Construction Engineering and Management Commons^™

Additive Manufacturing Of Engineered Cementitious Composites With Ultra-High Tensile Ductility, Amir Bakhshi

Civil Engineering ETDs

One of the critical factors in the development of additive manufacturing in the construction industry is designing suitable materials for 3D printing applications. 3D concrete printing (3DCP) has gained significant attention due to the abundance and availability of concrete. However, concrete is a brittle material and, without proper reinforcement, cannot meet the requirements for structural purposes. Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC), known for high ductility, and strain-hardening with low fiber contents, can potentially eliminate the need for steel reinforcement in 3D printing without any need for manual placement of reinforcement. A set of systematic tests on ECC mix designs' fresh and …

Planning For Pedestrians And Bicyclists During Construction Projects, John Habermann, P.E.

Purdue Road School

This session will explore how the Texas Department of Transportation Waco District addressed pedestrian/bicyclist safety and mobility during a multi-year construction project along I-35. This presentation will demonstrate the value of online tools, field implementations, and data collection. Attendees will learn the value of assembling a stakeholder steering committee; counting pedestrian and bicyclists before, during, and after construction; effectively using pavement clings; and using a webpage dedicated to pedestrian/bicyclist updates.

Pedestrian Maintenance Of Traffic For Designers, Katherine Smutzer

Purdue Road School

This presentation with summarize current guidance being developed for the maintenance of pedestrian traffic during construction. The presentation will provide designers with guidance on INDOT’s decision-making hierarchy and expectations related to the documentation and development of pedestrian maintenance of traffic plans.

Full-Scale Testing Of Power Transfer Roadways, Oscar Moncada

Purdue Road School

A dynamic wireless power transfer roadway refers to the integration of wireless power transfer technology into a new and existing road infrastructure to provide motive power, battery charging, or both to electric vehicles. The objective of this presentation is to evaluate the mechanical and thermal performance of the system when incorporated in both flexible and rigid pavement structures.

Optimizing Locations And Sizes Of Asphalt Concrete Plants In Karbala, Iraq, Ghayath Ali, Sawsan R Mohammad, Alaa M. Abdulhussein

Al-Bahir

This study develops and presents a methodology for determining the optimal geographic distribution and size of asphalt concrete plants in Karbala, Iraq, in order to minimize the cost of asphalt concrete produced. The purpose of this study is to discuss these points. The methodology can identify potential locations for asphalt concrete plants within a study area, considering the plants' operation and capital costs and the costs of transporting raw materials to the plants and asphalt concrete to demand centers. Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB) software have been used to program the methodology. This methodology has been applied to Karbala using actual data. …

Construction Of High-Bay Lab Reaction Frame Foundations, David R. Bowen, Henry E. Miller, Blaize Twisselman

Construction Management

This paper details the construction process of two concrete modular foundations designed to meet specific design standards for various testing methods. The project, positioned within the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) High Bay Lab, will provide the Architectural Engineering (ARCE) and Construction Management (CM) departments with valuable insight into industry structural elements. The project required extensive forethought and thoroughness due to the complex designs, including 200 all-thread coupler attachments and a cumbersome rebar cage. This paper outlines the primary phases of construction, including material procurement and quality control, and discusses how the final product was obtained. …

Garden Improvements For "The Ranch", Ayden J. Cole

Construction Management

The Ranch spans over ten-and-a-half acres and provides employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The core focus of The Ranch is cultivating small crops and raising livestock, which are tended to and harvested by individuals with disabilities. The ultimate aim is to provide them with hands-on experience of working on a farm and how to take care of livestock and grow food. However, the existing property of The Ranch was not exactly what they wanted for their students' learning environment. The existing area where the crops were being grown was not fenced in so critters were getting into the garden …

New Bike Path On Highland Drive, Christian T. Pedersen

Construction Management

The purpose of the following paper is to provide a breakdown of the preconstruction and construction processes for a new bike path to be built on Highland Drive. Studies about the selected construction method and materials needed to complete the project are included. Soil-cement will be at the forefront as it offers the cheapest and most efficient way for the proposed new path to be constructed. The explanation for why soil-cement was chosen along with the various other ways in which it can be used are included. One concern the paper will address is the fact that the current bike …

Parental And Family Leave In The California Construction Industry, Hailee Malins

Construction Management

Struggles between work life balance often result in lower levels of job and life satisfaction, and higher rates of inefficiency and employee turnover, with varying impact on employees based on seniority, gender and parenthood. Policies such as paid parental leave have shown positive effects on work life balance, but there is a lack of information on leave policies within the American construction industry. Focusing on California, this research aimed to determine employee's understanding, use and acceptance of these leave policies. Using a survey, we gain a better understanding of these goals. Rates of confidence in knowledge of paternal and family …

Future Of Augmented And Virtual Reality In Construction, Cameron Ghoddoucy

Construction Management

A series of virtual design contractors were interviewed regarding the future involvement of augmented and virtual reality software integration with construction processes. Within the construction industry, VDC specialists rely on Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Computer Aided Design (CAD) to create digital models that can be used to analyze the design of a building from all points of view. The interviewees responded to questions about software implementation advantages, and related user experiences. Six interviews were conducted, amongst three industry leading companies. Their assumptions of future AR and VR usage in construction were based on learned knowledge and prior field exploration. …

Las Vegas Commercial Contractors' Mitigation Techniques For Inflationary Impacts, Kannen I. Caldwell

Construction Management

Recent rises in inflation have impacted global business. The construction industry in particular has experienced a decrease in already slim margins due to a plethora of factors. Employers have had difficulty affording increased labor rates to accommodate higher costs of living, ultimately leading to a labor shortage in many areas. Supply chain issues are a product of this labor shortage, but also a myriad of other inflation related issues like the price of gas and global trade agreements. This has led to dramatically increased lead times and has posed major supply chain management issues for project management teams. Construction professionals, …

The Perceptions And Effects Of Nutrition On Worker Health And Productivity In Construction, Matthew Scott Howell

Construction Management

Construction workers often have poor dietary habits due to poor nutrition education, lack of nutritious food options, and social stigma. These habits often lead to health problems like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease which can decrease productivity and put workers at risk of on-site injury. This preliminary study examines how nutrition impacts worker safety and productivity. A survey was distributed to six students involved in construction work for Cal Poly’s Residential Construction course. This survey identified their eating habits and inhibitors for healthy eating. Two meals, one with high nutritional value and one with low nutritional value, were given to …

Feasibility Of Funding Construction-Related Projects With Cryptocurrencies, Farbod Pourdehmobed

Construction Management

The current method of acquiring funds for construction projects consists of loans and/or a board of investors. With the emergence of the cryptocurrency industry in the past five to ten years, an influx of cash has been inserted into the market and is simply being held captive by government regulations. With development and construction being an attractive investment for most anyone, these "crypto billionaires" are insistent on financing possible projects. The issue lies within the construction industry and the possibly outdated financial system and whether it is capable of adhering to certain requirements that come with the usage of crypto …

Building Artificial Reefs From Recycled Construction Materials: A Feasibility Study, Nicholas H. Lew

Construction Management

Naturally occurring reefs are some of the world’s most biologically diverse ecosystems formed by jagged rocks tucked slightly below sea level. In recent years global warming began to pose a major threat to many reef habitats. Most relevant is the increase in surface seawater temperatures that cause coral to bleach, taking away major food sources for larger marine species. Researchers have combated this by deploying artificial reefs in substitution for naturally formed limestone rock formations in order to promote the expansion of coastal habitats. This project specifically aims to utilize construction waste towards the production of artificial reefs, effectively upcycling …

Urban Densification At Twin Creeks Apartments: High-Density Living With Low-Density Luxuries, Ryan Griswold

Construction Management

Urban sprawl is characterized by the rapid growth of the extent of cities and towns. In the United States, urban sprawl is greatly influenced by housing density. In the past half-century, developers have favored constructing and consumers have preferred living in neighborhoods of detached, single-family homes. This is because low-density living provides more housing services, or additional benefits, than most high-density developments, such as apartments and townhomes. Residents of low-density living often have more privacy, outdoor space, interior natural light, and many other benefits over residents of higher-density developments. However, Twin Creeks Apartments, located in San Luis Obispo, California, is …

Developments In Construction Insurance And Their Effects On General Contractors, Luke Z. Martin

Construction Management

Before a construction project can begin, insurance must be purchased by each involved construction player to ensure the financial and physical health of the project and those working to complete it. The necessity of construction insurance on every project has turned it into a behemoth of a market sector, one that significantly affects the construction industry as well as a plethora of others. Although many are unaware, developments and shifts in construction insurance deeply affect the well-being of the public, from the roads they drive on to the buildings they live and work in. This research piece will delve into …

Cal Poly Construction Management 2022 Summer Bootcamp Team Service Project, Chris Montero

Construction Management

This paper describes the project logistics and pre-construction planning of the 2022 Cal Poly Construction Management Summer Bootcamp service-learning project, including a plan, schedule, and estimate of materials. The service-learning project will be a wooden park bench for the San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens. Four teams of six students each will be provided drawings and, throughout the week-long summer camp, each team will have nine hours and thirty minutes to interpret the plans, cut the materials, and build one bench. The first day will consist of a one-hour project introduction that focuses on the fundamentals of plan reading and preparation …

Growing Grounds Farm, Santa Maria - Greenhouse Planter Bench Tables, Joseph Miller

Construction Management

This paper covers the planning, fundraising, design, construction, and installation associated with building the Growing Grounds Farm of Santa Maria greenhouse planter bench tables. Growing Grounds prides itself on nourishing the local community through a combination of horticulture therapy, and vocational training for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. The farm offers various opportunities for socialization and interaction with coworkers and customers. After meeting with the farm managers, Anna Wiens and Keith Bartlett, it was clear that this project was of the highest priority. Upon agreement of the project, the farm managers and I determined the future vision and …

Inclusive Safety Understanding The Safety Managers' Views On The Fit And Function Of Construction Safety Vests For All Body Types, Oliver Anthony Leograndis

Construction Management

With the construction industry evolving to embrace a more diverse workforce, it is crucial that personal protective equipment (PPE) adapts alongside this demographic shift to better accommodate women and those with diverse body types in the industry. To provide tangible momentum for the growing need of inclusive PPE, the Cal Poly Construction Management Department developed and hosted a “Verifying Everybody’s Safety Together” (VEST) Hackathon Event. This event provided an all-encompassing look at women’s construction vests and how they can be improved upon. The event had a variety of construction industry personnel in attendance, including five safety managers of different companies. …

Skip The Grid: Solar Powered Systems In The Navajo Nation, Julian A. Chavez

Construction Management

The Skip the Grid initiative, a collaboration between Cal Poly students, SOLV Energy, Goal Zero, and facilitated by the non-profit Heart of America, aimed to enhance the quality of life for Navajo Nation families. Facing disparities in access to electricity and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the project installed photovoltaic energy systems with lights in 27 homes, benefiting students of the Red Mesa Unified School District. This initiative addressed the challenges of remote learning by providing reliable, no-cost, off-grid power solutions. Completed on March 30, 2023, the project not only improved the immediate circumstances in the Navajo Nation, but also …

Skip The Grid: Providing Power And Light To The Navajo Nation, Esai Contreras

Construction Management

Skip the Grid was created as an initiative to power communities that are in need. This project was made possible through a collaborative effort from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) students, industry partners SOLV Energy and Goal Zero, and facilitated through the educational non-profit organization Heart of America (HOA). The goal of this project was to help families of school age children in the Navajo Nation by providing solar energy systems including a battery and lighting. We hoped to achieve a long-lasting effect on the families by installing necessities for families with school-aged children. For the …

Building Services Engineering March/April 2023

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Long-Term Asset Prioritization To Support District Planning, Melissa R. Sallberg

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force (USAF) relies on its installations to project military power across the globe. However, due to the deferred infrastructure maintenance and recapitalization backlog of $33 billion as of 2019 (Wilson & Goldfein, 2019), it is more critical than ever for base-level community planners to focus their attention to the projects that will achieve each installation’s long-term goals. The recent incorporation of asset management principles into the USAF District Planning Process allows a unique opportunity to improve the existing scoring model for a holistic look at what matters to enterprise leaders and community planners making the plans …

Arctic Construction Under Climatological Constraints: A Decision Support System For Expeditionary Construction Site Selection In The Arctic Environment, Zachary S. Wontrop

Theses and Dissertations

The natural physical barriers present in the Arctic are being eroded by climate change, increasing near peer adversaries' abilities to exploit this region for strategic and economic gain. To maintain the Arctic as a region of strategic and economic international cooperation, increased infrastructure investment by the United States and its allies are required. No methodology currently exists to quantify construction-limiting climatological factors over time and space. Decision support systems can provide actionable information to guide decision makers during site selection. This research employs geographic, and time-coded historical climatology applied to a project case study, to develop a site selection decision …

Implications Of Good Faith In Construction Contracts, Nadine Rashed

Theses and Dissertations

The principle of good faith is making inroads and continues to significantly impact various contractual arrangements. In most civil legal systems, good faith is present as a core principle. Nevertheless, its definition is beyond doubt scarce in the construction industry. However, the common law lacks the good faith obligations. Good faith is one of the fundamental principles that impact the contractual obligations between the contracting parties. This paper creates an urge to address the implications of good faith on construction contracts in the pre-contract and post-contract award stages. Therefore, the paper’s objective is to propose a legal/contractual clause that meets …

Vr-Based Safety Training Program For High-Rise Building Construction, Sahar Badr

Theses and Dissertations

The rates of fatal and non-fatal accidents within the construction industry across the globe are surging despite the massive efforts that are being exerted toward maintaining a safe working environment. Past research has proved that the provision of effective safety training programs is a primary course of action that should be taken to minimize construction accidents, fatalities, and both fatal and nonfatal injuries.

However, in acknowledging the limitations of traditional safety training programs within the construction industry, several researchers have addressed the urge to incorporate novel training practices that are based on the modern virtual reality (VR) technology to promote …

Spatial Data Analysis For The Development Of Expected Adverse Weather Charts For Transportation Construction Projects, S M Rahat Rashedi, Akosua Ofosua Okyere-Addo

SDSU Data Science Symposium

Problem - Seasonal and daily weather events impact construction projects across the various climate regions of South Dakota in differing fashions. Additionally, the impacts for similar weather events can impact grading, surfacing, and structural construction activities in various ways. Adverse weather conditions can cause major delays which may lead to time extensions and increase project cost.

Purpose – To address these issues, South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) developed Working Day Weather Charts in 1998. However, advances in construction practices and weather prediction as well as climatic changes have occurred over the interim 25 years. This study is focused on …

Evaluation, Comparison, And Improvement Recommendations For Caltrans Financial Programming Processes And Tools, Wenbin Wei, Nigel Blampied, Raajmaathangi Sreevijay

Mineta Transportation Institute

The California Transportation Improvement Program System (CTIPS) is the main tool used by Caltrans’ Division of Financial Programming to support the business of transportation programming. It is a multi-agency joint-use project programming database system applied to develop and manage various state and federal transportation programming documents. The goal of this project is to evaluate CTIPS and explore various new options that will maintain the current functionality of CTIPS, meet legislative guidelines for ADA compliance, ensure security of the system, and have sufficient scalability and capabilities for integration with other systems in the future. The research is based on the review …

Electrochromic Smart Glass: Supplier Comparison Return On Investment Analysis, Hayden Stewart Owens

Construction Management

In recent years, sustainability in construction has become the focus of how the industry can progress with minimal environmental impact. As sustainability certifications become more desirable, key companies in the construction industry have started to seek greener alternatives to standard building systems. There are many sustainable products that are released, but these products are typically so complex that members of the industry are not familiar with these new systems. One novel piece of technology introduced to the industry is electrochromic glass, or smart glass. Electrochromic glass windows examine sunlight and heat exposure from the surrounding environment and change their opacity …

United Methodist Children Center Drain Project, Andy Abdelnour

Construction Management

The United Methodist Children Center in San Luis Obispo is a preschool for young children in our community. Some of these students are the children of Cal Poly faculty and staff. The previous drain was not draining water properly and was uneven with bumps and dips that became a hazard for the children. Children would trip, fall, and hurt themselves on the drain. A team of two Cal Poly Construction Management students Ethan Lin and Andy Abdelnour worked together to estimate, design, coordinate, demolish, and construct a new section of the drain that would be safe for the students. The …