Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Indispensable Homes In Third World Countries: Constructing A Home In Tijuana, Mexico, Myles Hubers

Construction Management

This project was created to explore a way in which poverty around the world could ultimately be reduced. The way in which this project intends to demonstrate a method used to reduce poverty is by building a home for a specific family in Tijuana, Mexico. In doing so, this home will act as a model home for a manual, comprised of steps that should be taken to construct similar homes throughout any third world country. The goal of this project is to highlight the importance of poverty in the world while also creating a buildable solution in order to reduce …

The Effects Of Covid-19 On A Commercial Construction Company: A Case Study, Dylan Reynolds

Construction Management

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and 2021 resulted in many states issuing stay-at-home orders and closing businesses. In some states, construction was deemed essential and allowed to remain open. Dempsey Construction, Inc. is a Southern California commercial construction company that was permitted to continue operation with the exception of a brief lockdown in March and April of 2020. Despite being permitted to remain open, the company had to face many direct and indirect challenges resulting from the worldwide pandemic. In addition to schedule adjustments, daily cleaning on jobsites and in the office, and increased material prices and lead times, Dempsey …

The Effects Of Waste Marble Powder On Sustainable Concrete, Jeremy S. Tennesen

Construction Management

Sustainability has been growing consistently more popular in construction, with projects introducing innovative ideas to build greener every year. One material that has not experienced many innovations since emerging in building use is concrete. The reason behind this could be the chemical process of curing concrete being unique compared to most materials. While concrete can be broken down into some of its original components, water, cement, and admixtures used are not retainable. This makes it difficult to recycle the material, and the aggregates recovered from recycling also experience a loss in strength. With admixtures being involved in most concrete mixes …

Best Practices For Bridge Crane Implementation And Installation: A Case Study, Sterling D. Treloar

Construction Management

Overhead Cranes, which are more commonly referred to as bridge cranes, provide a substantial amount of flexibility with respect to the user’s ability to move material and heavy equipment throughout a factory or manufacturing facility. Oftentimes, the client is not aware of the benefits of implementing bridge cranes rather than using mobile gantry cranes. The client may not be aware of the benefits of bridge crane installation occurring at the beginning of a project or in fact, including it in the initial design of the project, rather than considering it in the middle of the project. This case study will …

Wood Post And Non-Climb Fencing Construction For Hoofstock Pasture, Jessica Miller

Construction Management

This paper covers the planning, site clearing and construction of a new 7,100 square foot hoofstock pasture for the nonprofit group Conservation Ambassadors at their Northern campus in Weimar, California. The project involved planning the layout of the new pasture based on the owner’s preferences for pasture size, material type and location as well as removing several old pre-existing posts to prepare for the new fence to be built. New two-foot deep post holes were dug and the four-inch diameter, eight-foot long wood posts were leveled and set in concrete. Horizontal H-braces and cross brace tension wire were added to …

Paso Robles Police Department Outdoor Training Facility Improvements - Phase 1, Zachary T. Stellini

Construction Management

This paper outlines the pre-construction and construction of the 24,300 square foot Paso Robles Police Department outdoor training facility improvements. The project focuses 12,000 square feet of the total site with improvements that include earthwork and new concrete flatwork. This project is group project with Gavin Abraham and Nic Petri that is broken up into 3 phases, this paper will primarily focus on the phase 1 which includes grading and excavation. The purpose of this project was to provide the Paso Robles Police Department with a modern, functional facility that allows its officers to be better equipped to protect the …

Case Study: Infection Control On The Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Emergency Room Expansion And Remodel Project, Daniel E. Romero

Construction Management

California hospital and healthcare projects typically involve California’s Office of Statewide Health Planning and Department (OSHPD) which is governed by the state of California and the Fire Marshal. Along with OHSPD as the governing organization, healthcare and hospital projects often must incorporate infection control practices. The Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Emergency Room Expansions and Remodel project incorporated infectious control practices. Qualitative research was conducted through semi-structured interviews of the project management team along with primary and secondary sources. The tools and practices used on this project included negative air machines, temporary walls with sound barriers, zip walls with fire rated …

Sustainable Bus Stop: Design & Pre-Construction, Nadov O. Rader

Construction Management

The objective of this project is to design and prepare to build a sustainable bus stop for the City of San Luis Obispo (SLO). Compiled are pre-construction plans and documents for delivery of a sustainable bus stop. All pre-construction services include: project budget/estimates, construction plans and specifications including architectural and electrical plans, timeline/schedule, and materials lists. With a strong focus on sustainability, the design incorporates the use of photovoltaic panels as a form of renewable energy to power features of the sheltered bus stop. This includes a light fixture and a pump to use collected rainwater to nourish native vegetation …

Common Issues Of Compliance With Personal Protective Equipment For Construction Workers, Alexandra N. Gattuso

Construction Management

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is an essential component to the safety of workers on construction jobsites. Construction is ranked one of the most dangerous industries to work in, with the highest reports of fatal work injuries. For this reason, it is required that construction employees wear PPE to keep them safe during work. Despite this requirement, many workers neglect to wear PPE, exposing themselves to high risk of injury and death. A survey was conducted on thirty-three (33) construction workers in California to gain a better understanding of issues with PPE and reasons for non-compliance. The survey found that only …

Industry Perceptions On Public Sector Construction Delivery Methods, Evan Mccollough

Construction Management

The public construction sector in the United States has predominantly used the traditional delivery method, also known as design-bid-build, to obtain and deliver projects. Accurately assessing the direction of the public construction sector must include analysis of the emergence of Public-Private Partnerships (P3) and alternative delivery methods. P3 projects in the United States are relatively new, an emerging trend from the late 2000s as an innovative way to utilize private capital to finance public projects, beyond a typical bond sale. Alternative delivery methods refer to any project award or management arrangement other than the typical design-bid-build, lump sum, competitive bidding …

A Case Study On The Capacity And Competitiveness Of Small-Sized Contractors On The Central Coast Of California, Lev S. Garcia

Construction Management

The market conditions in which small-sized construction firms in California compete can be significantly influenced by the regional location of their projects. This research paper reviews a qualitative case study executed through semi-structured interviews with two construction firms on the Central Coast of California. Through gaining the perspectives of two companies, one that recently grew into a medium sized company and one that is small-sized, this case study aims to identify market characteristics that influence small-sized companies’ abilities to compete on the Central Coast. The case study indicates that competition between existing companies, the threat of new arrivals, the cost …

Residential Bathroom And Tile Shower Addition During Covid-19 Quarantine, Joseph Szillinsky

Construction Management

This paper outlines the design and construction of a new code compliant bathroom including: a low profile shower pan, ceramic-tile shower enclosure, and new plumbing piping and fixtures. One of the main objectives was to complete the new shower which would be easily accessible and maintenance free in order to support a local elderly couple. The selection of this project took place during the COVID-19 pandemic approximately nine months after California issued the first mandatory statewide Stay-at-Home Order. During the early design and development stages an opportunity to collaborate with a local trades-person was identified as well as the need …

Comparing The Environmental Impacts Of Using Mass Timber And Structural Steel, Khang Hoang Nguyen, Steelee Knight Morgan

Construction Management

Although mass timber has seen a gradual rise in demand in the past, there has been a lack of extensive research on the environmental impacts of using mass timber as a primary structural framing material. This paper compares structural steel, and mass timber’s total embodied carbon emissions. Accurate estimates were made using plans and specs for different projects retrieved from semi-structured interviews. The estimates were input through the EC3 Calculator to provide extensive total carbon emissions measurements between each construction material. Using structural steel framing increased the project’s overall environmental impact by roughly 84% compared to using mass timber. The …

Subcontractor Claim Management And Dispute Resolution Methods In The State Of California Versus The Province Of British Columbia: A Case Study, Harrison A D Grant

Construction Management

In the construction industry, discordance between what is expected versus what is delivered often arises. This disparity is commonly handled using informal negotiation. However, if negotiations fail, then claims and disputes often emerge. Issues involving scope of work, change orders, schedule, and payment can lead to conflicts. Companies try to employ the best alternative dispute resolution method to settle subcontractor claims and disputes without the need for litigation. Speaking with construction professionals in California and British Columbia, a difference in opinion exists as to which method is considered most effective when dealing with subcontractor claims and disputes. In California, the …

Bilingual Training Course For Redwood Residential Fence Company, Adriana Bernabe Martinez

Construction Management

The Hispanic population has been increasing in the US over the past twenty years, and made up 42.9% of the construction workforce in 2018 (Data USA, n.d.). Because of this population increase, it’s expected that 1 in 4 persons will be of Hispanic descent by the year 2050 (Canales, 2009). Due to this increase, many language barriers exist that can create serious issues in construction. Language barriers cause productivity to decrease and increase concerns for the workers’ safety. Although OSHA trainings are available in Spanish, the opportunity to take these courses vary from company to company and it is rare …

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 …

Schedule Efficiency Associated With The Tilt-Up Construction Method: A Case Study, Jake A. Barron

Construction Management

Tilt-up is an efficient method of project delivery that is best suited for large, flat projects such as commercial warehouses and distribution centers. The hypothesis is that this method of casting wall panels on site, and then tilting them upright, allows for certain unique activity sequences which could provide faster project completion. In order to prove this theory, analysis of two tilt-up projects completed within a mile of each other by the same contractor, and assessment of their schedules, will provide insight into the specific tasks that allow for better delivery speed. This methodology paired with interviews of team members, …

Possible Use For Recycled Disposable Face Masks In Concrete, Lauren Douglas

Construction Management

Disposable face masks are one of many single use products that are detrimental to the environment. The construction industry has been introducing new ways to incorporate recycled products into their materials. This paper addresses one possible way to use more environmentally friendly materials in the construction industry. 16 concrete cylinders were prepared using 4x8 forms. The mix was manipulated to test the impact of incorporating varying levels of disposable shredded face masks. Compressive strength and workability were measured in these cylinders. Eight cylinders were prepared for the control batch. Four cylinders were prepared using 10 oz. of shredded face masks …

Adaptive Laboratory Evolution Of Scenedesmus Obliquus For Increased Carbohydrate Content And Biomass Productivity, Nahel Ali

Master's Theses

The economics of microalgal bioproduct commercialization would benefit from increased accumulation of energy storage compounds, such as carbohydrates and lipids, and increased biomass productivity. This thesis explores two adaptive laboratory evolution strategies for improving Scenedesmus obliquus: single UV-mutagenesis and low light cultivation at a high dilution rate to produce cultigens with greater carbohydrate content and iterative UV-mutagenesis and selection under outdoor conditions in a raceway pond at a high dilution rate to increase biomass productivity.

Two cultigens were generated with the goal of increased carbohydrate content: K5 and K7. Both were mutagenized for 5 seconds and cultivated in 50-mL …

Experimental Testing Of A Lightly Reinforced Concrete Shear Wall, Jerry Hue Truong Luong, Rory Sebastian De Sevilla

Architectural Engineering: Graduate Reports

This project report summarizes the findings of a half-scale laboratory test on a slender lightly reinforced concrete (LRC) shear wall subjected to cyclic loading. LRC shear walls, specifically those of pre-1980’s type design, have longitudinal and horizontal reinforcement ratios near the code minimum, while often lacking confinement in the wall end-zones. These walls are thought to exhibit brittle compressive failure mechanisms such as rebar buckling or concrete crushing based on observations from past earthquakes. Non-ductile concrete buildings are a large contributor to earthquake losses around the globe, as noted in the San Fernando (1971) and Christchurch (2011) earthquakes, to name …

Tanzanian Concrete Masonry Walls, Edward J. Kaminski

Architectural Engineering

Walls that replicate masonry walls used in Tanzania are constructed and tested. The results from testing was compared with the respective predictions made using code guidelines from ASCE 7 and TMS 402.

Reintroduction Of Skilled Trade Programs For High School Students, Cristian Ayala-Quirino

Construction Management

The curriculum that incorporated skilled trades has vanished from many high schools, and more students are encouraged to attend college instead of pursuing trades. People view construction labor positions as jobs instead of careers. The construction industry is facing a substantial labor shortage amongst skilled laborers throughout the whole industry. Not enough people know how beneficial a career in the construction labor force can be. If more people knew about these career opportunities, they might have a greater interest in pursuing a career as a skilled tradesperson. To comprehend students’ understanding of the construction industry and examine where we can …

Should Teamwork-Based Content Be Taught In The Cal Poly Construction Management Curriculum?, Matthew J. Sharman

Construction Management

At California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), in the Construction Management (CM) curriculum, there is a lack of teamwork-based content. This content includes negotiation, conflict resolution, and fundamental skills for working collaboratively with others such as social-emotional intelligence, empathy, and communication. The nature of the Cal Poly CM Program is to teach students about the aspects of the construction process, however what is missed is teaching how to work effectively in teams. They fail to teach this because of the strict curriculum of focusing on learning objectives rather than teaching individuals how to be effective construction managers. …

Blockchain Technology In The Construction Industry, Marco C. Reza

Construction Management

The construction industry has not advanced as quickly as other industries in the aspects of time, cost, and quality; but Blockchain could be the solution. While there have been improvements in the construction sector such as BIM or Prefabrication, nothing compares to those in other industries. This brings the search for a new technology that would boost construction to a new level of productivity. One technology that could potentially do this is Blockchain. Blockchain, defined in a big picture, is like a shared google sheet where anybody could add information but nobody could delete it. This technology could change the …

Online Platform For Construction Management Internship Reviews - Continued, Michael F. Dunne Iii

Construction Management

The purpose of this paper is to outline and explain the origin, process and outcome of my goal to create a website where Construction Management students have the capability to review their internships. The aim was to continue to progress Cal Poly alumna Erica Zetterquist’s senior project and her idea to create an online platform similar to “PolyRatings”, a website where Cal Poly students are able to review and rate their professors. This website is essentially the same thing as “Polyratings”, but for internships instead of professors, hoping to help students with their job search process. Based off a series …

The Discipleship Home Pergola And Firepit Area, Andreas V. Rasmussen

Construction Management

This report illustrates the complete process of the implementation of an outdoor space consisting of a hardscaped firepit area covered by a pergola in the backyard of the Discipleship Home in Oceano, CA. This project was carried out by two construction management students, Andreas Rasmussen and Logan Smith. Logan Smith’s primary focus was the pergola while I was in charge of the hardscaping and natural gas firepit directly underneath the structure. The project was completed in December of 2020 with the use of quality materials purchased from local businesses and the help of local equipment rental store, Grover Tool & …

Oasis Church: Designing And Building A Pergola For The Discipleship Home, Logan Keil Smith

Construction Management

The senior project idea for building a pergola, fire-pit, and paver hardscape was designed and executed by Andreas Rasmussen and Logan Smith. With the necessary background knowledge in landscape construction and the required funding, the Discipleship Home in Oceano, California, gave these two construction management students the opportunity to build an outdoor aesthetic area for residents of the Discipleship Home. This document provides information regarding the design, acquired funding, construction process, lessons learned and conclusion after the project was finished. The purpose of the project is to provide a peaceful place in which the residents of the Discipleship Home can …

An Analysis Of The Cost Impacts Experienced By Drywall Subcontractors During Covid-19, Brenden Schow

Construction Management

Covid-19 has presented issues in many forms for the drywall tenant improvement (TI) industry due to regulations and restrictions instilled in the Bay Area, California. This report details appropriate implementation of force majeure clause in contracts, stay-at-home orders with regard to construction and updated OSHA requirements. It then goes into analysis on cost impacts observed by various drywall companies operating in the Bay Area and how they are created and controlled. This analysis is supported by interviews conducted with representatives from six different drywall subcontractors who are involved in the estimating and bidding process. Interviews consisted of eight open ended …

Preconstruction Plan For Stairs At West Cerro Vista Apartments, Kian D. Kemp

Construction Management

Students at California Polytechnic University have created an unsafe dirt trail down a hillside west of the Cerro Vista Apartment Complex on the university’s campus. This heavily traveled trail is a shortcut to an existing pedestrian pathway which connects Village Drive to Poly Canyon Village, as well as the R-3 and R-4 parking structures. The use of this trail raises alarm for potential safety concerns for students using it, especially during winter months when the hillside becomes very slippery. This paper outlines the design and preconstruction plan for the West Cerro Vista Stair Project, which proposes replacing the current trail …

Making Commuting Satisfying For The Employees By Allocating Them To The Proximate Jobsite, Yoo H. Kim

Construction Management

Building a structure is a long process and it is the construction manager’s job to verify and be prepared for any curve balls that can occur. However, construction managers can often get busy and get carried away by their responsibilities and inevitably pay less attention for employee's life after work. For my Senior Project, I have put together a website that can be used by the construction managers to allocate work not only based the skillset but also based on proximity. The name of the website is ✦Proximate and it uses Google Earth Outreach (free tool) to make allocation possible. …