Dynamic Baseline Schedule Updates Using Digital Twinning: A Case Study On Aluminum Formwork Construction, Ahmed Hamdi Sweilam

Theses and Dissertations

Repetitive high-rise construction using aluminum formwork couples consecutive floor cycles through a reused panel set and a floor-level inspection and pour barrier, so productivity loss compounds upward rather than being absorbed locally. The baseline schedule is nevertheless fixed before execution and is not revised as evidence of realized productivity accumulates. This thesis develops a simulation-based digital twin that updates the baseline from observed as-built durations and acts on its own forecast. A discrete-event simulation of a ten-story residential tower is built in AnyLogic® and verified analytically at 180.00 hours per floor. After each completed floor the twin infers activity productivity …

A Comparative Study: Force Majeure And The Theory Of Unforeseen Circumstances Across Different Jurisdictions In The Middle East, Omar Hamed Sawan

Theses and Dissertations

The motivation behind this study stems from recent global disruption events that impact construction projects worldwide. These events vary across a wide spectrum, whether they are political events such as the Russo-Ukraine war or the war in the Middle East, economic events such as inflation or currency devaluations; or environmental events such as climate change and the emergence of public health crises like the Covid-19 pandemic. These series of events underscore the growing importance of understanding how the different legal frameworks address unforeseeable events in the construction industry. In this context, force majeure and the theory of unforeseen circumstances (also …

A Framework For Automated Quantity Extraction From .Ifc Models And Normalized Bid Comparison, Asmaa Mohamed Farouk

Theses and Dissertations

Accurate bid comparison remains a major challenge in construction tendering due to

differences in Bill of Quantities formats, item naming conventions, and pricing methods across

contractor submissions. These variations require time-consuming manual work and often lead to

subjective decisions. This research presents a computational framework that uses Building

Information Modeling through the .ifc file format, combined with text analysis techniques for

automated bid normalization.

The developed system uses a dual-component approach. Phase 1 extracts quantities from .ifc

model files using 3D geometric calculations, automated element classification. Phase 2 uses text

mining with a domain-specific dictionary of construction terms to interpret …

From Aspiration To Obligation: A Contractual Sustainability Framework For The Egyptian Construction Industry, Salma Ali

Theses and Dissertations

The construction industry is responsible for approximately 40% of global energy consumption and 35% of total waste generation, making it one of the most significant contributors to the global sustainability challenge. In Egypt, that challenge takes a specific contractual form. Egypt’s construction sector contributes approximately 23% of national energy consumption, yet the survey findings reveal that 63.5% of construction professionals report that sustainability clauses rarely or never appear in contracts, and only 11.5% confirm the presence of enforceable provisions with measurable targets. This gap is structural rather than attitudinal. Competitive procurement penalises voluntary sustainability investment, and without contractual obligation, awareness …

Flexible-Mode Multi-Skilled Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling Problem With Setup Times: Application In The Oil And Gas Industry, Safinaz M. El Dawody

Theses and Dissertations

Turnaround maintenance (TAM) in the petroleum refining sector requires coordinating geographically dispersed project portfolios under stringent resource, schedule, and budget constraints. Conventional scheduling models treat tasks in isolation, failing to account for shared resources, crew fatigue, or inter-site transit. To bridge this gap, this study introduces and empirically validates a Flexible-Mode Multi-Skilled Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling Problem with Setup Times (FM-MS-RCPSP-ST). Applied to a real-world portfolio of 76 TAM projects across five governorates in Egypt, the framework is operationalized through an 11-stage pipeline integrating NSGA-II multi-objective optimization, GIS-based routing, and 500-trial Monte Carlo disruption simulations.

Results demonstrate that incorporating mandatory crew-rest …

An Integrated Sensor-Fusion Framework For Performance-Based Compensation In Construction, Aly Ayman El-Ashry

Theses and Dissertations

Construction productivity has historically stagnated due to a reliance on subjective labor monitoring and “lagging” performance indicators. This research proposes a novel compensation model with the use of Total Energy Management System (TEMS) to translate labor effort and efficiency into payment incentives with the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) wearables and Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts.

This research addresses the systemic problem of declining construction productivity caused by industry’s inability to objectively quantify human effort. While traditional models rely on post-facto production tallies, a significant research gap exists in real-time physiological labor monitoring. To bridge this, the proposed TEMS …

Green Roofs For Grey Water Treatment – Comparative Study Of Economic And Environmental Impacts, Shaden S. Attia

Theses and Dissertations

Cities are under more pressure than ever to use sustainable methods for managing water and other resources because of urbanization, climate change, and a lack of water. Standard greywater treatment systems (SGTSs) work well, but they use a lot of resources and don't provide a lot of ecosystem services. Greywater-treating green roofs (GTGRs) have emerged as a promising Nature-Based Solution (NBS), combining wastewater recycling with benefits like regulating temperature, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and reducing the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Even with this potential, there is still not enough real-world research on how GTGRs affect both the economy …

Inspect: Intelligent Node-Based System For Ifc Processing And Evaluation, With Conversational Tool Support —Llmassisted Natural Language Ifc Querying, Basel Abdelshaheid

Theses and Dissertations

Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) enables the open exchange of Building Information Models, yet effective validation of real-world IFC deliveries remains challenging. Project models frequently contain incomplete, inconsistent, or incorrectly exported metadata, and explicit IFC relationships are often missing or degraded during conversion from proprietary formats. Many validation questions are inherently spatial, including connectivity, containment, proximity, and clashes, and therefore cannot be answered reliably from properties alone. As a result, federated model validation is often slow, fragmented across tools, and dependent on specialized IFC expertise.

This challenge is increasingly important for coordination, quality assurance, and information management across disciplines and lifecycle …

Development Of A Novel Innovative Umbrella Falsework System For Concrete Slabs, Abdelazem Hashim

Theses and Dissertations

Formwork is one of the major elements that contribute to the cost and duration of concrete building projects. This is why optimizing such an element can lead to huge savings to all parties involved in the construction projects. With contractors facing huge challenges in such a competitive industry and employers seeking the least price and least duration for their projects, contractors are constantly under the obligations of finding the best alternatives to deliver their projects in terms of both time and money. Therefore, the main aim of this research project is to develop a falsework system, where the falsework system …

Nlp-Based Comparative Assessment Of Clauses Quantifying Risk Transfer In Construction Contracts, Hoda M. Elshamy

Theses and Dissertations

Employers in the construction industry mostly deviate from standard contract forms such as FIDIC and NEC, by introducing alterations to the contract conditions that shift a great portion of risks from the client to the contractor. Originally, these risks were distributed more equitably between all contracting parties in the standards forms. The imbalances in the contractual conditions create fertile ground for conflicts, and if not resolved, will escalate to disputes during the project execution phase, leading to significant cost overruns and time delays. The contractors, therefore, attempt to restore the original balance through making amendments to the communicated contract, through …

Proposed Modifications To The Egyptian Concrete Code Based On A Comprehensive Sustainability Assessment Of Portland Cement Alternatives For Climate Change Mitigation, Yasmin Elhakim

Theses and Dissertations

Climate change is a major challenge facing planet earth today. This phenomenon is foreseen to continue to represent a major concern for decades to come. The construction industry is one of the most polluting sectors worldwide and is considered one of the top greenhouse gas emitters. Egypt, in particular, is one of the most vulnerable countries to the adverse effects of climate change. The construction sector plays a major role in Egypt’s economy, contributing significantly to the national GDP, yet it also represents one of the country’s largest greenhouse gas emitters. However, the Egyptian Concrete Code does not enforce the …

A Bim-Based Flexible Flow Shop Framework For Scheduling Linear Infrastructure Projects, Mahmoud Mohamed Elbassuony

Theses and Dissertations

Repetitive, multi-stage linear projects, such as pipelines or highways, are primarily impacted by spatial and resource constraints during their execution. Cost overruns, delays, and inefficient resource allocation make construction management for such projects complex. Traditional scheduling techniques, such as Critical Path Method (CPM) and Line of Balance (LOB), are less efficient for scheduling dynamic, complex, and multi-objective projects. There are more advanced scheduling methods that can be applied as a decision-making process to determine the optimal timing of activities and achieve other objectives. One of those techniques is the Flexible Flow Shop model (FFS), which can be effectively applied to …

Towards Decarbonizing Concrete Industry In Egypt: Material Alternatives, And Economic Viability, Reem Gamal

Theses and Dissertations

The construction industry remains one of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, with cement and steel production accounting for approximately 15% of total emissions. As global infrastructure demands continue to rise, there is an increasing need for practical tools that support low-carbon construction practices in line with international climate commitments. This research presents the development and testing of a mathematical, adaptable decision support system designed to assess both the environmental and financial impacts of material selection in concrete production. Focusing on life cycle stages A1 to A3, raw material extraction, transportation, and manufacturing, the decision support system enables …

Design Of Novel Formwork System And Development Of Numerical Model For Comparison Between Formwork Systems, Ahmed Yehia Abdel Aziz El Sayed

Theses and Dissertations

The formwork industry has witnessed major breakthroughs in the last decades. However, they required huge amount of materials leading to negative environmental impacts. Also, the commercially available systems have big number of accessories and requires the extensive use of units to cover the areas to be poured. There was an attempt to target all these disadvantages by introducing the Funicular Arched Steel Truss (FAST) system. However, this system had its own drawbacks, and this is why the researcher introduced an extendable version named the “Extendable Funicular Arched Steel Truss (EAST) system.”

To reach the final version of the EAST design, …

Resilience By Design: A Multi-Metric Assessment Of Urban Vulnerability Across Human-Centric, Built, And Climatic Environment Dimensions, Karim Abdelhady

Theses and Dissertations

Urban resilience and sustainability have emerged as fundamental imperatives in contemporary urban planning, as cities face mounting pressures from climate change, population growth, and increasing socio-economic disparities. Resilient urban systems are not only those that withstand shocks, but also those that ensure the long-term well-being, equity, and functionality of their environments. As such, advancing the capacity to systematically evaluate resilience across spatial and temporal scales is critical to informing adaptive, forward-looking planning strategies. Despite a growing body of research on urban resilience, prevailing approaches remain limited in scope and resolution. Many studies tend to examine resilience through isolated lenses—focusing either …

Irrigation Efficiency In Green Wall Systems Utilizing Iot: Developing And Testing A Method To Optimize Water Use For Green Walls, Yomna Zaghloul

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the application of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based automated irrigation system for green walls in Cairo, Egypt, assessing its impact on water conservation, energy consumption, and plant health across a three-month experimental period. The research compared a sensor-controlled drip irrigation system utilizing the ESP8266 microcontroller and real-time environmental monitoring against conventional timer-based irrigation methods. Water usage data revealed that the IoT system consistently achieved substantial savings—averaging nearly 60% less water consumption than the control group—without compromising overall plant vitality. Energy efficiency was also improved, with automated cycles reducing pump operating time by more than 50%. Plant growth …

Fresh And Mechanical Properties Of Self-Compacting Concrete Using Kaolin Limestone Blend And Hybrid Slag Blend, Selesca Devi S

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the consequences of mono and hybrid natural fibers on the mechanical and fresh properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC), in response to the growing demand for environmentally friendly building materials. In mono fiber, Abaca fiber (AF) at 0.25% and 0.5% dosage, basalt fiber (BF) from 0.25% to 2% at 0.25% increments, and sisal fiber (SiF) from 0.25% to 1.5% at 0.25% increments were evaluated through slump flow diameter, T500, compressive and tensile strength. AF at 0.25% ensured good flow with 6.6% and 4.16% higher compressive and tensile strength over 0.5% AF. SiF up to 1% improved strength but …

Practicality Of Implementing Sub-Clause 8.4 [Advance Warning] Of The Fidic 2017 Red Book In Egypt, Gehad Ibrahim

Theses and Dissertations

Disputes in construction projects can cause cost and time overruns that can be detrimental to the parties involved and to the project. Several measures have been advocated by the industry’s practitioners in an attempt to avoid disputes and their adverse impacts. One of these measures is the introduction of advance warning sub-clauses in construction contracts, where the contracting parties play a proactive and collaborative role in warning each other of potential adverse impacts to the project. Such clauses have been in the NEC suite of standard construction contracts for decades and have recently found their way to the 2017 edition …

An Llm Approach For Automating The Analysis Of Bim (Ifc) Data, Miral Selim

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis introduces a novel methodology for automating the analysis of Building Information Modeling (BIM) data using LangGraph, an advanced extension of the LangChain framework, and integrating Google’s Gemini Large Language Model (LLM) with IfcOpenShell. BIM, and specifically Industry Foundation Class (IFC) files, are widely used in the construction industry for representing and managing building data. However, analyzing this data effectively remains a significant challenge due to its volume and complexity. Additionally, analyzing BIM data typically requires knowledge of different BIM software depending on the application. This research addresses this challenge by creating a workflow that utilizes LangGraph’s ability to …

Optimization Of Pile Construction Sequence Using Cfa Machines, Omar Wael Ammar

Theses and Dissertations

In most construction projects with deep foundations, piling activities are critical to the project schedule and often fall on the critical path. The piling construction process requires a diverse range of resources, including equipment, materials, and skilful labour. Without carefully planning the construction process according to installation standards, there is a significant risk of time and cost overruns. These overruns are caused by inefficiencies such as equipment idle or lost time due to required lags between closely spaced piles. Therefore, it is essential to develop an optimized construction sequence to minimize these risks and enhance overall project efficiency. The primary …

Study Of Capital And Operation Costs For Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plants, Habiba Mahdy Mohamed

Theses and Dissertations

Desalination is a progressively common solution to supply freshwater in numerous parts of the globe where this resource falls short. Among all desalination techniques, seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) is the most globally prevalent technology. Evaluating a desalination technology's cost-effectiveness is essential to ensure a well-designed plant can be implemented successfully and within an acceptable budget. In the Egyptian context, where water scarcity heightens the urgency of effective resource allocation, economic indicators such as capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX) are pivotal in shaping policy and planning decisions. Adopting this integrated financial perspective ensures that desalination projects are not only …

Selecting Green Wall Adoption Best Solutions Using Optimization: Addressing Barriers And Maximizing Benefits, Samar Nadeem

Theses and Dissertations

This research explores the potential of green walls as a sustainable solution to mitigate urban challenges and align with global climate change objectives. Despite their ecological and social benefits, green wall implementation faces significant barriers, hindering their adoption. Consequently, this study aims to develop a comprehensive framework to identify the obstacles, propose feasible solutions, and provide actionable strategies for promoting green walls. This framework incorporates an optimization model specifically designed for government-led solutions, evaluating their feasibility based on administrative feasibility, community acceptance, technical feasibility, industrial acceptance, and long-term adoption potential. By quantifying and prioritizing solutions based on their cost, feasibility, …

Key Characteristics Of Long-Lived Portland Cement Concrete Airfield Pavements In The United States Air Force Enterprise, Cameron J. Palmer

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force maintains a $30 billion portfolio of airfield pavements essential for national security. Despite their importance, budget constraints have limited average annual repair funding to $260 million over the past decade, requiring pavements to last significantly longer than their typical life span. This project addresses the central question: What design features or characteristics contribute to the longevity of Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) airfield pavements? Utilizing data from AFCEC's Airfield Pavement Evaluation (APE) team and the PAVER sustainment management system, this study employed linear regression, logistic regression, and deep artificial neural network (ANN) modeling techniques to identify …

Quantifying The Impact Of Highly Corrosive Environments On Fsrm Budgets And Infrastructure Condition At Air Force Bases, Justin M. Weber

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense (DoD) faces significant challenges in maintaining mission-critical infrastructure within highly corrosive environments, with annual costs exceeding $22.5 billion to combat corrosion. This thesis investigated the interplay between environmental severity, sustainment funding, and infrastructure performance. This research utilized Facility Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization (FSRM) funding data, statistical analyses, and regression modeling, to evaluate how Environmental Severity Index (ESI) categories influence Base Condition Index (BCI) trends and the efficacy of the Facility Sustainment Model (FSM). The analysis revealed that installations in higher ESI categories required significantly greater investment per square foot to achieve comparable improvements in BCI. The …

Proof Of Concept: Using Uas Technology To Accomplish Aerial Roof Inspections, Madison R. Fanning

Theses and Dissertations

With the growing use of simulation across industries, the digital twin remains an underexplored research area, particularly in emergency management and response. Its real-time updating capability is often overlooked due to the misconception that "digital twin" is merely a complex term for simulation. This paper highlights its distinctiveness through an evasion exercise involving two independent entities in a collocated environment. Using a highly integrated virtual environment (HIVE) and internet of things (IoT) devices, we link the physical system with an analytical simulation, demonstrating the impact of lag times in high-pressure scenarios. The computational model leverages agent-based modeling (ABM) and discrete-event …

Molecular Scale Investigations Of Interactions Between Pfas And Concrete, Eric E. Keeler

Theses and Dissertations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), widely referred to as “forever chemicals,” exhibit high environmental persistence and potential health risks due to their robust carbon-fluorine bonds. These substances are prevalent in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF), used in industrial and military applications, and are known to contaminate environmental surfaces, including concrete. This study aims to characterize the molecular-level interaction energies of six PFAS species—PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFHxA, 6:2 FTS, and PFBS—with calcium silicate, a key component of concrete, using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Change in Gibbs free energy (ΔG) was determined for each of the interactions, revealing negative ΔG values for …

Calibrating Airfield Pavement Asset Management For A Changing Global Climate: A Case Study At Fairchild Air Force Base, Emily L. Worthy

Theses and Dissertations

Military airfields and civilian airports serve as foundational nodes in the global transportation network, enabling travel, economic growth, and the projection of national security. This study investigates the relationship between climate variables projected through climate change and pavement degradation, with a focus on Fairchild Air Force Base (AFB). Using principal component regression (PCR), the research integrates historical pavement condition index (PCI) data with climate variables, including snowfall, precipitation, freeze-thaw cycles, solar irradiance, and wind speed to develop a predictive model of pavement performance under future climate scenarios, Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and RCP 8.5. These models, for both Portland …

The Application Of Decision Analysis Theory For Space Allocation At The Air Force Institute Of Technology, Damian N. Soriano

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the application of Decision Analysis Theory to optimize space allocation at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). Through a Multi-Objective Decision Analysis (MODA) framework, this study addresses existing methodologies for space allocation in military, academic, and office settings; the rules, limitations, and factors influencing space utilization at AFIT; and approaches to improve office and lab allocations for institutional efficiency and fairness. This research incorporates qualitative and quantitative metrics, including faculty and student data, research outputs, and historical space usage. These findings highlight significant complexities in space allocation, particularly in reconciling administrative and research requirements with structural …

Maintenance Strategy And Budgeting Optimization For United States Air Force Facilities, Sophia C. Hirtle

Theses and Dissertations

Mission readiness in the United States Air Force (USAF) is critically dependent on the sustainment and maintenance of aging facilities. However, budgetary and manpower constraints have led to a significant backlog of deferred maintenance, estimated at $137 billion. To address these challenges, this research develops an optimization model that aids in prioritizing facility maintenance strategies within a fixed budget. The methodology incorporates existing USAF data from BUILDER, NexGenIT, and financial records to create a simulation-based optimization framework at the base level. The model evaluates four different maintenance strategies—replacement only, preventative maintenance only, corrective maintenance only, and a combination of preventative …

Discovering Design Requirements For Next Generation Arctic Tension Fabric Shelters, Mark W. Mcveigh

Theses and Dissertations

Military operations to remote Arctic regions require large-span temporary shelters to house tactical aircraft and provide heated maintained spaces. However, the current System-50 Large Area Maintenance Shelters used by the United States Air Force and Department of Defense are inadequate for Arctic deployments. These shelters lack durability against extreme subzero temperatures, heavy snow accumulation, and high wind speeds. They also fail to address critical Arctic-specific design challenges including permafrost protection, foundation disruption caused by frost heaves, and efficient heating as a result of their inadequate thermal resistance properties. This research analyzed 20 years of climatological data from 8,399 weather observation …