Construction Engineering and Management Commons^™

Developing Infrastructure Adaptation Pathways To Combat Hurricane Intensification: A Coupled Storm Simulation And Economic Modeling Framework For Coastal Installations, Alexander J. Baldwin

Theses and Dissertations

Climate change projections suggest intensification of extreme weather events, including hurricanes, is expected throughout the 21st century. This will lead to increased destruction for coastal military bases unless infrastructure resiliency and adaptation measures are implemented. This research focuses on examining the simulation of probabilistic, climate-intensified hurricane events at Eglin Air Force Base. FEMA Hazus models are combined with climate projections for wind Intensity, tide, and sea-level rise to produce an assessment of losses to the installation. Damage estimates and hurricane intensity outputs are downscaled to the facility-level so that climate adaptation signals can be identified. The facility losses and climate …

United States Department Of Defense (Dod) Real Property Repair, Alterations, Maintenance, And Construction Project Contract Data: 2009–2020, Tyler Stout, Adam Teston, Brent T. Langhals, Justin D. Delorit, Carlton Hendrix, Steven J. Schuldt

Faculty Publications

Nearly one-half of all construction projects exceed planned costs and schedule, globally [1]. Owners and construction managers can analyze historical project performance data to inform cost and schedule overrun risk-reduction strategies. Though, the majority of open-source project datasets are limited by the number of projects, data dimensionality, and location. A significant global customer of the construction industry, the Department of Defense (DoD) maintains a vast database of historical project data that can be used to determine the sources and magnitude of construction schedule and cost overruns for many continental and international locations. The selection of data provided by the authors …

Analysis Of Military Construction Cost Growth In Usaf Major Defense Acquisition Programs, Emily E. Angell, Edward D. White, Jonathan D. Ritschel, Alfred E. Thal Jr.

Faculty Publications

This study uses descriptive and inferential statistics to identify cost growth Analysis of Military Construction of military construction (MILCON) at the programmatic level, while bridging the gap between Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) estimates and actual project costs. Findings of this study aid the cost community with appropriate allocation of resources in developing these estimates. Overall, Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAP) appear to experience more negative growth (cost savings) in MILCON estimates on reviewed SARs— typically less than 0.2% of the total program cost. SAR estimates became more accurate from the first to last SAR in comparison to the total MILCON …

The Viability And Simplicity Of 3d-Printed Construction: A Military Case Study, Jeneé A. Jagoda, Brandy Diggs-Mcgee, Megan Kreiger, Steven J. Schuldt

Faculty Publications

In November 2019, U.S. Marines, Air Force, and Army Corps of Engineers personnel demonstrated the viability and simplicity of three-dimensionally (3D)-printed construction in a controlled environment at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center—Construction Engineering Research Laboratory in Champaign, Illinois. The tri-service exercise spanned three days and culminated in the construction of three 1 m × 1 m × 1 m (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft) concrete dragon’s teeth (square pyramid military fortifications used to defend against tanks and armored vehicles) and several custom-designed objects. The structural components were printed using a custom-built, gantry-style printer called …

A Life-Cycle Analysis Of The Thermal Energy Transfer In Prototypical Air Force Office Building Construction Using Best Value Insulation Standards, Michael E. Canfield

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) possesses over 560,000 buildings and structures around the world which require electricity to maintain and operate. The energy costs associated with the operations of these building is approximately $4 billion per year. Sustainable infrastructure management is a crucial opportunity to improve and establish a prudent, manageable, and successful DoD budget. This research identified, modeled, and simulated thermal energy-efficient standards in building construction in order to recognize the best value standards as opportunities for potential cost savings. EnergyPlus and OpenStudio Building Performance Simulation (BPS) software was used to model the energy flow into and …

An Analysis Of The Viability Of 3d-Printed Construction As An Alternative To Conventional Construction Methods In The Expeditionary Environment, Jeneé A. Jagoda

Theses and Dissertations

Conventional construction is believed by some to have reached its technological limit of performance, making it increasingly difficult for conventional construction methods to meet the U.S. military’s core standards of quality, cost, and timeliness in the expeditionary environment. While still in its infancy, 3D-printed construction has the potential to revolutionize the way the military performs construction in deployed environments. This research conducts a systematic review of the viability of 3D-printed construction to investigate whether or not it is now or could be a viable replacement for conventional construction methods, specifically in remote environments where conventional construction capability may be limited. …

Analysis Of Construction Management At Risk Projects For Unites States Air Force Applicability, Danielle K. Tabb

Theses and Dissertations

Construction management at risk is a project delivery method that sees widespread use in the private and public non-federal construction sectors. There is interest in the federal government of using a project delivery method such as construction management at risk. However, guiding regulations prohibit the federal government from using it as it is utilized in the private sector. This research analyzes private sector use of construction management at risk through a literature review and Delphi Panel, in order to determine its effects on project performance. The Delphi Panel consisted of two rounds of questions; the experts were selected through a …

Statistical Viability Analysis Of United States Air Force Estimating Cost Factor For Sustainable Construction, Philip A. Ramsey, Diedrich Prigge, Torrey J. Wagner, Alfred E. Thal Jr.

Faculty Publications

Varying legislation and executive orders coupled with needs for energy resiliency have led the United States Air Force (USAF) to pursue sustainable construction. However, the limited understanding of initial costs to implement these changes have contributed to poor project cost estimating, resulting in 62 percent of USAF projects experiencing more than 5 percent cost growth. After reviewing 1628 USAF Military Construction (MILCON) construction projects in 922 category codes (CATCODEs), a twotailed t-test for populations with unequal variance was accomplished on the final normalized contract cost for 340 projects in 16 CATCODEs executed between 2002 and 2017. This analysis provides a …

Analysis Of Military Construction Cost Growth In Major Defense Acquisition Programs, Emily E. Angell

Theses and Dissertations

This study is an exploratory analysis combining military construction (MILCON) data from the Selected Acquisition Reports (SAR) of Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAP) with the associated Automated Civil Engineer System project actual costs. The analysis uses both descriptive and inferential statistics to identify cost growth of MILCON at the programmatic level as well as to bridge the gap between SAR estimates and actual project costs within those program-level estimates. Overall, programs experience more negative growth (cost savings) in MILCON estimates on SARs, typically less than 0.2% of the total program cost implying minimal impact to program decisions. Estimates got more …

Evaluating Contingency Construction Methods: A Delphi Study, William E. Bentley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to evaluate which existing RED HORSE vertical construction system was “best” suited for contingency operations and the relative pros/cons/challenges associated with each. RED HORSE units, having existed for over 50 years, currently have 4 active duty squadrons currently employed overseas in multiple military contingency environments. Based on site visits, it was established that the Ultimate Building Machine (UBM)/K-Span, Professionally Engineered Buildings (PEB), and the FrameCAD system are the three most prevalent vertical construction systems/methods in use by RED HORSE. Fourteen Subject Matter Experts (SME) from across the Air Force participated in a Delphi study …

An Empirical Analysis Of Air Force Military Construction Project Delivery Method Performance In The United States, Erich C. Kramer

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study is to investigate the performance of the design-bid-build and design-build project delivery methods in Air Force military construction (MILCON). Project delivery performance is measured through quantitative cost, schedule, and change order metrics for 264 design-bid-build and 316 design-build MILCON projects from 2003-2014. The average response measures were statistically compared within each delivery method using three independent variables: time, facility type, and major command (MAJCOM). The historical analysis revealed that the current working estimate programmed amount ratios improved over time for design-build projects, and an overall consistency in schedule growth and project duration performance occurred across …

The Impacts Of Climate Change And Anthropogenic Processes On Permafrost Soils And Usaf Infrastructure Within Northern Tier Bases, Alexander J. Graboski

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense is planning over $552M in military construction on Eielson Air Force Base within the next three fiscal years. Although many studies have been conducted on permafrost and climate change, the future of our climate as well as any impacts on permafrost soils, remains unclear. This research focused on future climate predictions to determine likely scenarios for the United States Air Force’s Strategic Planners to consider. The most recent 2013 International Panel on Climate Change report predicts a 2.2ºC to 7.8ºC temperature rise in Arctic regions by the end of the 21st Century in the Representative Concentration …

United States Air Force Unaccompanied Housing Divestiture: An Economic Analysis, Dustin L. Gooden

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research is to determine potential cost savings associated with Air Force unaccompanied housing divestiture. This research uses Air Education and Training Command (AETC) installations as the data sample for the analysis, and will analyze the status quo, privatization, and identical FSRM options. With 16% of Air Force unaccompanied housing currently rated at various levels of inadequacy and the PRV for the inadequate housing at $2,315,773,149.00, the costs associated with renovating the inadequate unaccompanied housing is substantial. Moreover, the inadequacy of unaccompanied housing is part of the Air Force’s acceptance of risk in facilities and infrastructure to …

Wartime Construction Project Outcomes As A Function Of Contract Type, Ryan M. Hoff, Gregory D. Hammond, Peter P. Feng, Edward D. White

Faculty Publications

The United States has spent more than $23 billion on construction in Afghanistan since 2001. The dynamic security situation created substantial project uncertainty, and many construction projects used cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts (CPFF) instead of the firm-fixed-price (FFP) norm. Using a dataset of 25 wartime construction projects managed by the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, the authors sought to confirm that both contract types yield project outcomes consistent with the established literature. As expected, they found CPFF contracts had greater cost and schedule growth than FFP. However, they did not find differences regarding as-built quality. Additionally, the authors sought to determine whether …

An Investigation In Construction Cost Estimation Using A Monte Carlo Simulation, Jeffrey D. Buchholtz

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force estimates military construction (MILCON) costs early in a project’s development as a part of the funding approval process. However, many of the initial cost estimates deviate significantly more than expected from the actual project costs, hindering funding allocation efforts. There is a need for improved estimation techniques. This research examines a cost estimation model for the initial programming stages of a project when only general scope information is available.

This study develops a Monte Carlo simulation based on historical construction cost data to predict project costs base on facility type. For a given facility type, the research …

Mission Dependency Index Of Air Force Built Infrastructure: Knowledge Discovery With Machine Learning, Clark W. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Mission Dependency Index (MDI) is a metric developed to capture the relative criticality of infrastructure assets with respect to organizational missions. The USAF adapted the MDI metric from the United States Navy’s MDI methodology. Unlike the Navy’s MDI data collection process, the USAF adaptation of the MDI metric employs generic facility category codes (CATCODEs) to assign MDI values. This practice introduces uncertainty into the MDI assignment process with respect to specific missions and specific infrastructure assets. The uncertainty associated with USAF MDI values necessitated the MDI adjudication process. The MDI adjudication process provides a mechanism for installation civil engineer personnel …

An Economic Analysis Of The Transition Of A Contingency Military Installation To An Enduring Status Using Monte Carlo Simulations, Ryan M. Amedee

Theses and Dissertations

The construction of expeditionary bases is central to Department of Defense’s (DoD) responses to contingency operations. Usually expected to be transitory, expeditionary bases are constructed with temporary materials that can be erected quickly. The Global War on Terrorism is entering its fifteenth year and bases within Central Command that were expected to be temporary have provided an enduring presence. The decision to transition a base from temporary to semi-permanent or permanent is difficult, as it requires substantial capital investment for facility construction. This decision is further complicated by unknown mission durations. The DoD has attempted to reduce the decision’s complexity …

Forensic Schedule Analysis Of Construction Delay In Military Projects In The Middle East, James W. Forbes

Theses and Dissertations

This research performs forensic schedule analysis of delay factors that impacted recent large-scale military construction projects in the Middle East. The purpose of this study is to understand the most significant causes of project delay and how AFCEC might improve schedule management performance. The methodologies for analysis are adapted from the Professional Practice Guide to Forensic Schedule Analysis, particularly Method 3.7 Modeled/Additive/Multiple Base, or Time Impacted Analysis—Adjusted. The data is gathered from USACE and AFCEC, consisting of Primavera project schedules and project documents from the Resident Management System database. The project delays from two large-scale projects are apportioned as compensable, …

Analysis Of Air Force Wartime Contracted Construction Project Performance, Ryan M. Hoff

Theses and Dissertations

Using a dataset of 25 Afghan wartime projects, two questions were investigated: 1) What factors affect the success of construction projects; and 2) How do project outcomes differ based on the contract type? Current literature suggests that wartime projects may face the same cost and schedule factors as peacetime projects, with some notable additions. Project factors, health and safety compliance, quality of work, technical performance, work productivity, and external environmental factors were tested with contingency tables to determine dependency with schedule or cost performance. External environmental factors, including weather and wartime security, were not predictive of project performance. However, cost …

A Probabilistic Assessment Of Failure For Air Force Building Systems, Stephanie L. Alley

Theses and Dissertations

Deteriorating and failing federal facilities represent a cost to leaders and organizations as they attempt to manage and maintain these assets. Currently the Air Force employs the BUILDER^TM Sustainment Management System to predict the reliability of building components. At different system levels, however, the probabilities of failure are not predicted. The purpose of this research is to provide probabilistic models which predict the probability of failure at the system level of a building s infrastructure hierarchy. This research investigated the plumbing, HVAC, fire protection, and electrical systems. Probabilistic models were created for these systems by using fault trees with …

Network Interdependency Modeling For Risk Assessment On Built Infrastructure Systems, Vhance V. Valencia

Theses and Dissertations

As modern infrastructures become more interconnected, the decision-making process becomes more difficult because of the increased complexity resulting from infrastructure interdependencies. Simulation and network modeling provide a way to understand system behavior as a result of interdependencies. One area within the asset management literature that is not well covered is infrastructure system decay and risks associated with that decay. This research presents an enhanced version of Haimes' input-output inoperability model (IIM) in the analysis of built infrastructure systems. Previous applications of the IIM characterized infrastructure at the national level utilizing large economic databases. This study develops a three-phased approach that …

An Analysis Of Cost Premiums And Losses Associated With Usaf Military Construction (Milcon), Daniel L. Blomberg

Theses and Dissertations

Military construction (MILCON) represents 40% of the federal government's $30 billion construction budget. The federal budget is fixed; therefore, any cost overages likely affect project scope or requirements. This study investigated if MILCON procurement costs more than private industry construction and if so, what causes the cost premiums. A combination of in-depth literature review, expert interviews, a unique case study, expert surveys, and geospatial statistical analysis answered the research question. The case study evaluated two nearly identical projects to determine how internal factors affect MILCON cost premiums. This study confirmed the existence of MILCON cost premiums. Additionally, 11 major cost …

Successfully Implementing Net-Zero Engergy Policy Through The Air Force Military Construction Program, D. Gavin Brost

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. Government has issued numerous policies aimed at reducing federal facility energy consumption; the most recent, Executive Order 13514, requires that new construction designed after 2020 can achieve net-zero energy by 2030. The policy defines a Zero-Energy Building as one that is designed, constructed, and operated to reduce energy demand to a level which can be offset from sources of renewable energy. This research develops and evaluates a feasibility assessment model based on life-cycle cost. It incorporates geospatial analysis to calculate and summarize input values for all Air Force installations in the Contiguous U.S. A comparative analysis is then …

Understanding The Effects Of Climate On Airfield Pavement Deterioration Rates, Justin C. Meihaus

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past two decades, pavement engineers at the Air Force Civil Engineer Center have noticed the majority of identified distresses from PCI airfield surveys are climate related. To verify these trends, a comprehensive analysis of the current airfield pavement distress database was accomplished based on a climate region perspective. A four-zone regional climatic model was created for the United States using geospatial interpolation techniques and climate data acquired from WeatherBank Inc. Once the climatic regional model was developed, the climate information for each installation was imported into the Air Force pavement distress database within PAVER. Utilizing the pavement condition …

Analysis Of Leadership In Energy And Environmental Design® Construction In The Air Force, James M. Rozzoni

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force uses the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system as a third party verification system to ensure sustainable and resource-conscious facilities. The Federal Government has implemented several mandates in recent years that require certain milestones be met for energy reduction, water conservation, renewable energy use, and so forth. This research aims to determine how the Air Force has implemented LEED through credit analysis, and to better understand why LEED is being used in this way. Using a database of 172 military construction projects, the research evaluates the frequency of credit usage individually and by category. …

Asset Management: Roof Maintenance And Facility Energy Retrofits, Joseph P. Dirosario

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force (USAF) needs aggressive new techniques to compliment its asset management of its real estate portfolio. Air Force officials are experiencing budget cuts that have led to degraded facility infrastructure. Two areas of operations in which there are opportunities to improve the asset management of Air Force facilities are roof maintenance and energy retrofits. Information obtained via a geospatial information systems analysis revealed that the current state of the rooftop maintenance program was deficient and supported strategic sourcing as a potential solution to the program's deficiencies. In addition, two methodologies were created to gauge the effectiveness …

Improving Effectiveness Of Monetary Weapon Systems In Afghanistan, Seth M. Lorimer

Theses and Dissertations

Tenuous political and economic times call for increased oversight and improved results from military counterinsurgency programs in Afghanistan, programs that provide agile non-kinetic weapons, critical for commanders fighting in today's asymmetric battle space. This paper proposes a decision tool for construction projects executed under the Commanders Emergency Response Program, designed to meet the changing demands of fighting an amorphous insurgency among dynamic systems of stakeholders. The research first conducted a system analysis of the CERP project execution process identifying key findings addressing value adding inputs. The research then applies a Causal Chain, borrowed from the Emergency Management field to identify …

Firm Fixed Price And Cost Plus Fixed Fee Construction Contracts In Iraq And Afghanistan, Lindsay M. Jaszkowiak

Theses and Dissertations

Firm Fixed Price (FFP) and Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract types have been utilized the most for construction in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters. Often construction occurs in contested regions that are known to be particularly challenging, unpredictable, and unstable. The objective of this study was to analyze the performance of these two contract types in the contingency environment, and to determine what internal and external factors influence contact success the most. First, the author evaluated existing construction performance data using bivariate analysis and analysis of variance to identify differences in contract type. Next, a quantitative/qualitative questionnaire was administered …

Risks Associated With Federal Construction Projects, Krishna R. Surajbally

Theses and Dissertations

The rise in terrorism, corporate espionage, cyber attacks, and federal fiscal constraints play an important role in the federal construction process. The risks associated with these occurrences are studied to aid in the risk management of the military construction process. This paper presents the status of research into these areas to identify how methods, policies, applications, and information obtained from case studies can be used by stakeholders to manage risk in the United States Air Force construction process. The author reviewed research on risk associated with four essential components of the military construction process – Critical Infrastructure, Information Technology, Contracts, …

Application Of Relational Contracting Methods To Federal Construction Projects, Travis R. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Relational contracting is a method designed to improve relationships between contracted parties. The federal construction sector was a leader in the development and implementation of an early form of relational contracting known as partnering. Since then, alliancing has emerged as the new evolution of relational contracts. While it provides many potential benefits to contracting parties, alliancing has not yet been utilized in federal construction procurement, which is subject to stringent regulations. A commercially available standard form alliancing contract was selected for analysis against the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Key practices that characterize the alliancing method were identified. Utilizing a panel of …