD drawings, images and site visits. With latest developments in 3D game engines for facilitating interactive learning, it is now possible for students to experience three-dimensional (3D) environments of HVAC systems. While this technology is still at an early stage in learning application, it has the potential to significantly enhance the capability of students to study, comprehend and gain experience designing …

Evaluating The Security Of Smart Home Hubs, Steven A. Christiaens

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research is to improve the security of smart home hubs by developing a standard against which hubs can be evaluated. This was done by first reviewing existing standards, guides, and collections of best practices. I determined that adapting or extending an existing standard was the best way to proceed. Potential candidates were selected, and after thorough comparison, I chose to extend the OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS). Extensions were composed of additional security requirements to address smart home hub functionality not covered by the existing requirements of the ASVS. These additional requirements were developed based …

Developed Pipe Bursting Specifications Using High Density Poly Ethylene (Hdpe), Manoj Mohanraj

Master of Technology Management Plan II Graduate Projects

Pipe bursting is a trenchless method for replacing old deteriorated or under sized pipe by fracturing or splitting. Earlier published pipe bursting specifications do not completely cover the current state of the art and without proper allocation of risks. Specifications are set of written instructions given by the owner to the contractor. The developed Pipe Bursting specification with HDPE will help the owners, contractor, and engineers to carry out a successful burst timely and economically. In this research study, sixteen specifications from various sources were collected. Various agreements and disagreements among these specifications were identified, analyzed, and considered while developing …

Airborne Infection In Healthcare Environments: Implications To Hospital Corridor Design, Ehsan Mousavi

Department of Construction Engineering and Management: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Several studies have linked nosocomial transmission airborne diseases to airflow in healthcare settings. Quasi-experimental methods are developed to observe the aerodynamic transport behavior of synthetic respiratory particles in corridors of a hospital. Computational models, validated by experimental results, are then developed to explore the spatial relationships of supply-exhaust air ventilation in patient corridors. The aim of this study is to determine optimal HVAC design strategies to contain and remove airborne contaminants in healthcare environments.

In addition to occupant comfort, hospital HVAC systems are designed to provide ventilation and directional airflow to contain, dilute and remove contaminants including airborne disease. Of …

Bs News July/August

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

National Culture And Business Resilience: An Exploratory Study Of Two Chinese Construction Firms Operating In Singapore, Low Sui Pheng, Gao Shang, Teo Wee Kiat Ken

Business Review

The study of national culture focuses on differences in values and beliefs among people of different nationalities. With the increasing globalization of economies around the world, the construction industry is inherently exposed to risk at an unprecedented level. This is particularly true for Chinese construction firms, which are aggressively setting up subsidiaries and branches all around the world as they partake in large-scale complex projects overseas. With the liberal foreign trade policies adopted by China after its reforms, domestic construction firms in China also face immense pressure from the international players that are now able to enter the Chinese construction …

Estimation Of Optimal Productivity In Labor-Intensive Construction Operations, Krishna Prasad Kisi

Department of Construction Engineering and Management: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In an attempt to evaluate the efficiency of labor-intensive construction operations, project managers typically compare actual with historical productivity for equivalent operations. However, this approach toward examining productivity only provides a relative benchmark for efficiency and may lead to the characterization of operations as objectively efficient when in reality such operations might simply be comparably efficient.

Optimal productivity is the highest sustainable productivity achievable under good management and typical field conditions. Optimal productivity is useful in the determination of the absolute efficiency of construction operations because an accurate estimate of optimal labor productivity allows for the comparison of actual vs. …