Engineering Commons^™

Dominican Republic Community Center, Norris Lee Cooper

Construction Management

The Santiago Agriculture and Water Company will partner with the Amoveo Group and Mission TwentyFive35 in order to bring healthy and sustainable solutions to the overall project region known as “El Cibao” in the Dominican Republic. This facility focuses on the revitalization of the community with educational facilities like libraries, a green house, and agricultural landscaping. The project navigates the trials and complications often encountered with foreign humanitarian work by providing a rough construction schedule, budget, and analysis reports necessary to understand the project hazards.

Use Of Drone Technology On Commercial Construction Projects, Andrew Lin

Construction Management

Every successful construction project is an intricate symphony of project management, jobsite operations, and skilled laborers doing what they do best. While traditional means and methods have proven themselves to be reliable and effective, companies must now look into new and improved approaches to expedite their project delivery and maintain their competitive edge in this booming and demanding market. Furthermore, as expectations for new commercial projects grow, the risks of taking on these projects increase alongside them. Skyscrapers are expected to be taller, buildings more efficient, and company campuses vaster and more state-of-the-art than ever before. With technological innovations such …

A Comparative Study Of The Leed And Well Building Standards, Brent J. Zavada

Construction Management

Our current environmental and public health conditions have led our industry to create sustainability standards that address both of these current problems. With the addition of the WELL Building Standard, the first standard to solely focus on human health and wellness, it is now possible to promote public health, environmental conservation, and owner profits all in one project. This study looks to overlap the well-known LEED Certification standards with the new WELL standards to assist project teams in fully understanding what needs to be accomplished in order for their project to be on track for both certifications. It is meant …

Implementing An On-Site Concrete Batch Plant On A Large Construction Project In The Bay Area, Gabe Zagorski

Construction Management

The demand for ready mix concrete in the San Francisco Bay Area continues to grow with the booming development and construction industry. Concrete is a very common construction material with a wide range of use on projects ranging from parking garages all the way to high-rise buildings. The typical method of ready mix concrete delivery is to order concrete from a ready mix supplier who trucks the concrete to the project from a nearby batch plant. Concrete is a perishable commodity that demands timely batching and delivery to meet customer requested specifications. The small number of batch plants and congested …

Student Led Service-Learning Initiative: Installation Of Photovoltaic Water-Pump Systems In The Ecuador Amazon Rainforest, Kelly M. Williams

Construction Management

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) student chapter at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California was selected by an association called ELECTRI International to participate in their Student Community Service Initiative program. The goal of the program is to “Encourage construction management and electrical engineering students to take an active role in improving access to electricity in developing communities” (“Student Passport Program”). This paper summarizes the findings of a student-led project made possible by ELECTRI International’s program. The project included coordinating, funding, and executing a project to facilitate the installation of photovoltaic water pump systems to indigenous …

Standardized Testing Tolerances For Auger Pressure Grouted Piles Additive "Panacea", Brian C. Spurgeon

Construction Management

Panacea is an admixture for auger pressure grouted piles in deep foundation construction which was created by Berkel and Company Contractors, a design build corporation. The admixture is designed to increase workability time and increase water retention to avoid seepage into surrounding soils and allow for the insertion of reinforcing steel after the grout has been placed. The objective of this research was to correlate initial set times with internal temperatures over time for scheduling purposes. Multiple batches with varying amounts of the additive were observed. The research also served to create a standardized set of tolerances for various variables …

Tiny House Permitting In San Luis Obispo, Luke I. Schveibinz

Construction Management

Tiny houses are a rising trend in housing that provide affordable, environmentally friendly dwellings for those inclined to a minimalist lifestyle. Across the Unites States, municipalities have begun creating special provisions for tiny houses, but there remain many barriers to building and permitting tiny houses affordably. There has been much progress in the acceptance of ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units), specifically in the state of California. Legislation on ADUs leads the way for the community integration of tiny houses. This study investigates the current state of legislation and permitting for tiny houses in San Luis Obispo, California. An interview was conducted …

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 …

Poly Canyon Observation Deck, Jordan H. Morofsky

Construction Management

The Poly Canyon Observation Deck is a project that I have been moving through preconstruction for the past year. It started as a solo project but quickly evolved into an interdisciplinary project involving two architectural engineers and myself. Together we developed a project proposal that we presented to Cal Poly Facilities along with our building permit application. They have approved our proposal and have awarded us a provisional building permit which will be approved after they review the 100% construction documents. We have been working the past two quarters to finalize the design, select materials, and perform a complete structural …

Journeyman International: Virunga Coffee Co-Op In Rwanda, Africa, Tanner Frikovich

Construction Management

This project-based senior project is an interdisciplinary collaboration between students from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a non-profit organization, Journeyman International. The goal of this collaborative effort is to build a coffee cooperative per the request of Empowering Villages, an organization with the mission of empowering rural parts of eastern Africa with socio-economic development solutions. The project will include a community center, restroom, warehouse, and welcome center. The students from the Architecture, Architectural Engineering, and Construction Management programs designed the project and created its associated preconstruction package. The preconstruction package includes …

Journeyman International: Malawi City Cottage, Stefan Denny

Construction Management

This report details the partnership between Journeyman International and City Cottage, to design and construct an educational facility near Lilongwe, Malawi. Journeyman International is a non-profit humanitarian design and construction organization with the mission of connecting top tier CAED students from around the nation to collaborate on philanthropic efforts in the form of senior projects. The proposed project is a 5,800 sqft educational facility built on an institutional land grant; designed to house an auditorium and additional classroom space. The project utilized rammed earth construction methods with steel reinforcement. This report’s focus is on the construction management process of this …

Professional Certifications Implemented Into The Cal Poly Slo Cm Curriculum, Dixie Bronec

Construction Management

The California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo has a well-recognized and prestigious program in the Construction Management Department. In a few of the labs, professional certifications or introductory courses to obtain the certification are offered. Professional certifications are viewed highly in the construction industry and encourage students to gain more skills and distinguish themselves in various sectors. Demand has risen for specialized knowledge in professional credentials. Both faculty and industry members view that certain professional certifications should be essential to work in construction. The possibility of implementing these certifications in Cal Poly’s Construction Management program could set the students …

Students Perception Of Health And Safety Training Practices In The Construction Industry, Adam Will

Construction Management

Since its inception in 1970, the Occupational Safety and Health Act has steadily decreased the rate in which construction injuries, illnesses, and deaths occur in the industry. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) helps enforce these new standards yet some research suggests that safety performance appears to be a response to safety initiatives beyond compliance. Identifying workers’ perceptions of the training they receive is critical to the design and development of effective workplace safety programs. Utilizing a quantitative survey, data was collected from the Cal Poly Construction Management student body to find out how they were taught jobsite safety …

Determining Interest For A Subcontractor Career Fair, Jesseka Zappe

Construction Management

Companies look to Cal Poly Construction Management as a great place to come and recruit for summer interns and new full time positions. But of the 141 companies that recruit at Cal Poly, only 16% of them are subcontractors. With so many general contractors, subcontractors often get passed over. This study looks at the interests from both students and industry to hold a separate recruiting event for subcontractors. It also investigates the best type of event to hold and other logistics.

Recommendations To Implement A Potential Case Study Module To All Cm Labs, Donald Wong

Construction Management

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo [Cal Poly for short] is notable for having one of the best undergraduate Construction Management programs in the nation. From winning consecutive regional competitions, such as the ASC Competition in Reno, to incorporating a “learn-by-doing” philosophy in all its classrooms, Cal Poly’s CM curriculum truly distinguishes itself from other CM programs nationwide. From the Cal Poly Construction Management website, it’s noted that upon graduation, “the department has virtually 100% placement in the construction industry” (“Cal Poly Construction Management”). However, while the CM program at Cal Poly truly excels in preparing its undergraduate students …

Additional Business Courses In The Cm Curriculum, Jordan A. Thrailkill

Construction Management

With the growing size of the Construction Industry, an increased knowledge and understanding of the business side of the operation is becoming more important. This study attempts to look at construction management student’s interest in adding more business topic courses into the CM curriculum and if adding more business topic courses will better prepare students for industry. Students were asked to answer six questions -five survey and one free response. These questions were designed to provide quantitative and qualitative data that would allow for an increased understanding of student interest in regards to business.

Conclusion: Results indicated that students would …

Creating A Training Guide For First-Time Bluebeam 2018 Users, Ryan M. Weir

Construction Management

The use of technology is constantly increasing in the construction industry. Bluebeam is commonly used in both industry and the Cal Poly Construction Management program. The goal of this project based project is to create a training guide for first time Bluebeam users. The guide takes users through the steps of opening the program, becoming accustomed with the user interface, and step by step through a basic takeoff to the submission stage.

A Recommendation To Implement A Quality Assurance/Quality Control Topics Course, Jacob W. Stapp

Construction Management

The purpose of this report is to recommend and gauge student interest/need for the addition of a Quality Assurance/Quality Control topics course to the Construction Management curriculum. Both Quality Assurance and Quality Control are vital for all construction projects, and without proper implementation there is no way to ensure high quality results. In an industry that demands high quality projects, it is important that our department prepares our students to be well-rounded in all aspects of construction. This will enable our graduates to enter the workforce in full stride, contributing efficiently from the start. Our University’s motto is “Learn by …

Journeyman International: Karambo River Master Plan, Nick Somera

Construction Management

My senior project consisted of an interdisciplinary partnership with students in the College of Architecture & Environmental Design and the non-profit, Journeyman International. My project team has been given the Karambo River Master Plan located in Rwanda, Africa. Empowering Villages, the sponsor for the project, has bought land to make way for new buildings in a fairly remote area with no existing utilities. The site, near the Mahoko village, will foster community, learning, and growing together. There will be a library, classroom, and multi-purpose building constructed for the surround villages in the area. Empowering Villages has also partnered with Afritech …

Professional Practice For Constructors, Tristan M. Soltero

Construction Management

This project based senior project focuses on the creation of a fully online topics course called CM 463: Professional Practice for Constructors. The course itself will be based on the project management body of knowledge and will cover several the chapters either in depth or briefly. A few of the topics introduced throughout the course will be: Project Scope, Project Time, and Project Cost. Although most students may have already touched basis on the subjects throughout the current curriculum, the management perspective of these project essentials are overlooked. While each chapter will be introduced throughout the course, a project lasting …

Los Angeles Homeless Epidemic Alternative Housing And Locations, Jacques Spinner

Construction Management

Homelessness is a major problem across America and is also very expensive, costing billions of dollars each year. If Los Angeles has been booming with construction over the past several years, why has the homeless population continued to greatly increase? I will investigate what plans Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority already have in place to aid this epidemic. This is such a large problem that the presented solutions and findings may only help a portion of the unsheltered homeless, but it will be a step in the right direction. In order to tackle this epidemic, …

Weed Cohort Panelized Housing, John Michael E. Theofanides

Construction Management

This study analyzed how students took on primary design and contractor roles with real projects. It is focused on the feasibility of getting students heavily involved with projects that are meant to be built for real clients. This study will review a specific project that multiple Cal Poly interdisciplinary teams undertook that heavily emphasized panelization strategies and working-class family affordability. First the paper introduces the initial goals the clients set out for the project. Next, it gives an overall background of the design process using integrated project delivery. It studies the interactions between students and the client in a short …

Examining The Labor Shortage In The Construction Industry And Possible Solutions Presented By Industry Members, Jeremy Suryadi

Construction Management

This paper attempts to examine what factors have caused the sustained labor shortage in the construction industry. Whether it be through the lens of general contractors, trade partners, or suppliers, all parties associated with the built-environment have experienced a form of labor shortage or an increase in older employees with few replacements readily available. The main purpose of this paper is to gather enough data and opinions from construction industry members to formalize the few key factors of the diminished labor force, primarily in California’s commercial construction sector. The lack of skilled workers has negatively impacted the quality and quantity …

The Well Building Standard: Assessment Of Effectiveness, Zachary Richardson

Construction Management

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the WELL Building standard. The WELL Building standard is a certification very similar in nature to that of LEED, where there are criteria that must be met in order for a building to be certified. The International WELL Building Institute claims that by adhering to their standards, building owners will be able to improve many health aspects in the lives of the occupants, as well as creating more effective workplaces for business. Through a careful analysis of the physical and mental health aspects WELL claims to improve, as well as surveying building …

Value Of Exposing High School Students To Skilled Trades, Rocio Ramirez-Castro, Janet Valenzuela

Construction Management

The construction industry is facing dramatic challenges, specifically labor shortage. Due to a lack of skilled craftspeople working in the field, projects result in delays and increased project costs. Throughout the United States, construction companies are looking to find skilled workers to meet the projects workforce. In order to expose people to the construction industry, a presentation and survey was conducted amongst high school students. The concept consists of majority of high school students not being informed about the career opportunities in the construction industry. Consequently, by exposing students to the construction industry would benefit the industry itself and recent …

Cal Poly Caed Interdisciplinary Competition, Richard Nguyen

Construction Management

In an effort to promote relationships between Construction management students with other majors in Cal Poly’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design, an interdisciplinary competition should be encouraged. Targeted towards second-year students, an interdisciplinary competition will provide valuable experience in competition environment, while establishing relationships with students in other majors. Each team member will learn more about the other professions and the issues affecting their work. Conducted over an academic quarter (10 weeks), students will be presented with site information and strategic development plan materials to support the effort. The teams require participation and input from architectural engineering, architecture, city …

Recommendation To Implement A Microsoft Excel Topics Course, Alexander J. Poksay

Construction Management

The purpose of my senior project is to recommend the addition of a Microsoft Excel course to the Cal Poly Construction Management curriculum. My interest in this topic was sparked when I began my internship at Decker Electric in San Francisco during the summer of 2017. As a result of this internship, I discovered how inadequate my Excel skills were and how important Microsoft Excel is to the construction industry. Upon graduation, Cal Poly Construction Management students enter a workforce that relies heavily upon many different types of software programs that analyze information used daily in construction. With a rapidly …

An Analysis Of The Demand For Interdisciplinary Curriculum Within The Caed, Matthew S. Montijo

Construction Management

This study serves to demonstrate the demand and benefits of interdisciplinary curriculum within the College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) at California Polytechnic State University. While the literature review serves to highlight the unique learning benefits of interdisciplinary coursework, the survey demonstrates student demand for such courses across all colleges in the CAED. This study provides possible solutions to an existing problem within the CAED through the avenue of the construction management department.

An Evaluation Of The Current State Of Unions In The Construction Industry And Their Future, Cheyne Walsh

Construction Management

Over the past fifty years, the United States has seen a tremendous decline in the amount of union members in the workforce. The trade unions in the construction industry have been no exception. Recently, the percentage of union members compared to the amount of employees have reached an all-time low. There has been a slight boost in members with the current climate of increased construction projects underway. But, unions still need to once again grow in strength to stay viable within the industry. Construction trade unions, especially the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and Iron Workers, …

Establishment Of Occupational Safety And Health As A Minor, Giovani A. Mazzotti

Construction Management

Safety plays an essential role in the construction industry. With construction projects increasing in size, time, and overall complexity, it has become increasingly difficult to implement safe protocol and procedures. Present-day construction projects sometimes require more than 10,000 employees, including dozens of subcontractors, office teams, and more on-site. In addition to the increased need for laborers, increasing project size means an increase in demand for individuals with expertise and experience in safety practices. Projects of all shapes and sizes are in need of professionals with proven expertise in implementing safety practices. Currently, many incoming project engineers and field engineers lack …