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Articles 1501 - 1530 of 39790

Full-Text Articles in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Farm Furniture - City Farm Slo, Aiden Blackburn, Antonio Nunez Jun 2025

Farm Furniture - City Farm Slo, Aiden Blackburn, Antonio Nunez

Construction Management

Our senior project was to build 4 picnic tables, 6 picnic benches, 2 vegetable tables, and 1 hexagon shaped table for the City Farm SLO in San Luis Obispo, CA. We were grateful to help a local farm who focuses on education in the community and sustainable agricultural practices. We first estimated the project and created a preliminary schedule. This project lasted from mid-April to mid-June. The first step in the process was to estimate the cost and develop a preliminary schedule. The process for constructing the different build types was relatively similar: acquire materials, cut to size, assemble, sand, …

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R.A.C.E. Matters Precast Concrete Bench Construction, Jack Alexander Ritchie Jun 2025

R.A.C.E. Matters Precast Concrete Bench Construction, Jack Alexander Ritchie

Construction Management

This senior project details the collaborative design, fabrication, and installation of three precast concrete benches for the nonprofit organization R.A.C.E. Matters in partnership with the San Luis Obispo Conservancy. The benches were designed to act as platforms for public art, amplifying diverse racial narratives through murals. A multidisciplinary team of students from Construction Management, Architecture, and Architectural Engineering worked together, with each discipline contributing to distinct phases of the project. Bench installations took place at the Pismo Preserve, the Octagon Barn, and Kathleen’s Overlook. This paper reflects on the hands-on construction process, the challenges of interdisciplinary coordination, and the real-world …

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Designing Augmented Reality (Ar) Simulations For Construction Scheduling Education: A Process-Based Approach, Spencer B. Gardner Jun 2025

Designing Augmented Reality (Ar) Simulations For Construction Scheduling Education: A Process-Based Approach, Spencer B. Gardner

Construction Management

Construction students often understand what’s being built, but not how it gets built. The process, which is timing, sequencing, adapting to real-world issues is harder to teach with traditional tools like plan sets and Gantt charts. To close that gap, this study explores how Augmented Reality (AR), using Microsoft HoloLens, can bring jobsite logic into the classroom. We developed three AR simulations, each with increasing complexity, to give students hands-on experience with real-world scheduling and coordination problems. The scenarios ranged from basic utility sequencing to adjusting for delays and correcting out-of-sequence installations. Students started with written planning, then moved into …

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Case Study On Using Soil Nails In Unstable Substrates, Joseph Hass Jun 2025

Case Study On Using Soil Nails In Unstable Substrates, Joseph Hass

Construction Management

Soil nailing is becoming a popular method in construction projects to anchor retaining walls into soil. To maximize installation success rates and minimize pullout failure during testing, this case study examines efficient techniques and installation protocols for soil nails in unstable substrates through research and studying an active construction site utilizing soil nails. In geotechnical engineering, unstable soil conditions present serious difficulties that frequently result in delays, cost overruns, and compromised structural integrity. This study determines the main elements affecting nail performance by carefully examining field data, installation trials, and performance testing. Using real life experience and in-depth research of …

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Construction Clothing Development Project, Reed A. Kellar, Noah R. Maytum Jun 2025

Construction Clothing Development Project, Reed A. Kellar, Noah R. Maytum

Construction Management

Relative to other industries, the construction market is slow to innovate. One clear example of this is in the clothing worn by its workers. Over the past 100 years, construction clothing and top brands have remained largely similar, even as workwear has begun marketing to larger, non-construction audiences. Construction clothing has become increasingly fashionable in popular culture, and we see this as an opportunity. To adapt to a modern world, this entrepreneurial project seeks to research which areas of construction clothing are lacking according to those in the industry and use this data to create a competitive product/brand that capitalizes …

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Students' Evaluations Of Construction Management Curriculum Through A Senior Exit Interview, Anthony J. Roensch Jun 2025

Students' Evaluations Of Construction Management Curriculum Through A Senior Exit Interview, Anthony J. Roensch

Construction Management

This project explored student perspectives on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Construction Management program through a two-phase approach: individual interviews and a large group review session. Ten students with varied career goals and levels of involvement in the program were interviewed to understand their views on curriculum quality, industry engagement, extracurricular opportunities, and departmental support. The goal was to identify patterns in feedback across diverse student experiences. Following the interviews, a refined set of questions was developed and presented to a larger group of students in a structured discussion forum. This session provided further insights into both strengths and …

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California Polytechnic Design-Build Lab Course, Nicho Domine Jun 2025

California Polytechnic Design-Build Lab Course, Nicho Domine

Construction Management

This paper explores the development and execution of a project-based Design-Build (DB) course implemented at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The course aimed to replicate real-world DB processes in a controlled academic setting, engaging Construction Management and Architecture students in simulated but immersive industry experience. From Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to Final Presentation and Closeout, the course mirrors a typical DB project lifecycle. Through collaborative exercises, students gained exposure to roles and responsibilities, submittals, cost estimating, procurement strategies, risk analysis, virtual coordination, stakeholder communication, and more. This paper describes how a sequence of weekly assignments was structured to …

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Skip The Grid: Off-Grid Solutions For Navajo Families, Jordan Badgley Jun 2025

Skip The Grid: Off-Grid Solutions For Navajo Families, Jordan Badgley

Construction Management

Skip the Grid is a service project executed by California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) students, Heart of America, and SOLV Energy to provide sustainable power solutions to Navajo families in need. Within the vast, remote landscapes of the Navajo Nation, over 32% of households lack electricity, creating significant challenges for daily life. The 2025 Skip the Grid trip marked Cal Poly’s fourth consecutive year partnering in this impactful initiative. An interdisciplinary team of 20 students from 6 different areas of study, work collaboratively, preparing for months to ensure a successful installation trip in Chinle, Arizona. Over the course of …

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Hawthorne Elementary Stage Set Construction, Sergio Daniel Manriquez, Alejandro Gonzalez Jun 2025

Hawthorne Elementary Stage Set Construction, Sergio Daniel Manriquez, Alejandro Gonzalez

Construction Management

The Pirate Ship and Playhouse project, undertaken by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Cal Poly Construction Management students, aimed to support arts education at Hawthorne Elementary School through the construction of theatrical set pieces for a Peter Pan performance. Initiated by Phil Barlow and guided by Anna Brennen from the school’s staff, the project integrated community service with practical learning in construction management. From initial design and material sourcing to final installation, the team emphasized safety, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Funding and logistical support from local businesses and Cal Poly facilitated the project’s success. This hands-on endeavor not …

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Preconstruction Services For Land Conservancy San Luis Obispo Deck Replacement, Russell Sprague Jun 2025

Preconstruction Services For Land Conservancy San Luis Obispo Deck Replacement, Russell Sprague

Construction Management

This senior project centers around a preconstruction collaboration between Semmes & Co. and the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo (LCSLO) for a new deck at the Santa Rita Ranch house in Templeton, CA. The existing deck was in poor condition and not ADA compliant, prompting the need for a safe, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing replacement. This project supported the nonprofit by providing volunteer-based preconstruction services, including quantity takeoffs, a detailed material list, scope breakdown, labor estimates, scheduling, and logistics planning. Material options and scope variations were presented to LCSLO in a flexible pricing proposal using a Time and Materials …

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A Review Of Work-Life Balance Among Recent Cal Poly Graduates, Max Murphy Jun 2025

A Review Of Work-Life Balance Among Recent Cal Poly Graduates, Max Murphy

Construction Management

Work-life balance has been a heavily debated topic in the construction industry, especially post-COVID. Due the popularization of the topic as well as the introduction of “hybrid” work schedules among multiple industries the idea of work-life balance within the construction industry has become prevalent. This paper aims to gather data about work-life balance and stress among the construction management industry. A survey was distributed to recently graduated construction management students from California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo to gather quantitative data regarding work-life balance, commuting, work hours, stress, and mental health. This survey also features a voluntary section …

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2025 Annual V.E.S.T Hackathon: Renovating Safety Harnesses, Mason P. Chamberlin Jun 2025

2025 Annual V.E.S.T Hackathon: Renovating Safety Harnesses, Mason P. Chamberlin

Construction Management

This paper presents the organizational framework and logistical planning involved in executing the 2025 Verifying Everyone’s Safety Together (V.E.S.T.) Hackathon, an annual innovation workshop hosted by the Construction Management Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The event brings together students, faculty, and industry professionals to reimagine and redesign common construction equipment with a focus on safety, usability, comfort, and inclusivity across diverse user profiles. The 2025 hackathon, held April 15–16, concentrated on safety harnesses, an essential component of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the construction industry. Participants engaged in the two-day event that included conceptualization, prototyping, and …

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Skip The Grid: Delivering Solar Energy To The Navajo Nation, Lucca Giuseppe Pracilio Jun 2025

Skip The Grid: Delivering Solar Energy To The Navajo Nation, Lucca Giuseppe Pracilio

Construction Management

Skip the Grid (STG) is a program where companies within the construction industry come together to better the quality of life for the people of the Navajo Nation. Through collaboration with Goal Zero, SOLV Energy, NEXTracker, and Heart of America, the fourth Skip the Grid Trip installed 40 solar systems on homes within the Chinle region in northeastern Arizona. Officially finishing on March 27th, 2025, the trip not only consisted of providing a service for the people of Chinle but also allowed California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) students to learn about the history of the Navajo Nation …

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2025 Annual Hackathon Redesigning Safety Fall Protection, Cole Lewis Jun 2025

2025 Annual Hackathon Redesigning Safety Fall Protection, Cole Lewis

Construction Management

The Verifying Everyone’s Safety Together (VEST) Hackathon is an annual event organized by construction management and social science students at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Its purpose is to redesign a specific piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) to improve usability, comfort, and inclusivity, with a focus on providing equitable safety for all workers. This hackathon centered on fall protection, specifically safety harnesses, which are essential for protecting workers at height but often lack comfort and user-friendliness. Students, faculty, and industry guests gathered to examine current harness designs and develop practical, worker-informed improvements. The event space was outfitted …

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Thousand Hills Pet Resort Cat Condos Installation And Qa/Qc, Erik Anders Ruud Jun 2025

Thousand Hills Pet Resort Cat Condos Installation And Qa/Qc, Erik Anders Ruud

Construction Management

This paper discusses the installation and quality assurance/quality control of four cat condos built for the Son Care Foundation at the Thousand Hills Pet Resort in San Luis Obispo. The Son Care Foundation is a nonprofit that provides professional daycare and overnight boarding services for dogs and cats while their owners are away. The cat condos serve cats during the day while their owners are at work or otherwise busy. Because three people were assigned to this project, the project was split into preconstruction, prefabrication, and installation/QA/QC. To meet the two-day installation window, due to active facility use, three cat …

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Recommendation To Implement An Offsite Design And Construction & Mass Timber Buildings Tech Elective, Dino Kuljancic Jun 2025

Recommendation To Implement An Offsite Design And Construction & Mass Timber Buildings Tech Elective, Dino Kuljancic

Construction Management

This project presents a proposal for a new upper division elective course in the Construction Management program at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. The course would focus on mass timber construction as well as prefabrication and modular construction which are quickly growing areas of the industry known for their sustainability, efficiency, and compatibility with modern construction methods. While mass timber and pre-fabrication content exists in some university programs around the country, Cal Poly’s CM curriculum lacks a course specifically designed to give students practical, construction focused instruction on these topics. To determine student interest, a survey was conducted among current …

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Assessing Fire Risks In San Luis Obispo: The Impact Of Building Construction And Landscaping On Wildfire Vulnerability, Zachary A. Pollock Jun 2025

Assessing Fire Risks In San Luis Obispo: The Impact Of Building Construction And Landscaping On Wildfire Vulnerability, Zachary A. Pollock

Construction Management

As wildfires grow in frequency and intensity across California, understanding and mitigating residential fire risk has become a public safety priority. Communities in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), such as San Luis Obispo, are especially vulnerable due to their proximity to natural vegetation and the prevalence of older housing stock. While state and local agencies have introduced regulations and educational campaigns, there remains a need for accessible, scalable tools that help identify fire risks at the individual home level. This project assessed wildfire vulnerability across 140 homes in San Luis Obispo, California, using a custom visual grading rubric informed by academic …

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Skip The Grid: Empowering Navajo Students Through Solar Energy And Education, Daniela S. Gonzalez Jun 2025

Skip The Grid: Empowering Navajo Students Through Solar Energy And Education, Daniela S. Gonzalez

Construction Management

The Skip the Grid project by our California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) team was more than just installing solar panels. It was about making a real difference in people’s lives. We focused on helping families in Chinle, Arizona, a community where many households do not have access to electricity, clean water, or fresh food. These are basic needs that support students’ ability to learn and succeed. Without lights to do homework or warm meals to stay healthy, it becomes harder for kids to concentrate or dream about going to college. To help address these challenges, our team installed solar …

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R.A.C.E. Matters Precast Concrete Bench Construction, Camryn E. Berger Jun 2025

R.A.C.E. Matters Precast Concrete Bench Construction, Camryn E. Berger

Construction Management

This paper presents a narrative detailing the design and construction process undertaken by an interdisciplinary team of students from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, representing the Construction Management, Architecture, and Architectural Engineering departments. The team collaborated to design, fabricate, and install three precast concrete benches for the nonprofit organization R.A.C.E. Matters. The project began in Fall 2024 and culminated in the installation of the benches at sites managed by the San Luis Obispo Conservancy: Pismo Preserve, the Octagon Barn, and Kathleen’s Overlook. Each bench will serve as a platform for murals, visually depicting diverse racial experiences. This paper …

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Assessment Of Mental Wellbeing Programs In The Construction Industry, Evan James Olszak Jun 2025

Assessment Of Mental Wellbeing Programs In The Construction Industry, Evan James Olszak

Construction Management

Mental health problems are very prevalent within the construction industry, and there is not enough attention put towards the mental wellbeing of employees in the industry. The construction industry is ranked #2 for deaths by suicide, and #1 when mining and extraction are included (CDC, 2021). Previous research has been done to understand the severity of the issue, and some programs have been started to spread awareness and train employees. The issue arises in a lack of analysis of these programs. The programs that are being used are still in their infancy and require a comprehensive review to understand the …

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The Cost And Productivity Impacts That A Tower Crane Has On A Jobsite, Gavin Fraysier Jun 2025

The Cost And Productivity Impacts That A Tower Crane Has On A Jobsite, Gavin Fraysier

Construction Management

This paper investigates the cost and productivity impacts that a tower crane has on jobsite productivity. From reviewing recent literature, it is clear the stagnating labor productivity of the industry is a major problem. One way that has been proposed to solve this problem is through the implementation of more sophisticated equipment, for the sake of this paper that equipment is tower cranes. This paper performs an analysis of historical records of a mid-sized framing subcontractor located in central California. This company has recently ventured into the crane business which provided an excellent opportunity to collect data. Having just started …

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Skip The Grid: Installing Solar Panels Within The Navajo Nation, Hayden A. Wanamaker Jun 2025

Skip The Grid: Installing Solar Panels Within The Navajo Nation, Hayden A. Wanamaker

Construction Management

Skip the Grid is an initiative aimed at providing off-the-grid power, in a sustainable manner, to underserved communities within the Navajo Nation. The Skip the Grid program is led by an interdisciplinary team from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), in collaboration with SOLV Energy and Heart of America (HOA). This ongoing project addresses the lack of electricity for many young families within the Navajo Nation due to a variety of reasons, and the need to remedy this problem to allow for young students within the reservation to succeed. To combat this issue, Skip the Grid in …

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Skip The Grid: Solar Installation For Navajo Communities, Emilio Tiziano Cervantes Jun 2025

Skip The Grid: Solar Installation For Navajo Communities, Emilio Tiziano Cervantes

Construction Management

In March 2025, a group of 20 students from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo took part in Skip the Grid, a hands-on service initiative aimed at expanding access to reliable solar energy in the Navajo Nation. In partnership with SOLV Energy, NextTracker, and the non-profit Heart of America, the team traveled to Chinle, Arizona, where they installed off-grid solar systems in 40 homes across the Chinle School District. Each setup included solar panels, a battery with electrical outlets, lighting, and a refrigerator—providing essential power to families whose homes were previously without it. All of the households served kids …

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Skip The Grid: Giving The Gift Of Renewable Energy To Children Of Navajo Nation, Jack W. Byrne Jun 2025

Skip The Grid: Giving The Gift Of Renewable Energy To Children Of Navajo Nation, Jack W. Byrne

Construction Management

Skip the Grid is an interdisciplinary service learning project that is aimed at installing solar power as well as lighting and a refrigeration unit at the homes of children on the Navajo Reservation who are without electricity. The project has a large team of players with vital roles in making the effort a successful and rewarding trip. The team this year was comprised of 20 students from California Polytechnic State University representing 4of the university’s colleges, members of the educationally based non-profit Heart of America (HOA), community outreach professionals from the solar contractor SOLV energy, a contingent of representatives from …

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How Regulations Impact Contractors In California: Licensing, Insurance, Bonding & Permitting, Byron Rolando Calderon Cifuentes Jun 2025

How Regulations Impact Contractors In California: Licensing, Insurance, Bonding & Permitting, Byron Rolando Calderon Cifuentes

Construction Management

This senior project researches the impact of regulatory requirements, specifically licensing, insurance, bonding, and permitting, on contractors in California. The study addresses the question: How do regulations affect contractors’ ability to operate and grow? To examine this, qualitative interviews were conducted with six industry professionals, including general contractors, specialty contractors, and design-build firms. Additionally, 25 survey responses were collected from contractors and construction professionals to gain broader insights. The findings reveal that while licensing, insurance, and bonding are seen as foundational for establishing credibility and legal compliance, the permitting process presents the most significant challenge. Respondents consistently described permitting as …

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Preconstruction Management Of The Cat Condos Project At Thousand Hills Pet Resort, Aeon Combs Jun 2025

Preconstruction Management Of The Cat Condos Project At Thousand Hills Pet Resort, Aeon Combs

Construction Management

This paper presents the preconstruction phases of the Cat Condos Project at the Thousand Hills Pet Resort, and the many challenges which were necessary to realize its completion. The Son Care Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in San Luis Obispo with many focuses such as outreach for veterans, prison rehabilitation, youth development, and other charitable pursuits. The Thousand Hills Pet Resort is a subsidiary of the Son Care Foundation which provides holistic boarding services to felines and canines alike, all the profits generated by the Thousand Hills Pet Resort are donated to sustain the Son Care Foundations’ charitable endeavors. …

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Skip The Grid Bringing Light To The Darkness And Bridging The Educational Gap In Navajo Nation, Robert Joseph Byrne Jun 2025

Skip The Grid Bringing Light To The Darkness And Bridging The Educational Gap In Navajo Nation, Robert Joseph Byrne

Construction Management

Skip The Grid is a unique project done in collaboration with many groups, including California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) students and faculty members, representatives from Solv Energy, Nextracker, Tribal Liaisons, Heart of America, and members of the Navajo Nation. This group delivered and installed solar panel systems accompanied by batteries, lights, and a small refrigerator. The Navajo Nation faces many problems, including higher poverty and unemployment rates when compared to the rest of the United States. The goal of the Skip The Grid project was to deliver sustainable, safe, and reliable power to homes of school-aged children in the …

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Exploring Who, Where, And When: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of A New Study Abroad Program, Garrett Schoep, Elijah Duane Blake Jun 2025

Exploring Who, Where, And When: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of A New Study Abroad Program, Garrett Schoep, Elijah Duane Blake

Construction Management

Study abroad programs can have a significant impact on the lives of college students. These programs create opportunities for students to experience the world, while earning college credit. As Cal Poly is transitioning from the quarter system to the semester system, there is an increase demand for a new study abroad program that is tailored to students’ preferences. Understanding what students want from a study abroad program is extremely important. To better understand student preferences, a survey was created and distributed to Cal Poly students. The goal of the survey was to identify trends amongst students to get a better …

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Ace Mentor Program Of America, Dayana Flores Reyes Jun 2025

Ace Mentor Program Of America, Dayana Flores Reyes

Construction Management

This senior project examines my role and experience as a student mentor in the ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) Mentor Program's Central Coast Chapter. This program emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world application, utilizes simplified terminology for early learners, and provides structured deliverables tailored to the project at hand. This year, the program targeted students from San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande High School. The project involved designing a new fire station to replace Fire Station No. 4 in San Luis Obispo, which was chosen due to its mixed-use properties. Over the course of nine weeks, the students engaged in the …

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Son Care Foundation – Pergola Structure Construction, Jackson Landless Jun 2025

Son Care Foundation – Pergola Structure Construction, Jackson Landless

Construction Management

This paper covers the construction process of a pergola structure for the Son Care Foundation in San Luis Obispo, California. The project’s goal in this study is to create a welcoming outdoor space for clients their dogs. Excavating four footings, fabricating custom rebar cages, and pouring concrete using fast-setting mix were all part of the construction efforts. Framing the structure required precise calculations to accommodate for the slope and corner braces. The matching white paint and corrugated PVC roof further achieved the desired aesthetic the client requested. Trial and error, practical experience, and cooperation with local material suppliers and maintenance …

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