Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Steel Test Set-Up For Non-Ductile Concrete Shear Walls, Colin S. Ridgley

Architectural Engineering

The purpose of this project was to provide a robust test set-up for the thesis work being conducted by graduate students, Jerry Luong & Rory de Sevilla. Their research aims to evaluate the feasibility of using fiber-reinforced polymer wraps and splay anchors to retrofit non-ductile concrete shear walls through a series of tests on reinforced concrete walls.

Four key constraints governed the design of the test set-up. First, the wall can be cyclically, laterally loaded to develop data for comparison with theoretical analysis methods. Second, the wall can be axially loaded to simulate interaction effects and prevent a sliding failure …

Improved Reliability Of Stormwater Detention Basin Performance Through Water Quality Data-Informed Real-Time Control, Sazzad Sharior, Walter M. Mcdonald, Anthony J. Parolari

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Stormwater detentions basins are designed to capture stormwater to reduce and delay peak flows and to improve water quality. A novel technology proposed to improve basin performance is real-time, active control of the basin outflow, in so-called “smart” stormwater systems. Existing studies demonstrate the performance of active controls that respond in real-time to basin water level, detention time, and rainfall forecast for one or a small number of rainfall events. We hypothesize that the performance of these active controls can be improved by incorporating real-time water quality data into the control algorithm. In addition, we hypothesize that active control performance …

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 …

Audubon Parkway Slab Lifting At Mp 22.75 — Bridge Approach And Departure Settlement, Tim C. Scully Jr.

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The approach/departure Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) panels on the eastbound and westbound side of Audubon Parkway at MP 22.75 over route KY 2120 began to exhibit settlement and cracking in a few locations, which created an uncomfortable ride for motorists. To address this problem, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) contracted with MasterDry to repair the PCC panel settlement. MasterDry claims that its two-part polyurethane material expands into a rigid foam that fills voids, stabilizes slabs, and lifts concrete. The polyurethane material is injected through 5/8-inch holes drilled in the PCC panel. Once injected, a chemical reaction converts the liquid urethane …

Management Of Global Reservoir Sedimentation: Evaluating Rescon 2 For Sediment Management Alternatives, Christopher Jacob Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

Reservoir sedimentation occurs as dams impound streams and rivers, preventing the delivery of sediments downstream. Globally, reservoirs lose approximately 40 million acre-ft of storage to sediments each year. Several methods for managing reservoir sedimentation have been developed to help extend project life. In 2017, the World Bank sponsored REServoir CONservation (RESCON) 2, a pre-feasibility program aimed to help users select sediment management practices to consider for more detailed studies.There are two main objectives to this research: 1) perform a sensitivity analysis to understand which parameters require greater precision and which can be roughly approximated, and 2) evaluate RESCON 2 suggested …

Affordable Learning Solutions And Interactive Content In Engineering Mechanics, Nicolas Ali Libre

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Digital Affordable Learning Solutions (ALS) provides students with quality yet affordable educational content and enables instructors to utilize multimedia and interactive technology as effective ways of delivering course material. The reduced course content expenses not only allow more students to access the educational material, but also permit the instructors to customize and adapt the material to their teaching style. Incorporation of interactive technology through visually appealing media such as animations, graphics, simulations, videos, and three-dimensional models promotes students' interest in learning theoretical and abstract subjects in science and engineering. In this study, the incorporation of an interactive eBook as an …

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 …

Parents For Joy, Atascadero All-Inclusive Playground, Harrison R. Tucker

Construction Management

Parents for Joy is an organization that was created in 2014 by a group of parents and families living around the Atascadero community who have children with special needs. The group raised over one million dollars to build a playground that enhances the safety of both children and adults with special needs, regardless of what needs they possess. Nick Volluci and Harrison Tucker, the author, were chosen to assist on this project in order to provide a high quality and methodical product that catered to the special requirements set forth by the owners, Parents for Joy and the City of …

Coffey Park - Is It Worth Rebuilding Homes Or Should Fire Victims Look To Modular Housing?, Shelby A. Hession

Construction Management

In October 2017, Coffey Park, a neighborhood within the city of Santa Rosa, CA, experienced mass destruction from the Tubbs Fire. Most of the neighborhood was burnt down, leaving fire victims with empty lots that they need to decide what to do with. For the average person, being well versed in the construction process and the different methods that can be used in the recovery process is rare. This paper is a tool to provide those in fire recovery with all of the information they will need in one place. Both modular and traditional stick-built housing are explored in this …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Framing Exterior Partitions For The Great Northern Services Housing Project, Patrick Pierre Shami

Construction Management

In the wake of a fire in Weed, CA that destroyed 150 homes, Great Northern Services (GNS), a nonprofit organization, reached out to Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo about a service-learning opportunity. This opportunity involved designing a single-family home and prefabricating the exterior partitions in San Luis Obispo. In Fall 2017, interdisciplinary teams of students delivered design proposals in the Integrated Project Delivery studio. The selected design was then finalized into a permitted set of drawings, and planning for the prefabrication began. The extent of the prefabrication was limited to the framing and sheathing of the exterior walls. The length of …

Workflow For Modeling Prefabricated Building Assemblies In Autodesk Revit, Matthew Truss

Construction Management

In 2008, by request of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Research Council† (NRC) put together a committee of experts to advise a plan that would advance the “competitiveness and productivity of U.S. construction industry in the next 20 years.” Two of those recommendations included the widespread deployment of building information modeling (BIM) and greater use of prefabrication, preassembly, modularization, and off-site fabrication techniques. Case studies on the subject overwhelmingly report faster project delivery, improved quality, and safer working conditions. However, current data indicates that labor productivity has still been significantly lacking, perhaps showing that investment …

Ghana Clean Water Initiative – Risk Management, Mason Nolan

Construction Management

In August of 2019 several Cal Poly Students will be traveling to a remote fishing village located off of Lake Volta in Ghana. This project is being completed by Cal Poly's MCAA chapter alongside the NECA chapter. These students will be constructing a community center, a water filtration system, and ice making and refrigeration facilities. The project will rely heavily on solar power as there is no grid in the village the project is taking place in. This project inherently has many risks associated with it and needs a risk management plan to combat these risks. The three ways these …

Prefabrication Of Exterior Partitions For Great Northern Services, John Christofer Claudio Espino

Construction Management

In the wake of a fire in Weed, CA that destroyed 150 homes, a non-profit organization called Great Northern Services (GNS) reached out to Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo about a service-learning opportunity that involved designing a single-family home and pre fabricating the exterior partitions in San Luis Obispo. In Fall 2017, interdisciplinary teams of students delivered design proposals in the Integrated Project Delivery studio. The selected design was then finalized into a permitted set of drawings and planning for the prefabrication began. The extent of the prefabrication was limited to the framing and sheathing of the exterior walls. The length …

Framing Exterior Partitions For The Great Northern Services Housing Project, Michael-Jeremiah R. Eseed

Construction Management

In the wake of a fire in Weed, CA that destroyed nearly 150 homes, a non-profit organization called Great Northern Services (GNS) reached out to Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo about a service-learning opportunity that involved designing a single-family home and prefabricating the exterior partitions in San Luis Obispo. In Fall 2017, interdisciplinary teams of students delivered design proposals in the Integrated Project Delivery studio. The selected design was then finalized into a permitted set of drawings and planning for the prefabrication began. The extent of the prefabrication was limited to the framing and sheathing of the exterior walls. The length …

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 …

Cost Impact Of Converting A Fleet Of Diesel Concrete Mixer Trucks To Compressed Natural Gas, Shea Fredrick Blackman

Construction Management

Sustainable practices in the built environment are becoming more and more sought after. With LEED gold and platinum becoming the new standard in commercial construction, contractors in all areas of construction are looking for ways to build more sustainably. When creating a strategy for achieving sustainability, transportation has been identified as an area of the construction industry that can help significantly reduce carbon footprint, especially concrete mixer trucks. One question presents itself: Will the cost impact of converting a fleet of concrete mixer trucks from diesel to compressed natural gas outweigh the environmental benefits? This case study will examine the …

Optimizing Internships In Construction Management Based On Student's Interests And Experience, Austin Meneses Logan

Construction Management

The growing norm for students in the field of Construction Management is to have at least one internship under their belt prior to entering the industry for a full-time career. The goal of this research paper is to analyze student feedback from their previous internships to draw conclusions on how companies should structure their internship programs based on student interests and level of experience. Research was done evaluating current Construction Management students with previous internship experience at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. This research paper will be beneficial for industry companies to better tailor their internship programs to …

Journeyman International: Peace Academy Of The Sciences And The Arts, Alyssa L. Mathias

Construction Management

For years, K-12 education has been taught through separate, individual subjects such as Math, English, Art, and Science. Primary education has remained stagnant while our society is constantly evolving with technological advances and innovation. The Peace Academy of the Sciences and Arts in San Luis Obispo, California are a group of visionaries and educators challenging traditional learning styles. They are striving to offer an education that focuses on holistic learning and integrating all subjects into big ideas to create competent, compassionate leaders for the future. My senior project is a collaboration between Journeyman International, the Peace Academy, a student in …

Habitat For Humanity Global Village: Trinidad And Tobago, Morghan L. Heim

Construction Management

For my senior project I chose to help build a home for Habitat for Humanity Global Village in Trinidad and Tobago. Habitat’s mission is to provide shelter for those in need, and they do so in many countries around the world. I experienced working in another country with a lack of building codes and equipment. The experience challenged me and taught me many lessons in working with teams and in foreign places. Our team was set out to construct the foundation of a home, but due to weather impacts and lack of equipment, our group did not completely finish the …

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 …

Ada Code Education In The Construction Management (Cm) Curriculum, William Joseph Cefali

Construction Management

The Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design is becoming an integral part of construction. On many jobsites, recent graduates may not have enough knowledge to adequately catch and fix ADA compliance problems before they become a critical issue. With nearly all students and graduates going to work on projects governed by this code, knowledge of these codes, where to find them, and how to apply them is essential for graduates. Construction Management students believe this information would be very valuable to learn in school, and critical information to help them with their careers when they enter the industry. …

Construction Outreach Event With Girl Scouts Of The Usa And Cal Poly Women In Construction, Melissa Mcgrath

Construction Management

For an industry that is struggling to find enough workers, the limited amount of women entering construction is proving to be a significant issue. Some of the major reasons for this are social norms and stereotypes that discourage young girls from entering traditionally male careers. Outreach events that present girls with more positive messages about their potential for starting a career in construction are beneficial for both the girls and the construction industry. Cal Poly’s Women in Construction Club (WIC) and Girl Scouts of the USA are two organizations that can aid this cause and inspire more girls to consider …

Viability Of Solar Power On Jobsites, Braden J. Levalley

Construction Management

The use of solar energy has slowly been on the rise over the past few decades, the full potential of solar energy has not been realized in the realm of construction. Solar power in construction has been slow to catch on, as many of the upfront costs associated with solar power has created a feeling that investing in such systems will ultimately not be worth the investment. This paper attempts to address the issues of upfront costs, the willingness for contractors to invest in renewable energy both now and in the future, and will also identify possible uses for solar …