Engineering Commons^™

The Social And Economic Costs Of Employee Misclassification In The Maine Construction Industry, Françoise Carré, Randall Wilson

Center for Social Policy Publications

With this study, a cross disciplinary team of the Center for Construction Policy Research has taken a first and significant step in documenting employee misclassification in the Maine construction industry. This report documents the dimensions of misclassification and its implications for tax collection and worker compensation insurance.

Misclassification occurs when employers treat workers who would otherwise be waged or salaried employees as independent contractors (self employed). Or as one report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Labor put it, misclassification occurs “when workers (who should be) getting W-2 forms for income tax filing instead receive 1099-Miscellaneous Income forms."

Decision Support System For Bridge Maintenance, Imran Fazal

Masters Theses

Three main problems that deteriorate bridge decks are cracking, delamination and corrosion. Once concrete bridge deck is infected with any of the three problems, it becomes susceptible to more serious structural and architectural problems. Corrosion, cracking and delamination sometimes occur in tandem in concrete bridge decks, which makes the situation even more worse.

Pontis, which has been successfully employed by various department of transportation is basically a network level BMS which prioritize bridges or groups of bridges for repair and rehabilitation funds. In this scenario researchers and scholars agree that along side Pontis certain other project specific BMS (Expert systems …

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

The Detection Of Common Concrete Bridge Deck Defects Using The Thermography, Impact Echo, And Ground Penetrating Radar, Saleh Z. Nabulsi

Masters Theses

The transportation infrastructure in the United States is deteriorating and will require significant improvements. A recent report by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave an overall grading of D⁺ to the nation's infrastructure. Approximately 162,000 of the nation's bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. The total estimated cost to bring conditions to acceptable levels over the next two decades would exceed $1.9 trillion. Consequently, innovations in the area of transportation infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation are key to the health and wellness of this valuable national asset.

A major component of maintenance and rehabilitation is the ability …

Determination Of Wall Thickness And Height When Cutting Various Materials With Wire Electric Discharge Machining Processes, Sangseop Kim

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis looks at the capabilities of cutting thin webs on Wire EDM machines that are difficult or impossible to machine using conventional methods. Covered is an investigation of how different material and web thickness affect the capability of machining thin-walled parts.

Five different metals are used for the test; Aluminum 6061 T6, Yellow Brass SS360, 420 Stainless Steel, D2 unheat-treated tool steel 25-30 RC, and D2 heat-treated tool steel 60-65 RC. The small parts were cut to a 6mm (0.2362 inch) height with six different wall thicknesses: 0.30mm (0.0118 inch), 0.25mm (0.0098 inch), 0.20mm (0.0078 inch), 0.15mm (0.0059 inch), …

A Tool Wear Comparative Study In Turning Versus Computer Simulation In 1018 Steel, Woodrow D. Miner

Theses and Dissertations

The material removal process uses cutting tools in order to produce the desired shape of the workpiece. Tool wear has been a problem for cutting tools, since cutting tools wear and break. Research has been accomplished in the tool wear field for tool life and more recently tool wear. The computer generation has created a method to simulate the material removal process. These computer simulations model the cutting tool reaction with the workpiece. Many of the simulation models use finite element analysis to calculate the reaction of the cutting tool. Different finite element models are being used throughout the world …

The Purposes And Evaluation Methods For State Residential General Contractor Licensing, James Ellis Fenn

Theses and Dissertations

The main topic in the licensing debate is whether licensing affects construction quality. Available literature and previous studies indicate that it does not. The real question is not whether licensing improves quality, but whether the improving quality is the actual purpose of licensing. There is little information available on the purpose of licensing as defined by state licensing departments as well as a general lack of information on how states evaluate whether licensing is fulfilling the intended purpose. In order to effectively resolve some of the issues surrounding the construction licensing debate, the true purpose of licensing and the methods …

Excavated Tanks And Hillside Dams, Martyn Keen

Natural resources published reports

An excavated tank is an earth structure on near level land used to impound water, in which a percentage of the storage capacity is below ground level. It includes similar structures constructed on sloping land, referred to as 'hillside dams'. These are specific types of the group of water-impounding structures known as 'farm dams'.

An Evaluation Of Contingency Construction Methods Using Value Focused Thinking, John E. Tyron

Theses and Dissertations

Rapid Engineering Deployable, Heavy Operational Repair Squadron, Engineer (RED HORSE) Squadrons are 400-person, self-contained, combat engineer units that provide deployable and flexible expert construction capability for the United States Air Force. To help meet Air Force mission requirements, RED HORSE units currently employ a variety of traditional and innovative construction methods. But their alternatives-focused decision analysis approach to method selection limits their decision to known alternatives and may not fully achieve all of their objectives. This research developed a generic value-focused thinking (VFT) decision analysis model to help RED HORSE evaluate and select contingency construction methods. Eight alternatives were generated …

Estimating Performance Time For Air Force Military Construction Projects, Greg J. Hoffman

Theses and Dissertations

The prediction of construction time performance is a problem of interest to both researchers and construction industry practitioners. This research seeks to identify significant factors which may influence construction durations for Air Force Military Construction (MILCON) projects to establish a time prediction model. Data were collected for 856 MILCON projects completed between 1988 and 2004; this included both traditional facility and non-facility (e.g. airfield pavements, utilities) projects. These data were analyzed using Bromilow's time-cost (BTC) model (1969) as well as multiple linear regression. Neither model produced acceptable results for non-facility projects; however, the multiple linear regression model was found to …

Development Of Multiple Growth Strategies For Use In Developing Traffic Forecasts: A Robustness Approach, Deogratias Eustace, Eugene R. Russell, E. Dean Landman

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Faculty Publications

Decisions that may be based on misleading forecasts may lead to a misallocation of funds and to under-performing projects during construction and operation. Poor projections of demographic and socioeconomic data are usually cited as the major source of poor traffic assignment projections and hence, unfavorably conceived planning and construction of street and highway infrastructure facilities.

This report evaluated the accuracy of long range projections by using a transportation study done the in 1970s, projecting transportation demand 20 years into the future. The projected travel model inputs were compared with what actually happened after the horizon year had been reached and …

Site Assessments, Martyn Keen

Natural resources published reports

The processes of collecting and recording site data as part of the preliminary tasks leading to a landscape or project design.

This standard applies to landscape and project designs for catchments of any size. Designs include: the installation of conservation earthworks; revegetation; land use planning; or implementation of erosion and sediment control practices. The design may also include any combination of the above

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Development And Evaluation Of Lime Mortars For Restoration Of Historic Buildings And Monuments, Tarek Said Mahfouz

Archived Theses and Dissertations

Monuments and historic buildings and sites are regarded as a national treasure of any country. This is particularly true for Egypt that possesses a wealth of historic and heritage buildings covering the entire life span of human civilization. It must be preserved and safeguarded not only as historic evidences but also as works of art. Most of these structures used lime based mortars as binding material. These structures are deteriorating at a rate faster than our ability to renovate them. The repair and rehabilitation of old historic walls and mortars involve a complex interaction of existing and new elements. Engineers …

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Computer-Simulation-Assisted Lean Manufacturing Training, Luoding Wang

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis assesses the potential of using computer simulation to aid existing lean manufacturing training methods such as lecture and live simulation. An investigation of this possibility was carried out in conjunction with UMEP's Lean 101 class. In the study, two experimental computer simulation models demonstrating the push and pull production scenarios were constructed using ProModel software. Simulation models were equipped with a Visual Basic interface to aid trainees to manipulate the model via ActiveX. Constructed computer simulation was compared with live simulation to answer these research questions: 1. Was computer simulation able to teach additional lean concepts not covered …

A Trade Construction Knowledge Module To Enable Use Of Design Component Data In Project Management, Zhigang Shen, Raja R. A. Issa, William J. O'Brien, Ian Flood

Department of Construction Engineering and Management: Faculty Publications

The complexity, tight budget, and dynamic market of today's construction project require the seamless integration of both design and construction data, However, despite the availability of both digital design tools (various CAD applications) and digital project management tools (such as schedule software and construction management software), design data has to still be entered manually into construction applications. In order to close this gap, CAD applications widely used in AEC industries are evolving toward providing the product data within the CAD package itself, in addition to the existing graphic-oriented data. While useful, those new data-driven CAD applications are largely design-oriented and …

Individual Certification As An Engineering Manager?, Rafael Landaeta, Kawintorn Pothanun, William Peterson

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Several of the discipline specific professional societies are offering or planning to offer certification of individuals as engineering managers. Does this have implications for Engineering Management programs at universities? Other stakeholders (faculty, students, employers, and graduates of engineering management programs) are impacted by certification as well. This paper attempts to look at the issue from several points of view. This paper is intended to provoke a dialog on the topic.

Attitudes Towards Electronic Purchasing In The Irish Construction Industry, Alan V. Hore, Roger West

Conference papers

It is well known that the adoption of information technology in materials procurement in the construction industry has been sporadic and piecemeal. Very significant inefficiencies and problems still exist in both paper transactions and non-integrated electronic solutions. There is a general lack of awareness and take-up of information communication technologies (ICT) within the Irish construction material purchasing supply chain. In order to verify this contention a methodology was adopted which involved the design and distribution of an on-line questionnaire to over 100 Irish construction companies. The survey was designed to ascertain the current level of technology take-up in business-to-business (B2B) …

An Examination Of The Effect Of Organisational Culture Of The Implementation Of Public-Private Partnership (Ppp) In Ireland, Louis Gunnigan, David Eaton

Conference papers

This paper is concerned with identifying the organisational issues causing difficulty in the use of PPP and assessing the impact of PPP implementation on the organisational culture in the Irish public and private sectors. The authors address this issue by mapping the PPP process for one project type and comparing this process with that carried out in traditional procurement. Process differences through use of PPP are identified and organisational issues that have potential to impact on PPP success are assessed. Whilst the study undertaken is not extensive, it provides insight for initiators of PPP projects into the organisational issues that …

Deep Drains To Manage Groundwater, Neil Cox, Sylvia Tetlow, Neil Coles

Bulletins 4000 -

A channel that is 1.0 m to 3.0 m in depth is considered to be a deep drain. The drain is excavated to a depth that is sufficient to intercept the watertable in order to capture and convey that groundwater from flat, poorly drained land.

The drain can either be ‘open’ to allow the inflow of surface water or ‘leeved’ to exclude surface water. An open deep drain has its spoil banks placed on one side or on alternate sides of the channel (Figure 1) while a leveed deep drain has continuous spoil banks placed on both sides of the …

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Detecting Anomalous Inclusions In Soil Profiles: Encouraging The Use Of Geophysics To Solve Engineering Problems, Barbara Luke, Carlos Calderon-Macias

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

Geotechnical site investigations often do not take full advantage of geophysical methods. As examples, when delineating cemented strata and when detecting shallow cavities, investigations can be enhanced greatly for low additional cost by incorporating seismic surface-based measurements.

A Survey Of Electronic Purchasing Practice In Ireland: A Perspective For The Irish Construction Industry, Alan V. Hore, Roger West

Conference papers

There are many millions of trading documents (such as purchase orders, delivery notes and invoices) currently exchanged on paper in business to business (B2B) transactions, each having to be re-keyed as they pass between different locations and computer applications. Existing Information Communications Technologies (ICTs) such as the Internet, Bar-Coding, Radio Frequency Tagging, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Electronic catalogs and Enterprise Resource Planning Software (ERP) have facilitated electronic commerce (EC) functionality within many business sectors. However, the adoption of such technologies in the Irish construction industry has been very slow with only limited evidence of their application. The results of a …

Realising Electronic Purchasing In The Irish Construction Industry, Alan V. Hore, Roger West

Conference papers

The use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) in construction purchasing has been sporadic and piecemeal. Very significant inefficiencies and problems still exist in both paper transactions and non-integrated electronic solutions. At the simplest level, the electronic transmission of business documents offers savings in paper and postage. By going a step further, businesses can make strides in communicating with their partners, at relatively low cost, through direct links between their computers. Existing ICT such as the Internet, Bar-Coding, Radio Frequency Tagging, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Electronic catalogs and Enterprise Resource Planning Software (ERP) have facilitated electronic commerce (EC) functionality within many …

The Benefits Of Deploying It In The Material Procurement In Ready Mix Concrete In The Irish Construction Industry, Alan V. Hore, Roger West

Conference papers

The current methods of processing orders, deliveries and invoices of concrete products in the construction industry is enormously inefficient, with vast quantities of paperwork, duplication of effort, scanning, re-keying and resolving mismatches between purchase orders, delivery dockets and invoices. This paper sets out results of a survey which reveals attitudes to Information Communication Technologies (ICT) in supporting the purchasing process in construction. The drivers and barriers to ICT use in construction purchasing is discussed from both the contractor‟s and supplier‟s perspective. The paper goes on to describe the outcome of a pilot study in which the efficiencies are investigated arising …

The Social And Economic Costs Of Employee Misclassification In Construction [Massachusetts Report], Françoise Carré, Randall Wilson

Center for Social Policy Publications

With this study, a cross disciplinary team of the Center for Construction Policy Research has taken a first and significant step in documenting employee misclassification in the Massachusetts construction industry. This report documents the dimensions of misclassification and its implications for tax collection and worker compensation insurance.

Misclassification occurs when employers treat workers who would otherwise be waged or salaried employees as independent contractors (self employed). Or as one report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Labor put it, misclassification occurs “when workers (who should be) getting W-2 forms for income tax filing instead receive 1099- Miscellaneous Income forms.”

New Product Launch Decisions Under Competition And Uncertainty: A Real Options And Game-Theoretic Approach To New Product Development, James O. Ostler

Theses and Dissertations

New product development is central to many firms' future success. Not only as a means to continue to maintain their piece of the market, but product development can also be a strategic means for a company to diversify, and/or alter focus to adapt to changing market conditions.

Most of the research in new product development has been on how to do it cheaper and faster than the next guy. However, early commercialization does not guarantee a position of strength in the market. Failures of EMI in CT scanners and Xerox in personal computers illustrate that being first to market does …

A Finite Element Simulation Of Temperature And Material Flow In Fricton Stir Welding, Mark J. Lasley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to use the Transvalor S.A. product, Forge3, to develop a finite element simulation of the friction stir welding process that improves the predictability of temperature evolution and material flow within the plunge portion of the process. Previous modeling created more heating within the billet than experimental results, probably due to the simplification of the simulation with adiabatic boundary conditions. More realistic tooling temperatures were included in this model as these affect heat evolution which is a determining factor in microcrystalline growth. These results were validated by experimental efforts using a billet and tooling instrumented …

A Method For Winding Advanced Composites Of Unconventional Shapes Using Continuous And Aligned Fibers, Abraham K. Allen

Theses and Dissertations

Advanced composites are extremely strong, rigid, and light, even when compared with advanced metals. Advanced composites are replacing high-tech metals as the material of choice for aerospace engineering. However, the processes used to manufacture advanced composites generally lose some of the properties of the materials by their process limitations.

One process that keeps the theoretically awesome qualities of the composite materials in tact is filament winding. Filament wound parts are used as rocket shells, bicycle frame tubes, drive shafts, pressure vessels, etc. Filament winding is an automated process and makes reliable parts to close tolerances. If a straight tube were …