Construction Engineering and Management Commons^™

Reinstatement Of The Poly Canyon Caretaker Program Through The Development Of A Tiny Home Community, Leily Martin

Construction Management

The Poly Canyon Experimental Structures Laboratory, through its Design/Build program, is unique in the educational opportunity it provides Cal Poly College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) students. However, since the conclusion of the Caretaker Program in 2011, the facility’s structures have deteriorated due to vandalism, purposeful destruction, and weathering. This study examines the perspectives of CAED students, the interim CAED Dean, Kevin Dong, and Cal Poly Risk Manager, Mike Morgan, on the effectiveness in reinstating the Caretaker Program through the development of a tiny home community. Results indicated educational value in this facility, so addressing these issues must occur …

Cal Poly Craft Center Wedging Tables, Cooper Christopher Strong

Construction Management

The Craft Center, located on Cal Poly's campus, is where students can unwind from stressful coursework and engage in activities like pottery, surfboard shaping, and stained glass. The pottery studio needed new wedging tables, which are essential for removing air from clay before shaping it. The project involved building two new 7’ x 2.5’ tables that would fit well in the space and be durable. Designed to be 33” tall, these tables are accessible to students of varying heights. They feature a concrete surface that is both durable and porous, helping to absorb some moisture during use. The previous tables …

Compressive And Flexural Tensile Strength Impacts Of Aluminum Shavings In Concrete, Ian Smith

Construction Management

Concrete is one of the most utilized construction materials around the world, but new and cutting-edge methods are constantly pushing the envelope for concrete’s applications and feasibility as a construction material. Unfortunately, concrete has a general lack of resistance to bending and stretching. Studies have shown several successful attempts to enhance the mechanical properties of concrete through implementation of various admixtures and methods. Steel is widely considered the primary material capable of reinforcing concrete. This paper evaluates concrete’s change in strength of flexural tension and compression as a result of implementing aluminum as a reinforcing agent. To determine the full …

Operation Webs – Tiny Home On Wheels Preconstruction Package, Jake L. Torres

Construction Management

Operation WEBS (Women Empowered Build Strong) Tiny Home on Wheels Preconstruction Package is an interdisciplinary project based senior project completed by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, College of Architecture and Environmental Design students Jake Torres and Brendan Moynahan. With the help of Hunter Smith Architecture, Wethington Engineering Inc, electrician Lloyd Taylor, and plumber Paolo Sena we completed deliverables for designing and planning the construction of a tiny home on wheels with the goal of providing a displaced women veteran a sustainable housing solution through owner Sandy Blair’s nonprofit Operation WEBS. Our team intended to design and build a …

United States Army Corps Of Engineers Info Session At California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, Gabriel L. Vesneski

Construction Management

Gabriel Vesneski facilitated an Info Session on Thursday, November 2, at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo for the United States Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District Civil Works. Three guest speakers from the Sacramento District Civil Works office presented their educational background, experience as employees for the Corps of Engineers, occupational benefits, and finally opened a question-and-answer forum for the students attending the Info Session. Upon completion of the Info Session, a survey was provided for attendees, in order to track interest in employment or internship opportunities provided by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Finally, there …

2nd Annual Girls Build Summer Academy: Logistics And Scheduling, Matteo Cade Cuccaro

Construction Management

This paper discusses the logistics and scheduling involved for Cal Poly construction management department’s second annual Girls Build Summer Academy. The week-long academy was hosted to introduce construction related activities to 19 high school-aged girls so they could learn more about the careers available within the architecture, engineering, and construction industry, while learning skills to build individual and team projects. To achieve this goal, a full schedule was developed for each day of the camp, allowing for a variety of activities, including listening to guest speakers, completing building projects, and training to safely use tools. There were many challenges that …

2nd Annual Girls Build Summer Academy: Apprentice Ii Service Project, Angeline Witt

Construction Management

Cal Poly’s construction management department hosted the second annual Girls Build Summer Academy in July 2023. This paper highlights the service work project that the three returning academy participants completed during the week-long day camp. The academy’s goal was to provide high school-aged girls the opportunity to learn about the various career paths in the construction industry while emphasizing skilled trade opportunities including concrete, framing, drywall, electrical, and equipment operators. The girls worked to enrich their construction knowledge and grow their skills with hands-on building activities. By the end of the week, each girl had gained the skills and confidence …

Vegetation And Its Effectiveness In Replacing Traditional Cooling Systems, Bryce Isaiah Trump

Construction Management

This project aimed to analyze if vegetation is effective in replacing traditional cooling systems, when utilized as green roofs and walls. It serves to provide information to the construction industry, designers, architects, and homeowners. Information gathered through a field experiment will be used to give quantitative data on if vegetation is effective and practical in replacing traditional cooling systems in buildings and homes. The basis for the idea of this project stems from two main courses in the Construction Management program, those courses being Principles of Environmental Design, and Sustainability and the Built Environment. The stated courses introduce the idea …

San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum Accessibility Ramp, Noah Atticus Callahan

Construction Management

The San Luis Obispo’s Railroad Museum is a local organization that aims to preserve the history of the Southern Pacific Railroad and educate the community. The mission of this organization is to collect and display various historic artifacts for the public to see. This project serves to aid in the development of a 1923 boxcar into a future exhibit for the museum by creating a ramp that bridges the platform of the station to the boxcar. The ramp was constructed out of pressure treated lumber, angle iron to bind the lumber together, and hinges to allow it to fold. Both …

Highlighting The Key Differences In Project Management When Using Mass Timber: Case Study, Kevin Krueger

Construction Management

Mass Timber or Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is structurally engineered wood designed to be used as the structural components of a building. As the Construction Industry shifts toward using more renewable materials, mass timber becomes more relevant. This paper presents a comprehensive case study focusing on the construction process innovations implemented in a recent mass timber project located in San Francisco. The project involves the construction of a secure facility for a prominent biotechnology company. This research aims to learn the innovative techniques and strategies that contributed to the successful completion of this unique project. Key stakeholders, including the project …

Artificial Intelligence Integration In Construction: A Cal Poly Curriculum Assessment, Carter James Hahn

Construction Management

In a rapidly evolving industry where AI enhances efficiency and safety, questions are being raised on whether it should be introduced in the classroom. This research project is with the intention of understanding if and how artificial intelligence should be incorporated into Cal Poly’s construction management curriculum. The research combines a literature review establishing AI's relevance in construction project management with a survey-based methodology to gauge industry perspectives. Today, the global construction market witnesses a surge in AI adoption in its planning, construction, and O&M phases. In turn, the industry has benefited from its application in mitigation of risks, improved …

Paso Robles Police Department Shooting Range Stairs, Emily Ann Andres

Construction Management

The Paso Robles Police Department has a shooting range located just outside the Paso Robles Airport. The range is a newer facility that is used for training by the Paso Robles Police, as well as departments from surrounding cities. The flagpole for the range, located at the top of the hill, was inaccessible due to the brush overgrowth, gopher holes, and uneven terrain. Thus, the department needed a new staircase to improve accessibility to the flagpole so the red flag can be flown while the shooting range is in use. With many neighboring facilities, such as the remote-control plane club, …

Comparative Analysis Of Laser Scanning Technologies For Cal Poly Construction Management Department, Evan A. Sell

Construction Management

This paper aims to assist the Cal Poly Construction Management program in selecting the most suitable 3D scanning solution based on their specific needs, cost-effectiveness, and desired outcomes for campus digitization. Four different 3D scanning technologies will be evaluated based on application, cost, ease of use, and technical specifications that meet the desired Cal Poly Construction Management criteria. Information was gathered through meetings, email correspondence, and website technical information. Many factors were considered in this analysis to generate a recommendation; however, the most important criteria factor was educational value, and specifications that matched the Cal Poly goal of creating a …

Transitions Metal Health Association Youth Treatment Program Facility Upgrades, Nicolas Fregulia

Construction Management

The Transitions Mental Health Association (TMHA) Youth Treatment Program in San Luis Obispo is a vital resource dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of young individuals in the community. TMHA recently purchased a new property that requires several updates before opening. Three California Polytechnic State University Construction Management students collaborated an estimate, schedule, design and construction of a parking lot, walking path, and a new tortoise enclosure. The team split up the roles evenly into two phases preconstruction and construction, where preconstruction includes estimate, schedule, design, and logistics. The purpose of this is to review phase one of …

The Impact Of Language And Culture On Productivity: A Recommendation To Implement An Innovative Spanish Language Track, Jordan J. Price

Construction Management

Productivity is a popular focus of construction research because of its efforts to overcome a multitude of project related challenges. This research explores the intersection of language barriers, cultural differences, and productivity in the construction industry with a focus on the impact of bilingual management. It evaluates the impact of these factors on productivity and its beneficial relationship to multilingual management on diverse construction crews. The impending retirement of 40% of the construction labor force calls for proactive initiatives to manage the demographic shift shown by the growing composition of Hispanics in the workforce. The influence of language barriers on …

Skip The Grid: Solar System Installations In The Navajo Nation, Gina H. Chun

Construction Management

Skip the Grid is an interdisciplinary project that involves installing solar energy systems in the Navajo Nation. The project’s mission was to support the Navajo families, specifically the students that have limited access to light which directly affects their education. On March 26, 2023, a team of 20 California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) students, across eight different majors, travelled to Arizona to collaborate with the Red Mesa and Chinle Unified School Districts to install “off-grid” solar energy systems and lights. Through this project the Cal Poly students learned about the people of Navajo Nation, solar energy, …

Analyzing The Labor Shortage In The Construction Industry And The Best Practices To Increase Worker Satisfaction, Cade Batchman

Construction Management

The construction industry is facing a significant labor shortage, which has far-reaching implications for the industry and the economy. This paper explores the causes of the shortage and the practices being implemented to address it. Economic changes, technological advancements, union/open shop dynamics, educational shifts, and the industry's image all contribute to the shortage. The economic rebound from the 1980s recession and the lack of new entrants into the field have created a demand-supply gap. Additionally, slow adoption of technology and the perception of construction work as physically demanding and risky have deterred potential workers. The decline in union membership has …

The Center For Centering Dome, Olek Piechaczek, Ryan M. Scharf

Architectural Engineering

The Center for Centering seeks to create a large-scale healing center, conducive to individual centering of the mind and body. This mobile installation provides a relaxing, enclosed space while still maintaining a connection to the outdoors. The clients liked the idea of having a pop-up installation that could be easily set up as a touring display. With a deadline for installation looming in June 2022, a team of students had five months to design and manufacture the structure.

In winter 2022, the students developed custom geometry to minimize the number of individual parts and built a ¼ scale model of …

Integration Of Autonomous Equipment In The Heavy Civil Industry, Jack Ryan Gutierrez

Construction Management

The heavy civil industry plays a pivotal role in shaping the infrastructure landscape, with construction equipment serving as the backbone of any project. In an industry that is constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency, productivity, and safety, autonomous construction equipment has emerged as an innovative solution to help improve these factors on a heavy civil project. The purpose of this paper is to present an in-depth look at the current state of new technology involving autonomous construction equipment, and how prevalent it is in today's heavy civil industry. Qualitative interviews that were completed with a project manager, superintendent, and …

Construction Panel Discussion At San Luis Obispo High School, Morgan P. Conway

Construction Management

Jake Ornellas and Morgan Conway conducted a panel discussion during the “tutorial” session on Monday, May 22, 2023, in the San Luis Obispo High School theater with three guest speakers, asking them questions about their respective organizations, then opening the floor for students to ask questions. Jake Ornellas and Morgan Conway also distributed flyers to students which included information about the organizations discussed and a survey to gauge student interest. This project was designed to expose high school students to opportunities they have in the construction industry as well as to create a connection between Cal Poly Construction Management and …

Utilization Of Agtek In Construction Management Classes, Ryan C. Dougher

Construction Management

AGTEK Sitework 4D is a building information modeling program designed to conduct takeoff and estimating procedures for earthwork purposes. This program provides an opportunity for the construction management department to implement a building information modeling (BIM) program related to heavy civil construction. Nearly seventy percent of construction management students agree that the BIM programs that they have learned during their time at Cal Poly have been directed toward residential and commercial construction. AGTEK can provide students an opportunity to learn site planning, earthwork estimating, as well as cut and fill diagrams all through a new BIM experience geared toward heavy …

Safety First Means Safety Fits- An Awareness Campaign For Inclusive Ppe Designed For Women, Reagan Kellen Tonda

Construction Management

The construction industry has long overlooked the unique needs of women in terms of personal protective equipment (PPE), leading to discomfort and safety risks. This paper presents the "Safety First Means Safety Fits" social media awareness campaign, which aims to increase awareness about the importance of size-inclusive PPE for women and the progress being made in the industry. The campaign utilized social media, specifically Instagram, as a platform for dialogue and information distribution. The campaign involved the creation of an Instagram account (@safetyfits_CP) and the development of six posts addressing various aspects of women's PPE. The posts were promoted through …

Perceptions Of Major Barriers On The Leed Scorecard Preventing Projects From Reaching The Platinum Level, Gavin R. Beadle

Construction Management

This paper is an overview of the main barriers faced by general contractors when working with the LEED Scorecard on their projects. Oftentimes projects either do not chase LEED certification or are held up at the gold or silver certification levels, never making it to the highest-level being platinum. The purpose of this paper is to identify the main factors general contractors are facing causing their projects to be held up at a lower certification level or not certified at all. In addition to examining the main factors, some specific credits on the scorecard will also be examined that are …

Slab Extension At Woods Humane Society, Corey K. Smith

Construction Management

Woods Humane Society is an animal shelter that provides pet rehabilitation and adoption services to San Luis Obispo and surrounding areas. The Woods’ facility contains a number of kennels for dogs as well as numerous outdoor, fenced-in, concrete exercise yards. These yards give dogs the opportunity to play outside a few times a day allowing them to get vital exercise. One of these yards on the south side of the property had an exterior fence that was offset from an existing slab on the interior of the fence by one foot. This was an issue for the shelter as dogs …

The Sonoma Developmental Center Redevelopment Project: A Stakeholder Salience And Conflict Analysis Case Study, Leo Dickson

Construction Management

This analytical case study is an experimental exploration into the utilization of stakeholder salience research to analyze land redevelopment projects from a managerial perspective. The study attempted to develop and apply a simple and approachable research model to a real redevelopment project. The research design is derived from an existing mathematical model designed to quantitatively measure stakeholder salience. Stakeholder salience theory and Pawlak’s conflict theory are the fundamental concepts used to create the research design model. The objective of this research was to assess its effectiveness when applied to a rural land redevelopment setting in the United States. The Sonoma …

Heavy Equipment Operation Topics Course As Part Of Construction Management Curriculum, Billy Miller

Construction Management

Heavy civil equipment is composed of many types of machines, brands, and models that serve different purposes all with the end goal of completing a job. With fuel prices being as high as they are, picking the right piece of equipment for a heavy civil job is critical. In order to do this, you must understand how each piece of equipment works in order to best utilize it. The focus for this course is the introduction and effective use of the primary pieces of heavy equipment used on job sites all over the country through the use of class discussion, …

The Impact Of Employee Position And Company Size On Workplace Stress In The Commercial Construction Industry, Jena Lee

Construction Management

While stress is commonly experienced in the construction field, there is a lack of understanding regarding how employee rank and company size contribute to this phenomenon. This paper investigates the impact of employee rank and company size on stress levels in the construction industry. To address the gap of information, a qualitative survey was conducted among employees of a small commercial company, focusing on stress levels according to employee ranking. This would be part one. The findings shed light on the relationship between employee position and stress. Additionally, an indirect comparative analysis was performed, comparing the results of this study …

The Importance Of Implementing Safety Programs For Spanish-Only Workers In Mep, Izak J. Lozano

Construction Management

Hispanics make up 30% of the construction workers, the highest percentage of any non-Hispanic minority group. Unfortunately, evidence also suggests Hispanic and Latino workers with limited to no English language skills are not receiving an adequate amount of safety training which is a growing concern. A lack of safety training and language barriers on the jobsite are seen as the cause for Hispanic workers having 41.6% higher injuries and non-fatal injuries in construction as compared to non-Hispanics in 2020. Three contractors were interviewed about their safety training programs for Spanish-only workers to find what strategies were found to be effective. …

Cutting Board Business Model, Austin W. Dasis

Construction Management

This paper covers a business model and investment proposal for a cutting board business. The cutting board industry is a lucrative sector where there is room to grow as a business while being profitable. There are alot of factors that go into starting a business and making it successful. The student has put this together to be able to give it to a potential investor to demonstrate what he has done and what he plans on doing upon an investment. The student enjoys woodworking and wants to be able to start his own business but has minimal knowledge of what …

Understanding The Legal Impacts Of Integrated Project Delivery And Building Information Modeling, Samuel Chris Wong

Construction Management

This research paper aims to understand the legal ramifications of using integrated project delivery (IPD) and Building information Modeling (BIM) regarding shared risk and reward between parties and impacts of contract law. Using IPD and BIM allows for projects to be more collaborative and work through issues quickly. However, shared design can lead to legal issues that may cause problems if not resolved or accounted for at the beginning of the project. This paper serves as research to further understand the legal consequences of integrating IPD and BIM into construction projects in the United States. There are some differences to …