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Articles 1 - 30 of 36
Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Exploring Who, Where, And When: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of A New Study Abroad Program, Garrett Schoep, Elijah Duane Blake
Exploring Who, Where, And When: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of A New Study Abroad Program, Garrett Schoep, Elijah Duane Blake
Construction Management
Study abroad programs can have a significant impact on the lives of college students. These programs create opportunities for students to experience the world, while earning college credit. As Cal Poly is transitioning from the quarter system to the semester system, there is an increase demand for a new study abroad program that is tailored to students’ preferences. Understanding what students want from a study abroad program is extremely important. To better understand student preferences, a survey was created and distributed to Cal Poly students. The goal of the survey was to identify trends amongst students to get a better …
Skip The Grid: Solar Installation For Navajo Communities, Emilio Tiziano Cervantes
Skip The Grid: Solar Installation For Navajo Communities, Emilio Tiziano Cervantes
Construction Management
In March 2025, a group of 20 students from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo took part in Skip the Grid, a hands-on service initiative aimed at expanding access to reliable solar energy in the Navajo Nation. In partnership with SOLV Energy, NextTracker, and the non-profit Heart of America, the team traveled to Chinle, Arizona, where they installed off-grid solar systems in 40 homes across the Chinle School District. Each setup included solar panels, a battery with electrical outlets, lighting, and a refrigerator—providing essential power to families whose homes were previously without it. All of the households served kids …
Shipping Container Library Project: Preconstruction Strategy And Planning, Chris Lochner
Shipping Container Library Project: Preconstruction Strategy And Planning, Chris Lochner
Construction Management
This report outlines the preconstruction planning phase for the development of a shipping container library to be deployed to a community in Sub-Saharan Africa. The library is designed as a modular and sustainable solution for delivering access to educational resources. Preconstruction efforts have focused on finalizing design documentation, procurement planning, trade coordination, permitting considerations, and site logistics. While no construction has begun, two 40-foot high-cube containers have been ordered—one for prototyping and one for shipment. One container is currently staged at Tilden-Coil Constructors’ yard in Riverside, California, and the project is approaching the procurement and mobilization phase. All tracking of …
Analyzing Steel Supply Chain Factors With Analytic Hierarchy Process, Edilberto Urena Jr
Analyzing Steel Supply Chain Factors With Analytic Hierarchy Process, Edilberto Urena Jr
Construction Management
The global steel supply chain is a critical component of construction and manufacturing industries. It is a fundamental pillar supporting infrastructure development, economic growth, and technological innovation. However, disruptions in supply, price volatility, and logistical challenges necessitate an in-depth evaluation of key factors affecting the steel supply chain. These uncertainties can pose significant risks to project timelines, cost efficiency and sustainability. This study employes the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multi-criteria decision-making approach to systematically rank and prioritize factors influencing the supply chain. A literature review identified critical variables, which are then structured into a hierarchical model after the opinion …
The Viability Of Styrofoam Beads In Concrete Mixtures, Colin Edward Sykes
The Viability Of Styrofoam Beads In Concrete Mixtures, Colin Edward Sykes
Construction Management
This experiment revolved around the idea that an aggregate replacement in a concrete mixture could not only maintain its structural integrity but increase its sustainability as well. This idea was formulated into the experiment of embedding Styrofoam beads into concrete. The outcome of this experiment showed the compressive strength of the concrete increased the greatest with the substitution of Styrofoam beads for fine aggregate up to 20%. This 20% Styrofoam replacement mixture exhibited an 189% increase in compressive strength when compared to the control group in the third week of testing. In addition to this impressive compressive strength, the weight …
Value Of Electrical Heavy Civil Machinery In The American Construction Industry, Kaston Wong
Value Of Electrical Heavy Civil Machinery In The American Construction Industry, Kaston Wong
Construction Management
Every day the construction industry is releasing an unhealthy amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The consequences may seem trivial at first because the planet is slowly deteriorating, and it is not easily discernable on a day-to-day basis; however, similar to constantly taking care of one’s home, one must take care of the planet. On the other hand, the difference between degradation of a home and planet is that the pollution released into the world is irreversible; therefore, we need to be even more conscientious of the environment. As the construction industry continues to grow, the need for heavy …
Moringa Connect: Design And Fabrication Of The Drum For A Moringa Leaf Dryer Prototype, Braden Deck
Moringa Connect: Design And Fabrication Of The Drum For A Moringa Leaf Dryer Prototype, Braden Deck
Construction Management
Moringa Connect, founded in 2013 by MIT alumnus Kwami Williams, supports over 5,000 African farmers, primarily in Ghana, by providing a direct sales, manufacturing, and shipping platform for nutrient-dense moringa leaves. Despite significant social and economic benefits for the local farmers, the current drying process in Accra, Ghana, is inefficient, requiring extensive human handling. To address this, a team of five Cal Poly students partnered with Moringa Connect to design a prototype rotating hopper to streamline the drying process and reduce production costs. The project faced numerous challenges, including material sourcing constraints in Ghana and the need for extensive fabrication …
Feasibility Of Implementing A Construction Project In An International Country, Kristina Poliseri
Feasibility Of Implementing A Construction Project In An International Country, Kristina Poliseri
Construction Management
This paper examines the execution of an international service project involving the construction of a complex system. It explores three distinct approaches assuming a fully designed system: building the system in the U.S. and shipping it internationally, having system pieces constructed entirely in the destination country prior to arrival for assembly, and developing a prototype in the U.S. followed by the construction of a full-scale system in the international country. Each method presents unique advantages and challenges. Building in the U.S. ensures high quality, advanced technology, and meeting tolerances, however, leads to significant fees, shipping costs, and logistical complications. Constructing …
Electrical Design For Moringa Leaf Dryer, Jake Weiss
Electrical Design For Moringa Leaf Dryer, Jake Weiss
Construction Management
The objective of this project is to provide a methodology to the electrical scope of mechanical leaf dryers. This dryer was particularly designed for an off-grid farm in New Longoro, Ghana in which resources and materials are limited. The electrical system must be designed so that it works with motors, variable frequency drives, worm gears, and other materials that could be sourced in Ghana. The system should also draw minimal power so that remaining photovoltaic energy could be utilized on the farm. The system should be simplistic and repeatable for other farmers to utilize. By using both a numerical analysis …
Communication Challenges And Lessons Learned For An International Research And Development Project, Ryan Fehrenbach
Communication Challenges And Lessons Learned For An International Research And Development Project, Ryan Fehrenbach
Construction Management
This paper discusses the importance of communication for an International Research and Development project given the timeline it takes to accomplish. With a Cal Poly team of 5 students, 2 professors as advisors, an off-campus external advisor, and the Moringa Connect team in Ghana, many forms of communication were utilized and documented throughout the duration of the project. For a project of this magnitude, it was crucial to establish clear forms of communication from the first discussions of the project for both the internal Cal Poly team and the external team in Ghana. Implementing shared documents such as a deliverable …
Student Solutions For Leaf Drying: A Collaborative Approach To Enhance Moringa Production In Ghana, Daniel Desoto
Student Solutions For Leaf Drying: A Collaborative Approach To Enhance Moringa Production In Ghana, Daniel Desoto
Construction Management
This paper expands on a project that seeks to address the need for an updated mechanical leaf drying system for local farmers in Ghana, Africa. Working with the local organization, Moringa Connect, we were able to connect and identify potential areas of improvement within the current existing system. This project involved aspects of design, fundraising, and the construction of a rotating metal hopper. This hopper was identified as a solution for a crucial pinch point currently seen in the processing of the leaves from a wet stage to the final dry product. The design and construction process had a multidisciplinary …
Hiinga Hospital Project - Uganda, Africa, Arley W. Landis
Hiinga Hospital Project - Uganda, Africa, Arley W. Landis
Construction Management
This paper outlines the role of a construction management student in the interdisciplinary development of an urgent care clinic and hospital in Kampala, Uganda. This interdisciplinary team was composed of five students all belonging to the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. The team was tasked by Hiinga Inc., a capital investment company, to provide a preliminary design and construction resources to aid with development of these facilities. Two construction management students worked on this project at different stages. The first student was tasked with constructability research and a preliminary estimate …
Journeyman International: The Well Rusororo Project, Maranda F. Maliska
Journeyman International: The Well Rusororo Project, Maranda F. Maliska
Construction Management
The Well Rusororo Project is based in Kigali, Rwanda on the same property of the Light Church of Kabuga. The non-profit organization, Journeyman International has teamed up with the Africa Mission Alliance in an effort to create a community campus available to the public. This project has been broken up into two stages; the first is a renovation of two existing buildings totaling 500 square meters, and the second is a ground-up construction of a 3,000 square meter multipurpose center. For their project-based senior project, this student volunteered with Journeyman International to assist in the creation of the following deliverables …
Preconstruction Services For Hiinga Hospital Kampala, Uganda, Brett Robert Shank
Preconstruction Services For Hiinga Hospital Kampala, Uganda, Brett Robert Shank
Construction Management
This project outlines the role of a construction management student in the interdisciplinary development of a hospital in Kampala, Uganda. The Hiinga Organization, an investment fund in Eastern Africa, tasked a team of students to develop a preliminary design and put together construction resources for a new hospital. Hiinga will use these documents, with the preliminary drawings, to gather funding for the actual construction of the building. The interdisciplinary team consisted of an architecture student (Annebel van der Meulen), two architectural engineering students (Abbie Coffing and Lexi Buhr), and two construction management students (Arley Landis and Brett Shank). Van der …
The Preconstruction Of Sustainable Housing In Muhanga, Rwanda, Rachael Worstman
The Preconstruction Of Sustainable Housing In Muhanga, Rwanda, Rachael Worstman
Construction Management
This project involved the designing and building process of a sustainable, environmentally sound housing option designed for the people of Muhanga, Rwanda. This project was initially inspired by the Earthships built in New Mexico. During the design process the Earthships' design and materials used was evaluated, then altered to better suit Rwanda based on the available natural resources and needs of the people. Rwandans have endured a traumatic history and still experiences struggle today. An example of this is the anti-thatching campaign in 2011 that left thousands of people homeless as they were forced out of their unsafe homes. One …
Analyzing The Causes Of Labor Shortage In The Commercial Carpentry Trades In The San Francisco Bay Area, Jack Crayne
Analyzing The Causes Of Labor Shortage In The Commercial Carpentry Trades In The San Francisco Bay Area, Jack Crayne
Construction Management
Skilled labor is vital to the success of any construction project, and no contractor would be able to operate without the skilled laborers that they employ. The construction industry has been subject to a shortage of skilled labor for the last two decades for many reasons, including the poor image of construction workers among the public, inadequate training measures, and an aging workforce. Reviewing the literature on the matter shows that the leading cause of shortage is low pay and increasing age of the workforce overall, while the demand for labor grows at a faster rate than the supply of …
Learn By Giving: Non-Profit Information For Future Senior Projects, Ryan H. Proctor
Learn By Giving: Non-Profit Information For Future Senior Projects, Ryan H. Proctor
Construction Management
This report details the processes, deliverables, and partnerships between various non-profit construction organizations to provide students with accessible information about non-profit construction companies for future senior projects. The information and deliverables of this senior project also to be found in the portal for the construction management preliminary senior project class (CM 460). One of the main goals of this senior project is to encourage students to sharpen construction skills while helping communities in need. This project consists of interviewing local, national, and international non-profit companies to compile information so students understand the different opportunities they have. The first deliverable that …
Journeyman International: Canopy Life School, Housing & Training Complex In Kenya, Spencer P. Mishky
Journeyman International: Canopy Life School, Housing & Training Complex In Kenya, Spencer P. Mishky
Construction Management
The purpose of this project was to provide a master plan for a primary school complex in a rural village in Migori County, Kenya. This facility aims to eliminate any issues for students growing up in the area. The master plan includes a primary school, housing accommodations, a training center, and a dining hall to cultivate success through all stages of these children’s lives. The project is headed by a non-profit organization, Journeyman International in conjunction with Canopy Life International and Take Heart Africa. The project was interdisciplinary involving a construction manager, an architect, and two architectural engineers all working …
Risk Management In Response To Covid-19: Comparative Case Study, Justin Hong
Risk Management In Response To Covid-19: Comparative Case Study, Justin Hong
Construction Management
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of the construction industry. Construction industry members such as owners, developers, subcontractors have experienced varying degrees of impacts because of COVID-19. It is important for companies to adopt risk management strategies to mitigate risk and reduce potential injuries. Due to new rules and regulations mandated by the government, companies had to change the way they operate. This comparative case study focuses on how the pandemic has affected large and small residential companies and compare the risk management strategies set in place by different companies. It was determined that most residential companies were not …
Slo Botanical Garden - Greenhouse Propagation Tables, Garrett William Henley
Slo Botanical Garden - Greenhouse Propagation Tables, Garrett William Henley
Construction Management
This paper describes the planning and construction involved in retrofitting the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden propagation greenhouse. When trying to determine a senior project, the author of this paper met with multiple non-profit organizations. After interviewing with them, the author determined that the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden was the organization he wanted to work with. After meeting with the facility director, Chenda Lor, many potential projects were identified but the organization determined this would be of the most use immediately. Upon selection, the scope of work was determined as helping refurbish the propagation greenhouse by removal and/or demolition …
Supply Chain Management: Fragmented Adoption In Practice, Tayler J. Yoshimura
Supply Chain Management: Fragmented Adoption In Practice, Tayler J. Yoshimura
Construction Management
Every day the construction industry develops new ideas and theories toward innovation in increased efficiency and quality for its projects. One method is supply chain management, which focuses on the relationships between partnerships along the supply chain. The theory was first developed in the manufacturing industry and this paper will highlight the reasons behind its fragmented adoption in the construction industry. The overall supply chain typically contains short supply chains that are dismissed upon project completion. Some companies have partially adopted the theory into their work practices but has been unable to fully adopt the theory as a whole. There …
Neca Ghana Project, Michael T. Klee
Neca Ghana Project, Michael T. Klee
Construction Management
Cal Poly’s motto is, “Learn by Doing" and for Cal Poly’s NECA Chapter, this isn’t simply a motto, but a directive for proactive change. For my senior project I will be leading the Cal Poly NECA chapter in the design, pre- fabrication and construction of a 5-7kw solar array, community center, ice production room and technology room in the remote fishing village of Agbokpa, Ghana. The solar array will power multiple industrial DC freezers, high efficiency LED lighting and charging stations while additionally powering water filtration and irrigation systems. Like many other fishing villages around the world, Agbokpa has no …
On-Site Design Of A Water Filtration System In Rural Ghana, Donald Eugene Long
On-Site Design Of A Water Filtration System In Rural Ghana, Donald Eugene Long
Construction Management
Agbokpa is a rural community in southern Ghana with no access to clean or running water. Villages without access to water face significant hurdles in obtaining an education and developing their communities’ infrastructure and economy. In August of 2019 Cal Poly students Eugene Long, Fletcher Podosek, and Mason Nolan traveled with professors Paul Redden and Dr. Nathan Heston to Agbokpa to fix this problem. The team spent three weeks living in the village and constructing a water tower, pumping system, and filtration system that communally serves the village. The team worked with local craftsmen and sourced nearly all equipment and …
Journeyman International - Kilimbi Community Center And Eco-Lodge - Rwanda, Africa, Chris Audi
Journeyman International - Kilimbi Community Center And Eco-Lodge - Rwanda, Africa, Chris Audi
Construction Management
This project based senior project is an interdisciplinary partnership with a non-profit called Journeyman International (JI) and students from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly). Journeyman International worked Empowering Villages and our design team to design a community center, eco-lodge, and guest houses to enable the local population to take advantage of a tourism heavy area creating jobs and income. Empowering Villages objective is to empower, train, and build up the people they work with and hope to someday see Villages around the world become self-sufficient by working with locals …
Journeyman International: Bihongora Library In Rwanda, Africa, Sarah N. Nelson
Journeyman International: Bihongora Library In Rwanda, Africa, Sarah N. Nelson
Construction Management
My senior project is an interdisciplinary effort between students from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and Journeyman International. Our team was given the task to design, engineer, and produce preconstruction services for a library in Bihongora, Rwanda. My main deliverables as the construction manager consist of a construction estimate with quantity take-offs, a construction schedule, and a project site plan. There is a great need for literacy in Rwanda, among both children and adults, so by building a library we are hoping to provide the locals in the community with …
Journeyman International - Rubagabaga Evc And Ace - Rwanda, Africa, Jake M. Stom
Journeyman International - Rubagabaga Evc And Ace - Rwanda, Africa, Jake M. Stom
Construction Management
Rubagabaga EVC and ACE, or Empowering Villages Center and Agricultural Center of Excellence, is an interdisciplinary project based senior project completed by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo students. College of Architecture and Environmental Design students Jake Stom, Mackenzie Diaz, Julia De Hart, and Jenna Williams completed the design and preconstruction services with the help of non-profit humanitarian organization, Journeyman International. The deliverable aims to serve the client, Empowering Villages, by providing the complete design of a community center and agricultural training facility near Kaseke Village in Rwanda. The goal is to provide the local community with development efforts …
Mitigating Carbon Dioxide Emissions In The Cement Industry Through Carbon Capture And Storage, Nicholas J. Cramer
Mitigating Carbon Dioxide Emissions In The Cement Industry Through Carbon Capture And Storage, Nicholas J. Cramer
Construction Management
The cement industry is responsible for 7% of industrial energy use, the third largest energy consumer in the world. The industry is also responsible for 7% of global carbon dioxide emissions, the second largest industrial emitter. With current trends continuing, global cement usage will rise with population and urbanization. The low-carbon transition of the cement industry requires innovative technologies and producer cooperation. Carbon capture and storage, known as CCS, is a safe and sustainable solution to significantly reduce the amount being released into the atmosphere. Through CCS, carbon dioxide reacts with natural alkaline minerals, such as fly ash, to create …
Carbon Sequestering Bio Concrete As A Solution To Growing Atmospheric Concentrations Of Co2, Connor Cech, Jackson Walker
Carbon Sequestering Bio Concrete As A Solution To Growing Atmospheric Concentrations Of Co2, Connor Cech, Jackson Walker
Construction Management
High levels of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into the atmosphere are propelling climate change, which has been proven to be highly detrimental to the planet. Cement production for the construction industry is a leading cause of these harmful carbon emissions. This project introduces a potential solution to this issue in the form of a new biological concrete that is treated with carbon sequestering bacteria of the Bacillus family to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. The consolidated research presented in this project will explain the biology behind this process, and how it can be implemented in construction …
Journeyman International – Kalisher Multi-Purpose Center, Chelsea Trumbull
Journeyman International – Kalisher Multi-Purpose Center, Chelsea Trumbull
Construction Management
The Kalisher Multi-Purpose Center in Rwanda was completed through a non-profit organization, Journeyman International. Dan and Frances Klinck created a vision for a master plan in the Sunzu Yacu Village in Rwanda and teamed up with Journeyman International to accomplish it. The Kalisher Multi-Purpose Center is the next step in completing their master plan. This center will serve as a place of gathering and community for the locals. It will house various events including, but not limited to: community meetings, private ceremonies, performances, church gatherings, learning opportunities and a space for growth. This project was interdisciplinary and combined efforts from …
Journeyman International: Asyv Women's Co-Op & Community Center, Dustin Sullivan
Journeyman International: Asyv Women's Co-Op & Community Center, Dustin Sullivan
Construction Management
The purpose of this project is to provide a space for the woman of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda; to not only learn how to create a self-sufficient community, but also economic and financial independence. The new buildings will provide crucial opportunities for the village on their path of recovery from the Rwandan genocide that occurred in 1994. There will be a total of four new buildings; a storefront, community center, work space, and a building for pineapple and mango prep. The project is headed by the non-profit organization of Empowering Villages, in conjunction with Journeyman International. The project …