Construction Engineering and Management Commons^™

Home Builders’ Perception Of Virtual Inspections: A Case Study, Kyle J. Morse

Construction Management

The COVID-19 pandemic created a new set of restrictions and safety protocols for the residential construction industry. Many jurisdictions began placing social distancing practices on inspectors, limiting their ability to visit the jobsite. The adjustment required many residential builders and inspectors to adapt to virtual inspections using videos, photographs, and recordings. As this new technology gains traction in the residential industry, questions arise regarding its benefits, drawbacks, and industry acceptance. This case study analyzes the perceptions and experiences of five separate homebuilders in Yolo County, California. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five residential general contractors, transcribed, and thematically analyzed to …

Alternative Options To Diesel Fuel In Construction Equipment, Sheldon A. Maag

Construction Management

The construction industry is a major contributor to the environmental emissions due to the extensive use of construction equipment, which is responsible for greenhouse gas emissions and harmful substances such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions. The goal of this paper is to analyze the current equipment and fuel used and to compare to the new fuels that are said to be better for the environment. There have been studies in which companies have employed a portable emission measurement system (PEMS) for real time measurement of emissions from construction equipment including carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), …

Analysis Of Phasing Seismic Retrofits: A Case Study, Sydney I. Lee

Construction Management

Building performance and safety have always been a high concern in seismic areas, especially as certain building configurations and designs have proven inadequate and dangerous in large earthquakes. Building failures due to earthquake forces are combated by local seismic ordinances, which describe the types of buildings at risk and mandate when they are required to be seismically retrofitted. This paper investigates the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry and the necessity of seismically retrofitting buildings, particularly soft story wood frame, non-ductile concrete, and welded steel moment frame structures. This case study focuses on the voluntary seismic retrofit of a high-rise …

An In-Depth Look At Career Paths, Keith J. Hackleman

Construction Management

Construction Management students are faced with a decision once they graduate college and start moving up in the work force. They must decide what career path they want to pursue, and they typically have very little information about each position to make their decision. Their information on the career paths typically comes from professor’s experiences, internships, and family experiences. The goal of this Senior Project was to allow for an unbiased look at each different career path, breaking it up into Project Managers, Superintendents, and Estimating/BIM Managers. The survey was focused on work-life balance, hours per week, and time spent …

Testing Concrete Reinforcing Fibers To Reduce Surface Cracking, Shaina Marie Suanico

Construction Management

Concrete reinforcing fibers are a fairly new technology being used in the construction industry to replace reinforcing bar in various applications. In partnership with Largo Concrete, Master Builders Solutions, and Cal Portland, this action research-based project aimed to test how the MasterFiber 360FF synthetic reinforcing fibers impact plastic shrinkage cracking with various types of aggregate using the ASTM C1579-06 test. The end goal of this project is to provide a baseline for future construction management students to test plastic shrinkage using the C1579-06 apparatus that was built to produce further knowledge on the feasibility of concrete reinforcing fibers. The review …

A Case Study On The Ucsf Transplant Center Renovation: Mitigating Covid-19 Risks And Tracking Cost Impact, Alec Steven Woodyatt

Construction Management

At the beginning of 2020, the world was turned upside down at the hands of the global coronavirus pandemic. Today, economies and business are counting the costs and wondering what recovery will look like – how to navigate and adapt to a new style of life after returning from government-mandated lockdowns. The question on everyone’s minds is, “how do we continue to work while keeping people safe?” This question is extremely relevant in the construction industry where, for most people, working from home is not an option. This case study will delve into how Dome Construction, along with their client, …

Refurbishment Of Exterior Wooden Panels Of Simpson Strong Tie Building, Isidoro A. Amalfitano

Construction Management

This paper outlines the refurbishment of the exterior wood panels located on the Simpson Strong Tie Building on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus. This project focuses on the two large 50 square foot wooden panels that act as an exterior skin for the Simpson Strong Tie Building. This project is an individual project that was broken up into 4 phases. This paper will cover all 4 phases of the refurbishment process. These phases include the removal, sanding, staining and reapplication of wood panels onto the Simpson Strong Tie Building. Furthermore, this paper will go in depth about the …

City Farm Slo - Walk-In Produce Coolbot Cooler, Connor Morinini

Construction Management

This paper describes the planning, financing, and construction of a commercial sized refrigerator for a non-profit urban farm in San Luis Obispo, CA, called City Farm SLO. Construction of the project occurred over a nine-month period from September of 2020 to May of 2021. The project involved building a Tuffshed, site grading, framing a room inside the Tuffshed, hanging a door, installing electricity inside the room, insulating the interior, painting the exterior, installing an air conditioner, and wiring the Coolbot to the air conditioner. The project was built to allow the non-profit organization to begin storing their agricultural crops in …

Resequencing To Make Up Lost Time During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Case Study, Enzo Av Rienzi

Construction Management

Construction schedules are typically built by organizing activities according to trades as a whole. The entire foundation is poured, then the entire superstructure is erected, followed by interior framing, etc. However, for projects with an unchangeable finish date such as a school, other scheduling methods must be considered when the project is faced with uncontrollable, force majeure events which threaten to delay the project deadline. In order to examine the efficacy of alternative scheduling techniques, analysis of a $50 million school project will provide insight into how tasks can be safely overlapped to gain lost time in a schedule. This …

The Optimization Of Financial Investment In Project Safety Practices, Ryan Stewart Nielsen

Construction Management

This research paper explains the notable benefits to pursing a comprehensive safety plan complete with the most cost-effective safety practices in the industry. Through communication with environmental health and safety professionals within the construction industry, it was determined that certain safety practices are deemed essential on any active jobsite. Enforcing mandatory jobsite safety training to all individuals entering a jobsite serves as the first line of defense when attempting to protect individuals and mitigate risk. This educational and effective safety practice highlights the potential safety concerns of a jobsite while also mitigating contractor liability if an accident were to occur. …

Best Practices For Lean Scheduling And Coordination In Commercial Construction, Josselyn Marie Verutti

Construction Management

Efficiency and optimization are the major factors required for success in the construction industry. Lean construction is the all-encompassing path to this success, but while many understand the goal of lean construction, few can implement it in a way where it will be successful in saving time and money. Effective scheduling, coordination, and communication comes down to the quality of information flow within the project team. As a result, interaction effectiveness becomes one of the most crucial factors in determining the outcome of a project. The Last Planner System is one of the tools used to improve lean scheduling and …

Implementation Of A 4d Schedule As A Project Communication Tool, Jared Jacobs

Construction Management

This report details the project that was completed to produce a preliminary 4D Schedule for the Alma Clark Glass Residence Hall on Western Washington University’s campus. A 4D schedule combines the 3D model of the building and the project schedule and ultimately shows the sequence of construction. The main objective of this project is to explore areas for improved communication strategies within the project team. A 4D schedule provides an added dimension of communication that has the potential, if delivered effectively, to clearly define construction milestones and sequences for an owner to understand. The goal of this project is to …

Development Of Bluebeam Curriculum For Construction Management Department In Virtual And In-Class Transmissions, Jacob K. Clark

Construction Management

This paper discusses the development of two new learning modules for the California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo Construction Management department on Bluebeam practices and usage that reflect industry and technological changes. Adapting to and maintaining practices in distance learning, this curriculum allows for optimal online education and further advancement and clarity in in-person transmissions. With step-by-step videos for optional distance learning, students and faculty can choose to engage in alternative modes of education delivery. Building on traditional roles of construction technology education, teaching instructions are provided for faculty. This project based senior project positively impacts the body of knowledge …

Workers Head Protection Preferences In Construction, Matthew R. Langbehn

Construction Management

Head injuries are one of the most common ways workers are injured on a construction site, but head protection has not evolved over the last few decades. A new style of head protection, a safety helmet is being introduced to better protect workers, but the new style has not been widely adopted. A survey was conducted to determine workers preferences when choosing head protection and 31 responses were collected. 68% of the respondents currently wear a safety helmet, but 60% of the respondents would choose a traditional helmet if given the choice. 73% workers with more than 5 years of …

Proposal For Purchase Of In-House Drone For Cal Poly’S Construction Management Department, Angel Sanchez

Construction Management

Over the years, the construction industry has been steadily seeing an influx of new technology and innovation that has potential to improve the industry in many ways. One form of technology that has been introduced into the construction industry is Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). UAS technology includes drones, photogrammetry capabilities, and the software that links field data to analytic tools. In the past decade, drones in construction have seen a considerable amount of growth and the uses for drones in construction, therefore new job opportunities in construction have been created that require knowledge of UAS technology. As the construction industry …

Outsourcing Vdc Workflows, Kyle K. Bresnahan

Construction Management

In an increasingly demanding world for infrastructure, technological methods have been found to assist construction project's. As innovative construction methods are constantly increasing, so is the demand for technological needs within the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. To ensure technological adoption, many countries have started to mandate higher levels of building information modeling (BIM) documentation beyond the 2D construction documents traditionally required throughout construction review and permitting. Some companies have capitalized on this change to the extent of making BIM their primary business. These companies focus solely on virtual design and construction (VDC) and determine whether clients lacking this …

The Zero Waste Concept In The California Commercial Construction Industry: A Case Study, Maureen Moreno

Construction Management

In 2018, the United States generated 600 million tons of Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) which was more than twice the amount of municipal solid waste produced. Excessive CDW puts a burden on already scarce landfills as well as the environment and the health of its inhabitants. Implementing waste management practices has historically been a challenge. The zero waste concept emerged as an innovative solution to CDW and refers to the elimination of waste throughout construction activity. It is the process of eliminating waste where possible, minimizing waste where feasible, and reusing materials which otherwise might become waste. Fully adopting …

Waste Management Relating To Sustainable Practices In Construction Management Today, Danielle Grace Moody

Construction Management

This study is a combination of research from previous studies as well as interview to evaluate the effects of the various sustainable systems and rating systems, how they are working to improve waste management, and how this has plays into the current and future practices of construction. Construction and demolition (C&D) waste is one of the largest waste flows in the world, reaching 30–40% of the total solid waste because of the large-scale construction and demolition activities resulting from accelerated urbanization and city rebuilding (Islam, 2019). To evaluate the difference between LEED certified construction in comparison to non-LEED certified construction, …

A Holistic Analysis Of Energy Storage Systems Applied To Single-Family Residences In California, David Anthony Russian

Construction Management

The technology this paper focuses on is energy storage systems applied to single-family residences in California. This relatively new technology consists of a stationary battery that is connected to a power source, most notably photovoltaic panels on the roof. The holistic nature of this research paper is meant to incorporate the principle aspects surrounding the current state and affordability of these systems such as the type of batteries used, government incentives, the predominant benefits, and emerging trends that will dictate the future of these systems. The information was gathered by conducting an extensive literature review and interviewing ten energy storage …

The Leed Decision-Making Processes For Northern California Commercial Construction, Shannon Marie Coyle

Construction Management

The purpose of this project was to establish a common decision-making process behind selections on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) scorecard. This report describes the similar and dissimilar motives and processes that lead construction project teams to choose the LEED credits to be implemented. By interviewing experienced project executives, architects, project managers, and LEED accredited professionals at industry-leading companies in the Bay Area, a summarization of the motives behind credit selection have been reported and commonalities and differences in the process have been noted. Through these interviews, time, cost, efficiency, and sensibility have all been considered prioritizing …

Volumetric Modules For Mixed-Use Buildings: Logan At 51st - A Case Study, Abraham J. Ahmed

Construction Management

Modular construction has been a building technique since the 16^th century and has since been refined into one of today’s leading construction approaches. Modular construction is the process of manufacturing buildings or structures off-site. Modular construction is split into panelized systems which are two-dimensional system or volumetric system which are three-dimensional. This paper will examine the largest volumetric modular project, The Logan at 51^st, in the Bay Area which is set to be complete by the end of 2020. This paper will outline the current modular construction trend; the different types of modular construction; the process that …

San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden Concrete Benches, Anthony N. Masarweh

Construction Management

The purpose of this project is to build a total of 10, 8-foot-long concrete benches. These benches will be stationed at the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden located at 3450 Dairy Creek Road, San Luis Obispo. The design consists of a large block style bench with composite Trex boards layered on top for comfort upon sitting. The structure consists of a rebar cage made of #3, 12”x18” stirrups at 16” O.C. There is a foam core in the middle of the rebar cage to allow for lighter weight benches and also to minimize the cubic yards of concrete used per …

Variability In The Hamburg Wheel-Tracking Device (Hwtd) Data And Results, Ilerioluwa S. Giwa

LSU Master's Theses

Over the years, the Hamburg Wheel-Tracking Test (HWTT) has become one of the most popular devices used for characterizing asphalt mixtures for rutting potential and moisture susceptibility. However, although the HWTT is a reliable standard test for evaluating asphalt mixtures, it is not exempt from variability in the test data and result. Variability in the HWTT test data and results have been majorly attributed to imprecision in the test practice and due to some limitations in the HWT device setup.

The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the variability in the HWTT data and result by investigating a …

Fatigue Monitoring Through Wearable Sensors For Construction Workers, Srikanth Sagar Bangaru

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

About 40% of the US construction workforce experiences high-level fatigue, which leads to poor judgment, increased risk of injuries, a decrease in productivity, and a lower quality of work. Excessive fatigue from working in unpleasant working conditions, long working hours, or heavy workloads can aggravate fatigue's adverse effects, leading to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and productivity loss. Therefore, it is essential to monitor fatigue to reduce the adverse effects and preventing long-term health problems. However, since fatigue demonstrates itself in several complex processes, there is no single standard measurement method for fatigue detection. This research aims to develop a system …

Computational Design Of Nonlinear Stress-Strain Of Isotropic Materials, Askhad M.Polatov, Akhmat M. Ikramov, Daniyarbek Razmukhamedov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The article deals with the problems of numerical modeling of nonlinear physical processes of the stress-strain state of structural elements. An elastoplastic medium of a homogeneous solid material is investigated. The results of computational experiments on the study of the process of physically nonlinear deformation of isotropic elements of three-dimensional structures with a system of one- and double-periodic spherical cavities under uniaxial compression are presented. The influence and mutual influence of stress concentrators in the form of spherical cavities, vertically located two cavities and a horizontally located system of two cavities on the deformation of the structure are investigated. Numerical …

Assessment Of Contract Terms And Conditions For Lump-Sum Contracts, Omar Othman

Theses and Dissertations

A Contract is a tool that defines the obligations of the contracting parties and assigns the risk between them. Contracts are usually drafted to meet the interests of the owner by addressing the legal issues and liabilities. Meanwhile, less emphasis is placed on clearly communicating the contract terms and ensuring that all contracting parties comprehend their risks and obligations. In a country like Egypt, which has faced drastic economic and political changes in the past few years, and yet is experiencing a boom in the construction sector, many developers tend to draft contracts that might be legally complicated or lacks …

Context-Aware Sensing And Fusion For Structural Health Monitoring And Night Time Traffic Surveillance, Xinxiang Zhang

Electrical Engineering Theses and Dissertations

Rapid developments in computer vision technologies have been transforming many traditional fields in engineering and science in the last few decades, especially in terms of diagnosing problems from visual images. Leveraging computer vision technologies to inspect, monitor, assess infrastructure conditions, and analyze traffic dynamics, has gained significant increase in both effectiveness and efficiency, compared to the cost of traditional instrumentation arrays to monitor, and manually inspect civil infrastructures and traffic conditions. Therefore, to construct the next-generation intelligent civil and transportation infrastructures, this dissertation develops a comprehensive computer-vision based sensing and fusion framework for structural health monitoring and intelligent transportation systems. …

Error Prevention In Sensors And Sensor Systems, Pedro J. Chacon Dominguez

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Achievements in all fields of engineering and fabrication methods have led towards optimization and integration of multiple sensing devices into a concise system. These advances have caused significant innovation in various commercial, industrial, and research efforts. Integrations of subsystems have important applications for sensor systems in particular. The need for reporting and real time awareness of a device’s condition and surroundings have led to sensor systems being implemented in a wide variety of fields. From environmental sensors for agriculture, to object characterization and biomedical sensing, the application for sensor systems has impacted all modern facets of innovation. With these innovations, …

Reliability Of Sfrp-Strengthened Rc Bridge Columns Subjected To Blast Loads, Ahmad Alsendi, Christopher D. Eamon

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research Publications

The reliability of reinforced concrete bridge columns strengthened with externally bonded, steel-fiber reinforced polymer fabric subjected to blast loads was investigated. Columns were modeled with a nonlinear finite element approach that considers material damage, fracture, and separation. Different concrete strengths, longitudinal reinforcement ratios, and gravity and blast load levels were considered, while uncertainties in material strength and stiffness parameters, as well as load characteristics, were incorporated in the probabilistic analysis. It was found that the use of SFRP can allow significant increases in blast load while maintaining the same level of column reliability.

Exploration Of The Sludge Biodiesel Pathway, Zachary Christman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Wastewater sludge is an overlooked source of fat, oil, and grease (FOG) that could be converted into biodiesel. The United States produces about 8 million tons of sludge per year. The disposal cost for this amount of sludge is about 2 billion US dollars. The widespread availability and low cost of sludge compared to other biodiesel raw materials make it an economical choice for a renewable fuel. Using sludge as a raw material can produce 25 to 30 mg per gram of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME); the main component of biodiesel. Sludge biodiesel has the potential of transforming a …