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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Confronting Retainage And Its Disruptive Effects On The Business Practices Of Commercial Concrete Subcontractors, Arlen Karl Hartoonian Jun 2019

Confronting Retainage And Its Disruptive Effects On The Business Practices Of Commercial Concrete Subcontractors, Arlen Karl Hartoonian

Construction Management

This paper aims to explore the extent of the damage that retainage is capable of inflicting on the financial health of commercial concrete subcontractors and strategies which can be utilized to mitigate or avoid damage to their financial health. The methodology implemented to conduct this exploration is a series of interviews with commercial concrete subcontractors. An analysis of these interviews in conjunction with a thorough literature review demonstrates that retainage does indeed impact financial health of commercial concrete subcontractor though the scale of the operation does make a difference in the severity of this impact. Whether or not the construction …

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Habitat For Humanity Global Village: Means & Methods Of Construction In Trinidad & Tobago, Garrett Landress Jun 2019

Habitat For Humanity Global Village: Means & Methods Of Construction In Trinidad & Tobago, Garrett Landress

Construction Management

Habitat for Humanity Global Village is a sector of Habitat for Humanity that focuses on aiding in the construction of homes for those in need around the world. Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago has been part of Habitat for Humanity Global Village for many years and aids people in need on the Island of Trinidad in the Southern Caribbean. This paper will discuss the construction of a small home for a woman whose family was disowned by her father due to her reluctance to uphold traditional Indian values. Subsequently the family was living in poverty and currently residing in …

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Zero Emission Zero Waste Construction Sites In California Commercial Construction: A Case Study, Joseph E. Anderson Jun 2019

Zero Emission Zero Waste Construction Sites In California Commercial Construction: A Case Study, Joseph E. Anderson

Construction Management

Zero emission refers to the absence of waste products that pollute the environment or disrupt the climate from any engine, motor, process, or other energy source systems. CO2 emissions through equipment and machinery, along with toxic chemicals, carcinogens, ash and dust are founded most common in the Construction Industry. Although these findings may not raise an eyebrow, it is quite overlooked, and the numerical data is staggering. Zero waste is also examined in this paper—the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, recovery of products and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, …

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Incorporation Of A Leed Green Associate Exam Prep Course Into The Construction Management Tech. Elective Selection, Jason Gendron Jun 2019

Incorporation Of A Leed Green Associate Exam Prep Course Into The Construction Management Tech. Elective Selection, Jason Gendron

Construction Management

Since the development of LEED began in 1993, the construction industry has gradually been incorporating these certificates into every aspect of the field, predominantly the Commercial sector. With LEED becoming a major element impacting nearly every project, it is crucial for individuals to fully understand what LEED encompasses. As greater numbers of professionals in the industry have begun to strive for their LEED Accreditations, it has become apparent that it is far easier to prepare for these exams while in college when individuals have more time to do so rather than during employment. This project is an evaluation of the …

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The Sam100: Analyzing Labor Productivity, Andrew John Madsen Jun 2019

The Sam100: Analyzing Labor Productivity, Andrew John Madsen

Construction Management

The construction industry is one of the slowest when it comes to labor productivity. As a result, construction projects see an increase in duration and labor costs. New technologies are being introduced within the construction industry to increase labor productivity. It is becoming more and more important for the industry to adapt to these technologies. Among them are robots. The SAM100 is a brick-laying robot that can replace most of the masonry crew on a project. Utilizing this technology on masonry-heavy projects could have significant benefits. This paper will analyze the benefits and weaknesses of the SAM100 on the Jay …

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Student Response To Traditional Fire Alarm Systems In The Cal Poly Yosemite Dorms, Adam F. Alviso Jun 2019

Student Response To Traditional Fire Alarm Systems In The Cal Poly Yosemite Dorms, Adam F. Alviso

Construction Management

What would you do if you were a student living on campus and you were burdened by an annoying fire alarm late at night? Though evacuating the building seems like the most logical and safe course of action, sleeping or studying for a big midterm may be a risk you are willing to take. Going back to grade school and up to your freshman year of college, we have been exposed to countless fire drills and false alarms. It is important to know the real facts on how students respond to fire alarms, the reason why they would respond, and …

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Revision Of The Archicad Manual For Cm 115, Emma Wagner Jun 2019

Revision Of The Archicad Manual For Cm 115, Emma Wagner

Construction Management

Each CM 115: Fundamentals of Construction Management section contains a quarter long project, the goal of which is to familiarize the students with a modeling software. More so, the goal of the project is to introduce them to a set of construction documents- how to get started, what is included, what they need to pay attention to as a construction manager, and most importantly, to implement what they learn from their written coursework completed during class. This manual was written to help students complete this assignment to the best of their ability, producing a piece of work that shows they …

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A Case Study On The Ciob Global Student Challenge - Project Overview, Jacob Ryan Navarre Jun 2019

A Case Study On The Ciob Global Student Challenge - Project Overview, Jacob Ryan Navarre

Construction Management

An international construction competition called the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Global Student Challenge has been introduced recently and is starting to gain attention in the United States. The competition is based on the utilization of a virtual construction simulation program called MERIT. Virtual construction simulations have been around for decades, yet, are still somewhat new to the construction industry and construction education programs. This past year, a group of California Polytechnic State University students studying Construction Management participated in the competition as the university’s first ever team. This paper will examine the competition as a whole, providing details on …

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Case Study: Using Geofoam On A School Project In Encinitas, Ca, Matthew D. Gaebe Jun 2019

Case Study: Using Geofoam On A School Project In Encinitas, Ca, Matthew D. Gaebe

Construction Management

This paper is a case study that identifies why Geofoam was used as in-fill material for a construction project located at a high school in Encinitas, CA. The Geofoam was installed under a stairway that connects to a structural retaining wall. The concrete formwork was connected directly to the foam and the stairs were poured in place onsite. The foam acted as the on-grade material, so the concrete stairs did not have to be self-supporting. The purpose of this study is to understand the benefits of using Geofoam, as the in-fill material, as opposed to other traditional materials. An analysis …

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Agrihoods: The Sustainable Communties Of The Future, Ryan Jeffrey Hauser Jun 2019

Agrihoods: The Sustainable Communties Of The Future, Ryan Jeffrey Hauser

Construction Management

With a large call for sustainable methods in construction due to current consumer interest and worries over the environment, a growing movement has developed to answer this call. This project involves a case study on agrihoods; housing developments involving community farming. The research will be centered around the use of Freehold Communities’ in-progress 309-acre agrihood model located in Palm Springs, California known as Miralon. This, as well as information from independent third-party sources, will bring to light the numerous positive aspects involved in making communities’ sustainable though agrihood’s unique attributes. The project will touch on the possible negative aspects and …

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Integration Of Digital Forms For Improved Safety And Quality Control: A Case Study, Andrew Cisterman Jun 2019

Integration Of Digital Forms For Improved Safety And Quality Control: A Case Study, Andrew Cisterman

Construction Management

The integration of new technology into the construction industry is commonly practiced in an attempt to improve standards and quality. iAuditor is an inspection checklist app which provides clients with the tools to build custom and dynamic forms to fit the needs of its client base. This paper examines the effectiveness of integrating this new software and observe the difficulties of integrating such new practices into a company’s safety and quality control programs. Additionally, this paper evaluates ways the aforementioned software could be improved to better meet the needs of its users as well as assess ways it could be …

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Logistics Of Construction In Agbokpa, Ghana, Fletcher David Podosek Jun 2019

Logistics Of Construction In Agbokpa, Ghana, Fletcher David Podosek

Construction Management

In August of 2019, three Cal Poly CM students will travel to the remote fishing village of Agbokpa in Ghana. Our project is to install a water filtration system that will create potable water for the villagers that currently have to walk miles to obtain clean water. We will be laying nearly 1000 ft of pipe, installing a solar powered pump, and building a water filtration system hours away from any electricity. A project of this type requires a great deal of logistical planning in order to ensure that all aspects of the project is thought of and planned for. …

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Feasibility Of Utilizing Autonomous, Trenchless Tunneling Technology, Thomas Arthur Fuentez Jun 2019

Feasibility Of Utilizing Autonomous, Trenchless Tunneling Technology, Thomas Arthur Fuentez

Construction Management

The construction industry as a whole has not increased its productivity level as much as other industries in the world. Professionals are constantly trying to think of new ideas and methods to improve the efficiency of construction through new technology. One area in which productivity needs improvement, is in land development. Trenching for underground utilities and services uses a lot of time in a project’s schedule as well as costs which can be reduced with the use of autonomous, trenchless tunneling technology such as the “BADGER”, (RoBot for Autonomous unDerGround trenchless opERations). This technology is being designed to use a …

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Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Bridge House Remodel Project, Severin B. Elste Jun 2019

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Bridge House Remodel Project, Severin B. Elste

Construction Management

The Bridge House, located in Poly Canyon, was originally constructed in 1968. Its original purpose served as a seismic activity lab for Architectural Engineering (ARCE) students. I joined a team of 4 ARCE students, making this an interdisciplinary project. There have been a few other groups who have tried to complete this project but have always fallen short. With the calculations and structural drawings provided by the ARCE students, we had a design and plan to fabricate the hand railings. We have completed 13 handrails, with four already installed on the structure by another group, that have now replaced the …

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Develop An Mep Based Scheduling Learning Module With Industry Support And Guidance To Understand The Impact On The General Contractor, Andy S. Rios Jun 2019

Develop An Mep Based Scheduling Learning Module With Industry Support And Guidance To Understand The Impact On The General Contractor, Andy S. Rios

Construction Management

The Construction Management (CM) program at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is recognized as one of the best construction programs in country. The curriculum does an extraordinary job at teaching how to utilize software and technology to create a project schedule. The one thing that the curriculum lacks is learning sequencing of events when it comes to scheduling, and where to look to obtain this information. Although learning sequencing for scheduling is hard to teach because it comes with years of industry experience, it is important to have a basic understanding of how things come together to create a functioning …

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Solar Shingle Experience: Evaluating Their Value In Today's Market, Kevin R. Church Jun 2019

Solar Shingle Experience: Evaluating Their Value In Today's Market, Kevin R. Church

Construction Management

Solar technology has been on the rise in popularity in recent years and we are starting to see more of it across the US. As the technology and capabilities of photovoltaic (PV) cells advance, there has been an increase in the number of different product designs that incorporate PV cells. Building integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) products have been some of the most popular introduced to the market. In the last five years, one of these BIPV products, a solar system integrated into the roofing shingles of residential homes has been sensationalized and, according to a California solar installer, that has encouraged …

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Creating A Pull Planning Guide For Industry Use, Michael B. Avila Jun 2019

Creating A Pull Planning Guide For Industry Use, Michael B. Avila

Construction Management

The construction industry is quickly making Pull Planning sessions a commodity only the largest companies can afford due to expensive consultants and the common perception of a complicated process. Pull Planning does not need to be complicated but can be quickly implemented by all types of companies utilizing extensive research completed on The Last Planner System. The benefits of Pull Planning include creating buy-in to the plan, making hand-offs known, and creating reliability and trust from the key Players on a project. As the demand for a more productive construction project rises, it is increasingly important for the scheduling methods …

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Mitigating Carbon Dioxide Emissions In The Cement Industry Through Carbon Capture And Storage, Nicholas J. Cramer Jun 2019

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 …

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Ciob Global Student Challenge - Integration Into Professional Financial Training, George M. King Jun 2019

Ciob Global Student Challenge - Integration Into Professional Financial Training, George M. King

Construction Management

As anyone in the construction industry knows, a construction business is one of the most risky to start compared to any other industry. This does not mean that it should be avoided by potential entrepreneurs, just viewed with a more cautious eye than other industries. Those considering entering the industry should have experience and confidence in their ability to perform prior to the establishment of a company. One way to gain this experience is through years of work in the respective sector. Another, more experimental method, is through the use of competitive virtual training. The latter requires less training time …

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Interim Field Guide For Construction And Testing Of Concrete Shear Wall With Added Frp Layer, Carlos Alberto Espitia Jun 2019

Interim Field Guide For Construction And Testing Of Concrete Shear Wall With Added Frp Layer, Carlos Alberto Espitia

Construction Management

In Los Angeles, many of the hospitals are no longer up to code as they were built in the 1970’s. The shear walls that the hospitals were constructed on stand to experience major failures in the event of a seismic event and this is the issue that this student research team was assigned with. This project was to design, procure, and construct all necessary constraints to be able to test a wall that is fundamentally similar to that of the sheer walls in these hospitals. Once this was complete the goal was to test two walls with an added FRP …

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Analysis Of Job-Sites In San Luis Obispo County Adapting To Unforeseen Wet Conditions, Ashley Jaylene Martinez Jun 2019

Analysis Of Job-Sites In San Luis Obispo County Adapting To Unforeseen Wet Conditions, Ashley Jaylene Martinez

Construction Management

Wet conditions are unpredictable factors that nonetheless, are estimated and incorporated onto a long term project schedule. Effective scheduling does mitigate the productivity of a job-site, however, when you factor in unforeseen wet conditions, it could result in schedule delays, material damages, and a discontent client. This paper presents an analysis on how job-sites adapted or were affected by the unpredicted amount of rain received in San Luis Obispo County. The initial findings, based on qualitative attitudinal research, are presented to show if schedules accounted for the amount of rain received, if their schedules were delayed, if material was damaged …

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Tiny Home Retail, Shane M. Simpson Jun 2019

Tiny Home Retail, Shane M. Simpson

Construction Management

Tiny homes on wheels are exploding in popularity all around the world. Television shows and YouTube channels dedicated to tiny homes have garnered cult followings. Many people view purchasing or constructing a tiny home as a viable option to gain freedom and escape the perceived trap of renting or home ownership. There seems to be a market for these homes, however, after research I found purchasing one can be extremely expensive. Therefore, I decided I would contact manufacturers in China and enter a partnership where I would attempt to sell their tiny homes for a profit. I created a website …

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Documentation Of Concrete Slabs Prior To Pours, Peter D. Riley Jun 2019

Documentation Of Concrete Slabs Prior To Pours, Peter D. Riley

Construction Management

Concrete slabs in multi-level commercial building projects contain many components that become no longer visible once concrete has been poured. As building designs advance and continue to locate components in concrete, it is important to document what these slabs contain in order to verify accurate craftsmanship and allow for improved future construction workflows and building modernizations. This paper explores current industry needs for proficient documentation as well as practices to achieve this. A case study was conducted, testing four devices that analyzed feasibility factors for realistic implementation by a contractor such as cost, interoperability, and level of skill required for …

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Cal Poly Engineering East – Building 20, A Critical Analysis Of Mechanical Needs And Distribution Of Mechanical Resources, Rhea Bae Jun 2019

Cal Poly Engineering East – Building 20, A Critical Analysis Of Mechanical Needs And Distribution Of Mechanical Resources, Rhea Bae

Construction Management

Older buildings on the Cal Poly campus need renovation, particularly with the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning (addressed as HVAC) systems in the classrooms. The HVAC units within the old buildings are obsolete, inefficient, and are most likely due for replacement. The Engineering East building, also known as Building 20, is an example of a campus building that requires a quality HVAC system. By upgrading the HVAC, the building conditions can be positively enhanced through better cooling and ventilation, allowing students in the labs and classrooms to have a better experience within the building. This paper details the methodology behind installing a …

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A Case Study On The Feasibility Of Shipping Container Homes As Housing For Disaster Victims, Devin C. Cameron Jun 2019

A Case Study On The Feasibility Of Shipping Container Homes As Housing For Disaster Victims, Devin C. Cameron

Construction Management

This case study is designed to examine the feasibility and possible implementation of the use of modified steel shipping container units, as temporary relief housing for victims of natural disasters. In this study we will analyze an on-going shipping container project being constructed in Santa Rosa, CA as well as use previously constructed research on this type of construction. The point of this research is to develop and analyze areas in which shipping container projects like this one could be more expeditious and more cost efficient in the future. In short, my findings proved modular shipping container home construction, as …

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Site Safety In San Luis Obispo County, Crystal Becerra Jun 2019

Site Safety In San Luis Obispo County, Crystal Becerra

Construction Management

Site safety is a key determinant in a project’s success. In order for a site safety plan to be effective it needs to be implemented and enforced from management all the way down to the laborers on site and it must be site specific. The goal of every safety plan is to identify potential hazards and to have zero accidents throughout the project’s construction. An accident on the jobsite can cause a project to be delayed, increase overall cost, and can even cause a fatal accident (Randle, 2018). This paper will investigate the factors affecting the lack of safety compliance …

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Poly Canyon Observation Deck, Harrison James Woods, Anthony Joseph Pellegrini Jun 2019

Poly Canyon Observation Deck, Harrison James Woods, Anthony Joseph Pellegrini

Construction Management

This senior project paper will delve into the background, setbacks and triumphs that where undergone during the course of this project based senior project- The first permanent structure in Poly Canyon in 15 years. Built in true “Learn By Doing Fashion” in the experimental, hands-on lab that some may better know as “Architecture Graveyard.” The project was one of extreme adversity, from fundraising difficulties and a condensed schedule, to unique site conditions and lack of manpower. The students involved in this project showed a strong sense of purpose and determination to see this structure through to completion.

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Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Studying Spanish And Construction In Tandem, Daniel Joseph Eide Jun 2019

Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Studying Spanish And Construction In Tandem, Daniel Joseph Eide

Construction Management

Does Spanish bilingualism have measurable fiscal value in the U.S. construction industry? Studying and becoming proficient in Spanish is feasible, affordable, and can be accomplished at Cal Poly in conjunction with a Construction Management major. In a dynamic industry that values versatile employees, where communication is key to success, the capability of speaking Spanish is a substantial value-add in the workforce. Using qualitative and quantitative data analysis, it is concluded that individuals who possess English and Spanish-speaking abilities in the U.S. construction industry can expect a 3 percent wage premium when compared to English-only speakers. This study weighs the costs …

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Comparison Of Carbon Fiber And Fiberglass On Concrete Strength, Justin A. Baker Jun 2019

Comparison Of Carbon Fiber And Fiberglass On Concrete Strength, Justin A. Baker

Construction Management

The purpose of this paper is to compare two common polymers of the construction industry and determine if there are benefits of using them in concrete application to increase overall strength. The goal of the project is to complete a full experiment, utilizing concrete cylinders and beams to test the compressive and tensile properties of fiberglass and carbon fiber. This paper provides data from the experimentation of the compressive and tensile tests of carbon fiber and fiberglass to prove that these polymers are superior and aid in overall concrete strength. The experiment proved that carbon fiber is superior to fiberglass, …

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Living Off The Grid: Preconstruction Process, Katrina S. Hasson Jun 2019

Living Off The Grid: Preconstruction Process, Katrina S. Hasson

Construction Management

This project-based senior project is the design and preconstruction work needed to complete the build-out of the interior of a van in order to become a livable space. This project includes a 3D model of the vans designed interior, a developed estimate approximating the project cost, and a tentative schedule for the construction. This project was created to provide others with the information needed to identify how it is possible to live off the grid and what the initial upfront costs may be. Ultimately, this project should serve as a case study to assist others who are interested in potentially …

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