Construction Engineering and Management Commons^™

Case Study: Diesel-Powered Loaders Compared To Hybrid Loaders In Heavy Civil Construction, Jesus O. Pena

Construction Management

With the construction industry constantly changing, the environmental impacts of greenhouses gases have become a huge concern. Many contractors are adapting and switching over to hybrid powered systems to allow for more energy saving methods for heavy equipment, an increase in productivity, and efficient construction equipment that comply with emission regulations. The goal for this paper is to analyze the feasibility of heavy civil construction companies switching over from conventional diesel-powered wheel loaders to hybrid wheel loaders. Due to the competitive and saturated market in roadwork construction, many contractors have already begun to invest into hybrid systems. This provides cost …

Bs News July/August

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Automatic Delamination Segmentation For Bridge Deck Based On Encoder-Decoder Deep Learning Through Uav-Based Thermography, Chongsheng Cheng, Zhexiong Shang, Zhigang Shen

Department of Construction Engineering and Management: Faculty Publications

Concrete deck delamination often demonstrates strong variations in size, shape, and temperature distribution under the influences of outdoor weather conditions. The strong variations create challenges for pure analytical solutions in infrared image segmentation of delaminated areas. The recently developed supervised deep learning approach demonstrated the potentials in achieving automatic segmentation of RGB images. However, its effectiveness in segmenting thermal images remains under-explored. The main challenge lies in the development of specific models and the generation of a large range of labeled infrared images for training. To address this challenge, a customized deep learning model based on encoder-decoder architecture is proposed …

Evaluating Cracking Performance Of Polymer Enhanced And Fiber Reinforced Microsurface Mixtures Using Asphalt Laboratory Testing, George Joseph Shackil

Theses and Dissertations

This study presents a method to improve and evaluate the cracking resistance of microsurfacing mixtures using common asphalt laboratory testing. A preliminary optimal timing study and a study to evaluate improvements to cracking performance were conducted. The control mixture was based on NJDOT standard mix design specifications. Three mixtures were tested in this study: a fiber reinforced mixture using one-quarter inch glass fibers, an emulsion with increased SBR (polymer) contents, and a mixture using the one-quarter inch glass fibers combined with the increased polymer contents. Three laboratory tests were used to evaluate three different cracking resistance parameters: crack initiation (Semi-Circular …

Possible Solution To Housing Problem: Long Term Housing Investment Plan, Tucker Reed

Construction Management

The purpose of this paper is to provide young men and women entering the work force with the ability to invest towards acquiring a large plot of land to live on. In the current housing condition, Americans, more exactly those living in large urban populations are finding it difficult to find a permanent home in the same city as their workplace. This is particularly true for those whose professions require frequent relocation. The research conducted is meant to provide a person with little to no knowledge of construction with the conceptual understanding of the correct channels to purchase land and …

Contrasting Lifestyles In Commercial And Heavy Civil Construction, Michael Rios

Construction Management

The construction industry has different sectors that students can apply for when it comes to acquiring the chance for an internship or a full-time job. The two main sectors many students from the construction management department apply for are commercial construction and heavy civil construction. Information about each sector is provided in each lab, such as what type of projects each sector builds, the type of environment the project can be in and the magnitude in scale of each project. One thing that seems to be a high influence on which industry the students decide to work for is the …

Trades And Apprenticeship Survey 2020: Focus On Wet Trades, Roisin Murphy

Reports

CIF commissioned the Trades and Apprenticeship Survey 2020 – Focus on Wet Trades report to investigate the causes and implications of the low numbers entering wet trades (Bricklaying, floor and wall tiling, Painting and Decorating and Plastering). The objective for commissioning expert research was to fully understand whether the current model is appropriate for the sector or simply requires a new approach.

The research, carried out by Dr. Róisín Murphy, undertook a multi-stakeholder analysis, to determine the causes and challenges facing wet trades and apprenticeship in Ireland.

The report proposes six recommendations and addresses an Apprenticeship model review, Education and …

The Building Process Of An Affordable And Constructible Tiny House: Preconstruction Process, Alexis Canas

Construction Management

Tiny Houses have become a trend that promotes affordable and sustainable living. Although tiny houses have become a trend, there are still a lot of people who are unaware of the movement. There are people who want to create their own tiny home but do not know how to or where to begin. This paper discusses the preconstruction process of a tiny house to help the reader get a better understanding of what building a tiny home entails. The preconstruction services included are a BIM model of the design, Architectural and MEP plans, construction estimate, and a schedule. The preconstruction …

Bim Immersion Cube, Cory Krok

Construction Management

The construction industry has become one of the largest professions to struggle with effectively implementing technology. As the industry heads into the future, more and more technology will be needed to increase efficiency and reduce cost. Cal Poly, one of the leading universities for industry recruitment, needs to teach the new generation of builders to be able to implement BIM/VDC into the industry. In this project called the BIM Cube, the overall goal is to give Cal Poly students a better understanding of model coordination and clash detection. This paper outlines the preconstruction services required for the eventual construction of …

Feasibility Of Cross Laminated Timber Panels In Construction: A Case Study Of Carbon12, Erik John Graber

Construction Management

Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is an extremely strong engineered wood panel intended for roof, floor, or wall applications. Currently there is little research comparing CLT to steel and concrete, materials CLT hopes to replace This research uses a detailed literary analysis on CLT and case study on Carbon12, a recently constructed CLT structure in Portland, Oregon, to compare the cost and schedule requirements of CLT with a cast-in-place concrete slab. The case study consisted of a detailed analysis of Carbon12, interview with Scott Noble, senior project manager for Carbon12, and a detailed schedule and cost analysis. Results showed that for …

Cal Poly Rodeo Observation Deck, Timothy Smith

Construction Management

This senior project was designed to help continue the winning tradition that the Cal Poly Rodeo program established in 1939 with a new observation deck for the practice arena. The major steps taken to complete this project were design, fundraising and construction. The total area of the deck is approximately 1,100 square feet and includes connections to an ADA approved ramp and multiple staircases. This is a landmark project for the Cal Poly Rodeo program and will assist them in keeping the winning Mustang tradition alive.

Proposal For A New Construction Management Emerging Trends Elective Course: Principles Of Solar Construction, Nicholas J. Gairaud

Construction Management

California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) prides itself on its learn by doing motto which encourages students to participate in hands-on projects and choose elective courses about topics they are interested in. This project is an outline for an Emerging Trends elective course that aims to fill the gap between what students learn in school and what they see in the field. Over the past decade, the use of on-site solar energy generated has skyrocketed in the commercial and residential sectors. The purpose of this course is to inform students about solar requirements and to lay the groundwork for students …

The Development Of A Site Plan And Flatwork Design For Good Rest Orphanage, Philip Andrew Wolf

Construction Management

Good Rest Orphanage, located in Croix Des Bouquets, Haiti, has been supported by Children’s Heritage Foundation (CHF) for over 15 years and was in need of basic site plans and a flatwork design. Proper in field data was collected on a trip to Haiti during the summer of 2019. This material was then assembled in AutoCAD to create six pages of detailed drawings. A flatwork, or sidewalk system was then designed in AutoCAD based off the assembled model. Next an estimate for the cost to construct the sidewalks was developed and refined in excel. Various obstacles were overcome in the …

Residential Seismic Retrofit Cost For Home Located In Tustin, California, Sara Clark

Construction Management

Seismically retrofitting a residential home not only protects the homeowner, but also helps them prepare for the future. Needless to say, many older homes are not up to the 2018 International Residential Code. As a result, many owners are uninformed about how much it will cost to retrofit their home and what changes will have to be made. The solution for this is determining a cost per square foot ratio that will help homeowners calculate an estimate for the retrofit of their home. Additionally, it is important to break this cost down into what specific changes need to be made. …

Slo Botanical Garden - Greenhouse Propagation Tables, Garrett William Henley

Construction Management

This paper describes the planning and construction involved in retrofitting the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden propagation greenhouse. When trying to determine a senior project, the author of this paper met with multiple non-profit organizations. After interviewing with them, the author determined that the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden was the organization he wanted to work with. After meeting with the facility director, Chenda Lor, many potential projects were identified but the organization determined this would be of the most use immediately. Upon selection, the scope of work was determined as helping refurbish the propagation greenhouse by removal and/or demolition …

A Case Study On How Insulated Concrete Forms Can Prevent Structure Loss During Wildfires, Charles Myron Ackley

Construction Management

ICFs are a building material with unique thermal insulating and non-combustible properties that have shown great potential at protecting a structure during a wildfire. To prove the hypothesis that ICFs can effectively prevent structure damage or loss during a wildfire, an analytical case study on an ICF home that survived the Camp Fire was conducted. The goal was to understand how ICFs unique thermal insulating and non-combustible properties protect structures from wildfires and how this assembly system can be a lot more effective than a traditional frame structure. Additional objectives for the project included highlighting the growing threat of wildfires …

Mass Manufacturing 8x20 Tiny Homes For Low Income Housing In Slo, Tyler James Morales

Construction Management

The United States housing prices have been on the rise for years. This increase has led to an extremely large number of citizens in this country who are unable to afford their rent, much less buy a home. One of the many potential solutions to this problem are tiny homes. Tiny homes have been around since the 1850’s but have just recently been thrusted back into the spotlight. Today Tiny Homes is more than a style of housing but a movement to return to simpler times and simpler lifestyles by living out of a much smaller home. Our project goal …

The Relationship Between Bim And Electrical Prefabrication, Donald J. Lipsey

Construction Management

Recently, with the help of Building Information Modeling, prefabrication has become popular amongst electrical subcontractors. This report dives further into the relationship of the two counterparts and analyzes what allows the relationship to be successful. Currently, little information has been published regarding how Building Information Modeling and electrical prefabrication play off of each other. This report serves to provide information to electrical subcontractors that are either looking to start prefabricating or further their prefabrication methods. Analytical methods used consist of online research combined with interviews from three different people at three different electrical subcontracting firms. All interviewees hold different job …

Promoting Service Based Learning Through Hands-On Opportunities, Meredith West Beckman

Construction Management

In the winter of 2019, students from the Cal Poly Construction Management Department traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand to complete a home build with Habitat for Humanity Global Village. This trip sparked their interest in promoting service based learning for other students looking for similar opportunities to participate in not-for-profit projects. In order to provide other students with information about not-for-profit construction, a website was created to highlight these organizations and the available opportunities to volunteer. The purpose of the creation of the website was to connect students with volunteer opportunities that fit their interests and time commitment. To accommodate …

Construction Management Spanish Language Class, Jordan Stephen King

Construction Management

Some research was done by past Cal Poly students into the industry, faculty and student desire for a Spanish Language class through multiple surveys. The results indicated that all parties agreed that a Spanish Language Construction Management class would be beneficial to add to the curriculum. In this project a student at Cal Poly was tasked with creating a Construction Management Spanish Language Class. The deliverables for this project are to provide the Construction Management department with a syllabus, course schedule, thirteen PowerPoints for use as lecture material, thirteen activities for students to apply what they have learned, and thirteen …

Consumption Of Single-Use Plastics By A Commercial Construction Firm: A Case Study, Christian Michael Dumas

Construction Management

Most construction sites utilize single-use plastic bottles because they are easy to distribute and guarantee fresh, clean drinking water. The number of bottles consumed on a site is usually an unknown quantity and is not a waste center that is commonly focused on. This case study outlines a mid-sized construction company’s rate of consumption of single-use plastic bottles. This study details the specifics of the project including size, type, value, and number of workers onsite. The information was gained through working closely with an onsite contact in a management position. The range of focus has been narrowed to only the …

Historic Building Renovation In San Francisco; A Business Plan, Robert Michael Courtney, Brendan Kha Hoang

Construction Management

This report explores the history and thought process behind an idea for a historical restoration company based out of San Francisco, California. This is a vital service for both building owners and the public, as historical buildings with deferred maintenance pose a threat to the lives and safety of civilians in the streets below. The city of San Francisco recognized that historical buildings may pose a threat to public safety and recently put an ordinance in place to mandate inspections and repairs of these buildings. There seems to be a gap between firms that profess the ability to assign qualified …

Student Mentorship: An Essential Practice, Jonathan E. Ott

Construction Management

As an industry that relies heavily on strong relationships, contractors must learn to be effective communicators. At California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO), there are several majors that provide students with a peer mentorship program; however, the Construction Management Department lacks one of these programs. Previous research conducted by Construction Management students at Cal Poly SLO revealed a significant demand for peer mentorship relationships (Gauna, 2017). The purpose of this paper is to determine what logistical approaches should be initiated to provide students with this valuable resource. This research was conducted by utilizing a nine-question survey …

Enforcing Wildfire Prevention Regulations: Evaluating Enforcement Agencies In The County Of San Luis Obispo, Carly A. Hudak

Construction Management

This project aims to evaluate the enforcement of wildfire prevention policies in the County of San Luis Obispo. In the past few years, a series of highly destructive wildfires have ravaged the state of California, leading to scrutiny of wildfire prevention and its enforcement. This study focused on the County of San Luis Obispo to analyze the agencies responsible for enforcing wildfire prevention. In the County of San Luis Obispo, the County Planning and Building Department, County Fire Department, and Cal Fire State Department cooperate to enforce wildfire prevention measures across the County. Personnel from these agencies were interviewed to …

Construction Of The Slo Botanical Gardens Foot Bridge - Interdisciplinary Project, Connor N. Layman

Construction Management

In the Winter quarter of 2020, a project based senior project was sought out by a Cal Poly Construction Management student, and he was connected with the San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens (SLO BG). SLO BG is a non-profit organization located on 150 acres in the El Chorro Regional Park. After meeting with the SLO BG staff and exploring their many needed projects, the student and the staff mutually concluded that he would build a bridge and accompanying stairs which resided on a well-traveled trail on the property. He successfully developed the project schedule, budget, recruited an architect for design …

Preconstruction Plan For A Pedestrian Pathway Rehabilitation Project, Sean R. Stratton

Construction Management

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed to enforce improvements of public commodities to fill the gaps in our nation's civil rights inequalities for people with disabilities. Public pedestrian pathways are required by federal and state law to comply with ADA guidelines to allow ease of access to individuals with disabilities. Many existing sidewalks and pedestrian pathways have been renovated and modernized to comply with these ADA guidelines. This paper outlines the preconstruction plan for a rehabilitation project of a problematic pedestrian pathway on the campus of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and highlights the need for …

Detention Basin Condition Assessment Form (Caf), Kristoffer L. Camargo

Construction Management

The state of California requires local cities to periodically perform infrastructure evaluations. One of these evaluations is the assessment of a municipality’s stormwater infrastructure systems. These inspections determine the performance of a cities infrastructure and provide additional funding if needed. There are many types of stormwater structures that control the runoff water from either rainstorms, snowmelt, or any tropical storm. A detention basin is a fundamental part of a city’s stormwater infrastructure, typically basins are at the end of the line and catch all the stormwater from reaching natural rivers, lakes, and the ocean. The purpose of a catch basin …

Highlighting The Unique Challenges And Differences Of Building With Mass Timber, Ryan L. Richmond

Construction Management

As the construction industry shifts towards sustainability and owners seek to construct buildings that are sustainable - built from natural and renewable materials, and pleasing for their occupants to work in - mass timber is becoming the popular alternative to traditional steel and concrete buildings. An abundance of information is available on mass timber products and their properties and applications, but little information on the process of actually building a mass timber project. This report seeks to extend practical knowledge on building with mass timber. In order to accomplish this, this research will highlight specific differences and challenges related to …

Building For Wellness - Healthy Building Course For Cal Poly Slo Cm Department, Lindsey Pierson

Construction Management

Construction Management programs across the country focus on educating students about the main segments of the construction industry, however, there is not courses that allow students to affiliate themselves with sustainable, healthy building practices. This senior project created the opportunity for students to learn about the rising segment trend of healthy building in construction. Students will be informed about what healthy building is and how it should be implemented into the construction and design process. Topics will focus on discussing hard and soft building components that negatively affect building occupant health and performance, as well as how each component can …

Case Study: Google’S Unique Canopy Styled Construction, Ray A. Cuevas

Construction Management

In today’s rapidly changing world, builders are pushing to implement more sustainable practices and incorporate innovative techniques to integrate green practices into their structures. One of the latest examples of this push towards sustainability is seen in Google’s new headquarters, Charleston East located in Mountain View, California. Combining their widely known mission to provide a positive work environment for their employees with their passion to be more environmentally friendly, Google has set out to create a Living Building with LEED Platinum certification. In order to accomplish this Google has collaborated with Bjarke Ingels Group, Heatherwick Studio, and Hathaway Dinwiddie. The …