Construction Engineering and Management Commons^™

What Lessons Can Be Learned From The Delivery Of The First Building On The Grangegorman Campus Using Building Information Management (Bim)?, Pat O'Sullivan, Avril Behan

Conference papers

There is an acceptance that BIM, via data management, can be integrated with FM to reduce costs during the Operations and Maintenance stage of a project. However, what has not been documented is the ‘on the ground’ reality which can be reviewed as a lessons learnt exercise to improve the implementation of BIM FM for future projects. This case study sets out to explore the realities of a client’s adoption of BIM based upon the actual experience of the Greenway Hub. Rather than relying on anecdotal evidence the research was based upon the real practices and experiences of the Dublin …

The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 42, Number 02

The Professional Constructor

No abstract provided.

The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 42, Number 01

The Professional Constructor

No abstract provided.

Using Percent Complete Metric To Highlight The Root Causes Of Delays In Home Building Industry, Somik Ghosh

The Professional Constructor

Based on the prediction of US Housing and Urban Development (US HUD), the demand for new homes will increase in the coming months to accompany the steady sales of existing homes. To meet the future demand, the home building industry has to continuously improve and get rid of inherent problems such as frequent delays. While delays have been a common occurrence in the residential and commercial construction alike, investigations of delays in the residential sector has not received much attention. With the goal of exploring the causes of delays in the home building industry, a multiple case study approach was …

Are We On The Same Jobsite? The Millennial Generation Vs. Construction Industry Employees, Christine Piper, Varahee Madadi

The Professional Constructor

This paper gives an overview of a study conducted in a geographical area of the US to understand the millennial generation’s perception of the workplace of the construction industry. Many organizations face the challenge of integrating diverse generations in a workplace. With the retirement of a large number of Boomers and the current intake of Millennials in the workplace, organizations are facing a challenge to attract and retain the millennial generation. Workplace expectations of the millennial generation and employees are compared with the expectations of the workplace amongst different generations in the construction industry.

Math Skills That Don’T Add Up; A Comparison Between Eighth Grade And College Students, Nathan Barry, Angela Hollman, Dale Porter

The Professional Constructor

Among 34 participating countries within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United States performed below average in mathematics earning a rank of 27. The World Economic Forum (2014) ranks the United States 51 out of 144 countries scoring a 4.4 out of 7 (7 = excellent) in the quality of mathematics and science education. Although the United States’ competitive advantage and economic growth is directly connected to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers, only 28 percent of those students choose to major with these fields in college. In addition, 48 percent of students that choose to …

A Laboratory Evaluation Of Warm Mix Technology For Use In Asphalt Rubber - Asphaltic Concrete Friction Courses: A Case Study Of Arizona, Michael Myung Jeong, Douglas I. Hanson

The Professional Constructor

The objective of this study was to determine if warm mix additives currently used in Arizona can be added for the production of an Asphalt Rubber - Asphaltic Concrete Friction Course (AR-ACFC) without detrimental effects on performance of the pavement. Three warm mix additives (Evotherm®, Sasobit®, and Advera®) approved by Arizona Department of Transportation were investigated through a laboratory study along with statistical analysis. Three major concerns on performance of an AR-ACFC considered in this study are asphalt draindown, durability, and moisture susceptibility. The laboratory binder test results show there is no clear evidence that the use of Evotherm and …

How U.S. Universities Intend To Meet Their Carbon Neutral Goals, Dennis C. Bausman, Avinash Venugopal

The Professional Constructor

Universities have been on the leading edge for implementation of sustainable practices, green building certification, and the push to limit emission of greenhouse gases. In 2006 leadership at twelve universities was instrumental in the creation of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The two overall goals of the ACUPCC were to gain university commitment to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from their campus operations and to promote sustainability education and research. A decade later there are over 650 that have officially pledged their support to the ACUPCC and in doing so have established a goal toward carbon neutrality …

Percy H. Perkins, Jr. Architectural Drawings, Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections

Finding Aids

This collection consists of materials relating to author and gemologist Percy H. Perkins. Materials span 1923 to 1985, and consist of architecture drawings for various significant buildings in southeast Georgia, including a six room schoolhouse in Claxton, GA, Pembroke State Bank, the Stadium & Athletic Field for Morris Brown College, the Women's Dormitory School for Officers’ Training at The Salvation Army Headquarters, Bacon County Elementary School, Claxton High School, and Evans County Training School.

Find this collection in the University Libraries' catalog.

Using Building Information Modeling (Bim) And The Last Planner System (Lps) To Reduce Construction Process Delay, Zaid K. Ai Hussein

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The construction industry suffers from many practical problems and challenges; most being related to construction management. One of the most common recurring problems in construction projects is delay. Delay is a primary factor that can have an effect on project duration, scheduled delivery date, as well as the overhead cost of the project. This study investigated the problem of delays in construction projects. The research focused on the combination of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Last Planner System (LPS) together to measure the execution time of construction projects. The aim of this study was to determine whether using BIM and …

Capacity Building For Sustainable Workforce In The Construction Industry, Edelmiro F. Escamilla, Mohammadreza Ostadalimakhmalbaf

The Professional Constructor

Research has shown that the construction industry will face workforce shortages that will increase delivery cost and completion time. The purpose of this paper is to first identify and synthesize the fundamental factors impacting recruitment and retention of the potential construction workforce. A qualitative approach was employed in order to collect and synthesize known factors related to workforce development and capacity building for the construction industry. The paper then presents a conceptual framework for conducting research on capacity generation of a sustainable construction workforce—by considering the impact of family unit and cultural values, career path perceptions, higher educational attainment, and …

Comparing Owner Perceptions Vs. Performance Reality On Construction Management At Risk Public School Projects, Noel Carpenter, Dennis C. Bausman

The Professional Constructor

Over the past decade construction expenditures for education have reached approximately $350 billion with $195 billion of that total spent on K-12 public schools. Public funding through state and local taxes is the primary source of support for construction and school districts are charged with spending these dollars wisely. Within the confines of procurement statutes school districts must select a delivery method that best suits their needs. Two commonly used delivery methods are Design-Bid-Build and Construction Manager at Risk (CM at Risk). This paper examines qualitative and quantitative data collected from one hundred thirty-seven new K-12 school projects constructed in …

Free Fall Of Self-Consolidating Concrete In Walls Three Meters High, Donald J. Phillippi, Katie Loughmiller, Ray Buyle, Michael Cesena

The Professional Constructor

Self-consolidating concrete, (SCC) is a highly flowable, non-segregating concrete that allows for concrete placement without vibration or external consolidation. SCC also allows rapid concrete placement with reduced labor costs, resulting in vastly improved concrete surface finishes and architectural applications (RMCAO 2009). To accomplish SCC, the concrete industry has developed improvements in high-range water reducer admixtures for flowability and viscosity-modifying admixtures for stability. The current project investigated six specimens, which provided an evaluation of SCC allowed to free fall 3 m (10 ft) that filled wall formwork with different inclinations and amounts of steel reinforcement. The purpose of the investigation was …

Fall 2016 - Volume 41, Number 1, Full Issue

The Professional Constructor

No abstract provided.

The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 40, Number 01

The Professional Constructor

No abstract provided.

Construction Industry Professionals Perception Of Project Management Certification In The Houston Texas Region, Lana K. Coble, Margaret D. Watson

The Professional Constructor

Individual construction design professionals are evaluated on their abilities by state licensing boards in all 50 states of North America. The construction industry has relied upon construction company licenses in 42% of the United States to ensure that buildings are constructed to local area codes. Current practices have created a credibility gap when comparing construction managers to design professionals. Only since the 1970s, have third party agencies led an effort to provide construction management professionals with a certification to establish baseline competencies. To date, research on construction manager certification has been minimal; therefore, this research attempts to contribute to needed …

Measuring Organizational Learning Success In Commercial Construction During Economic Recession, Evan Danforth, Justin Weidman, Clifton Farnsworth

The Professional Constructor

The method through which organizations collect and internalize knowledge, termed organizational learning, has been theorized to significantly influence company performance. Specifically, the speed and accuracy of knowledge transfer boasted by organizational learning proponents is thought to assist companies in dealing with, and even benefiting from, environmental changes such as economic volatility. This research studied the organizational learning of fifteen commercial construction companies in the southwestern United States during the 2008-2009 U.S. recession through semi-structured interviews. It was found that the companies that exhibited dramatically higher or lower levels of organizational learning generally experienced correspondingly higher or lower performance. The contribution …

Strategies For Reducing The Environmental Impacts Of Construction “Improving Erosion And Sedimentation Control Practices On Construction Projects”, Richard Pate Jr

The Professional Constructor

There are numerous potential impacts associated with constructing our built environment; one in particular is fresh on contractor’s minds around the country and that is the erosion and sedimentation of our waterways. In this essay, I explain why this issue has become such a pivotal discussion within construction and green building efforts, what strategies have recently become available for addressing these issues, and how their implementation will affect a project’s overall budget and schedule. The strategies I have chosen to discuss are silt fence tieback systems, polyacrylamide (PAM) flocculants, and unmanned aerial vehicle inspections.

Strategies For Reducing The Environmental Impacts Of Construction, Alex Stewar

The Professional Constructor

In order to carry out a successful and sustainable construction project, quality project planning isessential. In this paper, I will discuss how design and preconstruction are the most important parts of a sustainableconstruction project. The three main points will be about the importance of selling sustainability to the owner, choosingthe proper project delivery method to integrate team members, and planning for the future when designing the project.Finally, I will touch on how my own education through the Construction Science and Management program at ClemsonUniversity has prepared me for this new era of construction.

Spring 2016 - Volume 40, Number 1, Full Issue

The Professional Constructor

No abstract provided.

Strategies For Reducing The Environmental Impacts Of Construction, Jordan Moran

The Professional Constructor

Sustainable building is a complex goal to reach even for the most seasoned project managers. If theyfocus on the ideas to reduce, reuse, and recycle that goal becomes much more obtainable. The project manager mustset his expectations and priorities from the moment the contract is signed to navigate which routes are most possible toachieve given the project scope and delivery method. The key to success is to relay the long term benefits of sustainablebuilding on to the owner, and make them realize that up-front cost should take a back seat to life cycle. This will save theenvironment and the owner’s …

General Interest Articles, The Professional Constructor

The Professional Constructor

No abstract provided.

Contractor Feasibility In Providing Cost Segregation Studies From Detailed Estimates: A Case Study, Ben F. Bigelow, Jeremy Robinson, John Killingsworth

The Professional Constructor

Profit margins are tight for general contractors, averaging under 3% (Construction Financial Management Association). Further, competition for projects can be very fierce, so any opportunity for increased profit or a competitive advantage in bidding bears consideration by general contractors. Cost segregation studies represent such an opportunity but the feasibility of a general contractor providing them has not been studied. A cost segregation study allows a property owner to accelerate the depreciation of certain portions of a building thus reducing tax liability and increasing cash flow. Because the information needed for a cost segregation study can be found in a detailed …

A Framework For Analyzing Intraorganizational Congruence Of Safety Practices On Safety Performance – A Pilot Study Of Construction, Benjamin Hill, Mohammed S. Hashem M. Mehany, Richard J. Gebken

The Professional Constructor

Previous research has determined that improving employee congruence on organizational methods and goals leads to improved organizational performance. This research establishes a comprehensive framework of common and recommended safety practices that can be used for intraorganizational congruence data collection regarding safety practices. The research is also developing a method for congruence calculation and examine the congruence effect on the subcontractor’s safety performance metrics through a pilot study. The established framework identified and organized 170 practices under seven conceptual, safety-practice categories. The congruence analysis and the pilot study revealed several areas of high and low congruency along with significant correlations between …

Factors Of Employee Loyalty Among Construction Management Field Personnel, Estimators & Bim/Design Specialists: Insights For General Contractors, Colby Humphrey, Ben F. Bigelow

The Professional Constructor

Since 2008 construction employment has dropped considerably and has remained below 2007 levels, with construction management positions still about 14% down (U.S. Department of Labor 2015). Despite the boom currently occurring in the construction industry, general contractors (GCs) are finding it difficult to fill project management positions (AGC 2014), and construction firms expect these challenges to continue (Mutikani 2014). With greater demand for managers, retaining quality people is a paramount concern. Everyone knows the adage that “money talks”, but what can a GC do to engender loyalty besides just paying more? To explore that question and attempt to better understand …

A Sustainability-Based Project Selection Algorithm: Socio-Technical-Economic Project Selection (Steps) Algorithm, Bharathi Bhattu

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Multi-dimensional aspects play a vital role in the task of project-decision making. Environmental effects are to be considered in addition to other technical and non-technical aspects in order to avoid undue environmental damage. This current work introduces a new decision-making algorithm (Socio-Technical-Economic Project Selection or STEPS) that is demonstrated with the use of RCA (recycled concrete aggregate) as riprap for slope stabilization and erosion control which leaches chemical arsenic when in contact with water. Arsenic has long been recognized for its lethal properties. The main intention of introducing this new algorithm is to use sustainability concepts of social, technical, and …

The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 39, Number 02

The Professional Constructor

No abstract provided.

Project Delivery Methods For The Construction Of Public Schools In The Southeastern United States, Dennis C. Bausman

The Professional Constructor

Construction of new facilities is a risky enterprise due to the situational aspects of the project, multiple parties involved in the process, timing and budget constraints, and the design features and quality levels required by the owner. Decision makers are charged with selecting a project delivery system to successfully manage the design and construction process in order to meet the owner’s needs. This paper documents the delivery methods utilized for the construction of public schools in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina from 2006 to 2012 and provides insight into the reasons for the delivery method selections made by …

Construction Degree Graduates: An Evaluation Of Depth Of Skill Understanding And Skill Priority By Construction Industry Professionals, Ben F. Bigelow, Edelmiro Escamilla, Lauren Kuecker

The Professional Constructor

Previous studies have been conducted to determine the skills the construction industry expects graduates and entry level professionals to possess. The majority of those studies report soft skills and technical expertise as the main qualities graduates should have upon entering the industry. Many differing skills have been reported, but neither the expected depth of understanding in those skills nor the industry’s priority of those skills have been explored. To do so, a survey was administered to members of the Construction Industry Advisory Council at Texas A&M University asking these questions. Depth of understanding was evaluated on a four level basis …

Accident Patterns In Road Construction Work Zones, Tariq Shehab, Leah Phu

The Professional Constructor

Traffic safety in road construction zones has always been a major concern for engineering practitioners, departments of transportation, law enforcement professionals, researchers and many others. Due to the deteriorated condition of road and underground infrastructure facilities in the United States, the number of rehabilitation projects and their associated traffic accidents have increased over the past few years. To perform the needed road and underground utility rehabilitation activities in safer environments, researchers need to understand the causes behind these accidents. Although many researchers have been exploring the safety of many construction activities, research pertaining to road construction projects is lacking and …