Construction Management & Engineering

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Research from the Department of Construction Management & Engineering. The department website may be found at https://www.ndsu.edu/construction/

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Achieving a Sustainable Concrete Design and Construction
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Agrawal, Ankush Satishchandra
Concrete is one of the key materials in the construction industry. But today, the use of concrete and its production has become a matter of environmental concern throughout the world. This statement is true especially for the manufacturing process of cement. One of the major problems is emission of CO2 gas into the atmosphere during the manufacturing of cement. Every ton of concrete produced leads to emission of one ton of carbon dioxide gas. Hence replacement of cement by alternative materials has been investigated by many researchers. In the past, fly ash has been the most common replacement. This study, however, suggests replacing all the major components of concrete to the extent that would satisfy the standard strength requirements. This paper focuses on the development of a sustainable or green concrete and proposes a set of tools for a sustainable concrete design and construction. Many researchers have been trying to replace one component of concrete to make it more sustainable. Discussion in this paper will not only give a direction to produce more sustainable concrete but also eco-friendly concrete, thus addressing the two important issues of economy and environmental friendliness simultaneously. Defining the idea of sustainability with respect to the concrete and construction industry and doing a literature search on similar grounds was the first step taken towards completion of this research. The findings in the literature search made a survey necessary. This survey was done to have an idea of sustainability from the experts in the construction and cement industry. The survey was done by sending a questionnaire to concrete experts, engineers, designers and contractors to get their ideas for green concrete and its usage in the industry. The findings of the literature survey and inferences from the survey results made the generation of the proposed sets of tools possible. The concrete and the construction industry can achieve an overall sustainability by complete utilization of tools proposed in the paper. Strict usage of these tools will not only ensure environmental sustainability but will also satisfy the ends of economic and social aspects of sustainability.
Developing a Framework for Sustainable Design/Build/Own Buildings
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Gore, Alexander Keith
The objective of the research paper was to investigate the development of a workable framework for Sustainable Design/Build/Own buildings. Research from case studies, a literature review, and a design exercise was completed to form this framework. Currently certification programs have been slow to infiltrate small-to-medium markets. In this study, it was found that the current sustainability assessment guides can be improved by reorganizing information to reflect the driving factors of time and cost as well as by increasing access to information with the abundant sources of videos, on line guides, and internet references in a more approachable manner.
The Impacts of A-76 on the Personnel of Air Force Civil Engineering Squadrons
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Pauly, Adam Preston
The Office ofM:magement and Budget Circular A-76, revised 2003, is changing the manning of civil engineering squadrons throughout Air Force Air Education and Training Command. Although the circular is attempting to make the most efficient organization for budget purposes, it is important to see how manning will change as a result. The objectives of this paper were to evaluate what types of performance outcomes were occurring within the A-76 competitions within Air Education and Training Command and also to see how these decisions were forming the personnel changes within the organization. Three separate databases were utilized: one for personnel data retrieval, one for A-76 data retrieval, and one to research the history of contracts involved. The types of competition outcomes were analyzed and compared with how manning had changed over the same period of time. It was found that there were only two A-76 studies within AETC since the 2003 revision: Keesler AFB and Sheppard AFB. Both of these studies had resulted in a performance decision in favor of the private contractor for base operation services, those which include general building maintenance and grounds keeping, as well as utility and power management. When investigating the personnel outcomes, it can be inf erred that A-76 performance decisions definitely have an impact on personnel changes within the organization. As to what those changes are, it appears that when the decision is in favor of a private contractor, civilian and enlisted engineers are negatively affected, where the effects on officer engineers and the enlisted squadron as a whole are not so straightforward. This paper helps to define the changes occurring in today's Air Force as a result of fewer airmen available. The results may be useful to policy makers, squadron commanders, and those mterested in contracting with the Air Force.
Construction Management Education in Canada: The History of the Establishment of Ontario's First Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Durazno, Herman
This study examines the establishment of the first construction science and management degree program in Ontario. It illustrates the circumstances that led the Ontario construction industry to recognize the need for such an undergraduate degree program and to seek an educational institution as a partner in the planning, development and establishment of the undergraduate program. The paper displays how the industry faced obstacles such as a plan to regulate the industry by the Ontario government and the lack of incoming construction management degreed professionals from overseas. In addition, the paper displays the differences between existing engineering technology diplomas and the new bachelor degree in construction management and why the degree option will be beneficial to new students as well as graduates of the engineering technology diploma program. Finally, it displays how the Ontario construction industry leadership and reactiveness was the major factor in the establishment of the program and how industry participation and involvement is a key component in the success of undergraduate degree programs in construction management.
Causes of Construction Delays for High Rise Buildings: a Quantitative Comparison between the USA and India
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Billa, Arun
High rise buildings are complex, high risk, and multi-contractor projects which make them prone to construction delays. Delays can lead to time overrun, affect the total project duration and the total cost, and could result in litigation. Most construction schedules are deterministic and do not include the uncertainty and risk inherent in the diverse activities which constitute the construction project. Generally, high rise buildings are expensive undertakings and a schedule overrun could lead to significant time and money losses. Therefore, a high rise project manager must be able to estimate the potential delays and eliminate them if possible in order to reduce their impact on the success of the overall project. The research study identified 42 possible construction delays through the literature study and grouped them into six categories according to their source and relevance. These groups include: general delays related to project, owner, contractor, consultant, resource, and miscellaneous delays. A questionnaire was developed to investigate severities of the identified six delay categories; in addition, some questions about project details, critical effects of delays, and most responsible people for the delays were added to ascertain more information from the survey. The questionnaire was sent to pre-identified construction professionals of the high rise construction industry all over the United States and India. The individual analysis of each country shows that change orders, given by the owner during construction, is the most severe cause of delay for the USA, followed by severe weather conditions, as well as mistakes or errors in design and drawing documents. For India, the most severe cause of delay is the lack of communication and coordination among all parties involved in the construction, followed by improper construction methods and payment delays by the owner. The comparative analysis of two countries shows that there is a difference between the results and demonstrates that the presence of construction delays and their effects are more often and severe for India than the USA. It also shows that consultant related delays and miscellaneous delays are more severe for the USA than India and vice versa for the rest of the delay categories (general, owner, contractor, and resource related). All the participants of the two nations agreed that time overrun and cost overruns are the critical effects of construction delays, followed by disputes and arbitration. The present research study also includes the recommendations made by the survey participants.
Stochastic Characterization, Simulation, and Analysis of Environmental (Precipitation and Temperature) Inputs into the M-E Design Framework
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Membah, Joseph, M.S.
The engineering design of pavements is a complex process requiring regular updating and calibration to produce durable and resilient road surfaces. To achieve this goal, research is conducted continuously to obtain input parameters which are used to produce advanced tools. Recently, an advanced pavement structural design tool termed the Mechanistic Empirical (M-E) Pavement Design approach was introduced to the engineering community. The M-E process employs issues about engineering, traffic, environmental factors, construction, and economics in the design and selection of appropriate types of road surfaces. Although the new M-E approach can result in improved designs, the approach does not address a design methodology for selecting the best pavement for a particular application. Currently, State Highway Agencies employ different procedures to design pavements based on empirical data collected in 1960s. The trials used data collected during two climatic seasons. Since then, a number of research initiatives have been conducted investigating issues such as soil characterization, traffic, and construction. However, none have focused on environmental issues which also provide inputs for the ME design framework. This research focuses on temperature and precipitation: two main environmental factors of concern. The M-E design approach uses traditional statistical analysis to compute the input parameters of sampling points which are often spread over a large geographic region and do not provide a representative sample. Because temperature and precipitation are composed of continuous data, geostatistics were employed to compute statistical parameters through stochastic characterization, simulation, and analysis.
A Residential Construction Management Cognitive Apprenticeship Program
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Wagner, Heidi Em
Background The U.S. Bureau of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook states that faster-thanaverage employment growth is expected in construction management with job openings projected to exceed qualified applicants (2008). Increasing complexity of projects, including sophistication of technology and new laws for building standards, will boost the demand for specialized management personnel (U. S. Bureau of Labor 2008). Purpose Obvious locales for the recruitment and training of construction managers are construction management baccalaureate degree programs. Because these programs educate for an occupation, it is essential for them to be aware of what the industry requires of its workers. The purpose of this study was to enhance the current curriculum of B.S. programs by redesigning the internship, creating a cognitive apprenticeship in the form of a prospectus having the capacity to be implemented by the construction industry and educators. Scope/Method This residential construction management apprenticeship model employs a cognitive apprenticeship learning structure designed by Allan Collins, John Seely Brown, and Susan E. Newman and seeks to educate students in residential construction management methodology (1989). Jack H. Willenbrock's (1994) Management Guidelines for Growth Oriented Homebuilding Firms is used as the theoretical framework taught to students from which they can gain analytical proficiency of management methods. Conclusions A practical, three-phase progressive model for a Residential Construction Management Cognitive Apprenticeship Program (RCMCAP) has been developed. This model can be used by institutions of higher learning for a likely increase of the number and quality of graduates entering residential construction at managerial levels.
The Suitability of Warm Mix Asphalt for Use in North Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 2011) Gullickson, Michael
Compared to hot mix asphalt (HMA), warm mix asphalt (WMA) offers several potential benefits, including reduced fossil fuel use and increased workability. The research presented in this paper examined the suitability of WMA for use in North Dakota, through review of previous research and experiences of North Dakota and other states, including those with similar weather to North Dakota. This review suggested that North Dakota and its neighboring states are looking to similar types of WMA to suit their varying needs. While more than one type of WMA may be suitable for use in North Dakota's climate, there could be some types that work better than others depending on aggregate sources, traffic volume and loads, and overlay versus new construction. North Dakota should continue to try various types of WMA and determine which additives or processes work best in the areas of the state's greatest need.
Organizational Dynamics Leading to the Implementation of Sustainable Design in Building Construction
(North Dakota State University, 2012) Mattappadan, Sooraj Mohandas
This study focused on construction project organizational dynamics, leading to implementation of sustainable construction. Data were derived from a questionnaire responded by construction industry practitioners. Results identified the need for promoting sustainable construction by cost and value benefits to the industry rather than environmental and social benefits. This approach promotes the interest of people who will not be conceived behind the environmental reasoning behind sustainable building. Also the factors that ranked the relatively low were those that do not provide considerable benefits to the organization during the construction phase. Higher initial investment, and the uncertainties of the time to recover it appear to be barriers to implementation of sustainable construction, although construction professionals were of the opinion that lower life-cycle cost and increased building value could easily repay it. The results of this study would benefit future construction-project participants who encounter organizational challenges in implementing sustainable designs in their project.
State of Bridge Management in Canada
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Khanzada, Kamran Majeed
Bridges are key elements of all horizontal transportation networks. The primary objective of this paper is to investigate and document bridge-management practices in Canada at the federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal levels. The research methods used include a literature review, data collection (surveys), data analysis, and conclusions. The survey was sent to all provincial/territorial and federal jurisdictions. Nine of ten provincial, three of three territorial, and two of nine federal agencies responded to the survey. Currently, only four provinces have computerized Bridge Management Systems (BMS). The Ontario Structure Inspection Manual (OSIM), developed by province of Ontario, is the most widely used bridge inspection system in Canada. At present, five provinces employ this system to conduct bridge inspections. This paper identified six important municipal bridge-management challenges. It is recommended that higher tier of government, i.e., federal and provincial, should play a larger role to support municipalities with bridge management.
Contractor Prequalification Practices in Bangladesh
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Molla, Mohammad Mofigul Islam
Like many developing economies, the construction industry in Bangladesh is vital to its economic development and growth. However, the Bangladeshi construction industry is plagued by unethical practices, sub-standard construction work, and the inability of local contractors to partake in internationally funded (lucrative) contracts (as general contractors). A contractor prequalification process is proposed to address the problems facing the industry. In this work, an extensive literature review was used in combination with research surveys, statistical analyses of the literature and survey results, and the analytical hierarchy process to develop sets of factors and criteria pertinent to contractor prequalification/selection. A five-level framework involving regulatory verification, project-specific validation, performance evaluation, state-of-the-art best practices, and capacity assessment was developed to address the problem. This research developed innovative practices that could be used for the prequalification of contractors in Bangladesh and a method for implementing a recommended system for evaluating and prequalifying contractors.
Spatial Statistical and Multivariate Regression Approach to Earthwork Shrinkage-Factor Calculation
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Shamo, Benedict
In this research, a linear shrinkage factor model, which is the result of spatial and statistical modeling, was developed for the state of North Dakota. The input variables for the developed shrinkage factor models were derived from spatially modeled soil data which makes the function responsive to soil variability across the state. The current approach for selecting the shrinkage correction factor in earthwork contracts across the state of North Dakota is through a trial-and-error system. This deterministic system employs the judgment of experienced engineers in selecting a shrinkage factor value for earthwork contracts. The current approach assumes shrinkage factor uniformity and does not provide a measure of the estimate's reliability. Due to the heterogeneous nature of soil properties across the state, the trial-and-error approach for selecting the shrinkage factor greatly impacts earthwork volumes, which could lead to contract variations and increase the cost of contract administration.
Assessment of Owner Risk Associated with Airport Capital and Maintenance Projects
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Ehiemere, Chidozie
The thesis produces a risk management process that effectively determines risk and its effects on commercial airport owner activities. To achieve this goal, the thesis reviewed these objectives: 1) Determination of major risks in the US commercial aviation industry; 2) Assessment and analysis of these risks in US commercial facilities; and 3) Producing risk dynamic in a project cycle associated with airport owner activities. The owner of airport facilities faces multiple risks in planning, design & construction of commercial airports. Literature on airport risk and damages was reviewed and used to produce a survey sent to select facilities in the USA. Survey feedback was analyzed utilizing the probability impact matrix, risk ranking equations and normal descriptive statistics. Results of this analysis produced a top 10 risk list for project objectives affected by noted risks and a general top 20 risk list assigned to a project cycle risk dynamic.
Study of Factors Affecting Labor Productivity at a Building Construction Project in the USA: Web Survey
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Gundecha, Mahesh Madan
Construction projects suffer various problems and complex factors such as cost, duration, quality and safety. Construction sector is diverse as it contains, contractors, consultants, designers, owners, and others. The aim of this paper is to identify factors affecting labor productivity at a building construction project. A literature review and factors recommended by experts were considered to categorize the factors. 40 factors, categorized into 5 groups, were analyzed and ranked considering Relative Importance Index. The questionnaires were distributed to Project Manager, Project Engineer, Architecture, and Others (Scheduler, and Estimator). It was concluded, final cost of the projects were higher than estimated cost. It’s recommended to develop human resources through proper and continuous training programs frame a strong assignment, vision and a planned approach to overcome the disturbances on the performance of the construction projects. The discussed factors are expected to assist in completing construction projects successfully.
Characteristics of Concrete Building Units Containing Crushed Waste Glass
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Anna, Ahmad Shaker
"Glascrete" the term used for concrete in which all the aggregates or part of it are substituted by crushed glass. Glass is the only material that can be recycled many times without changing its properties; these properties making it an ideal material in concrete. The goal of this research was to evaluate the compressive and splitting tensile strength of concrete mixes containing different glass aggregate replacement up to 20 % by volume of sand; with and without admixtures. 144 cubes and 144 cylinders were prepared with different admixtures then tested for compressive and splitting tensile strength. The results indicate that the addition of glass replacements from 5% to 20% by volume of sand; led to 3.8% - 10.6% decrement in compressive strength and 3.9% - 16.4% decrement in tensile strength comparing with 21-day of control mix. However, the use of mineral admixture improved the mixes properties at all ages.
The Mechanics of Bonds between Concrete and FRP Plate using Three Parameter Elastic Foundation Models
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Che, Linjing
Traditional metallic materials lead steel-reinforced concrete structures to a durability problem due to its low value of resistance to corrosion. The superior performances of FRP, including the high resistance to corrosion, the flexible and complex shapes… give it a big advantage. However, premature failure due to debonding of adhesives between concrete and reinforcing materials is the major concern for all types of reinforcement containing FRP plate reinforcement. This thesis gradually develops three elastic foundation models, which are mainly derived from the solution of superficial stress in the foundations-soil system. The one-parameter Winkler’s elastic foundation model is simple and easy. The two-parameter elastic foundation model thinks over the interfacial shear force of the joint bond. And the three-parameter foundation model additionally considers the adhesive layer’s transverse displacement to meet the boundary condition of zero shear stress. Finite element analysis (FEA) is used to compare with the proposed three foundation methods.
Project Time and Cost Control Using Building Information Modeling
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Zhang, Dalu
Although the construction industry has been evolving for centuries and researchers have been seeking innovative solutions for decades, diverse challenges still exist in making the construction process faster, safer, cheaper and more accurate. It is believed that Building Information Modeling (BIM) can lead to greater efficiency through the incremental collaboration. The data in BIM system is extremely useful and can be generated to optimize the project delivery processes. However, since BIM increases the project design cost and requires a big learning curve, project participants are concerned about the cost of project, which has hindered the adoption of BIM for the project delivery. This paper, using a case study, describes how BIM functions to help cut down costs, optimize schedule, and benefit the project participants. The analysis of project cost and time control focuses on life cycle. The recommendations for the future use of BIM are made generally.
Implementing Building Information Modeling (Bim) at AEC Firms in India
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Nanajkar, Aarti
The Indian Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is still at the very infancy stage with the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) to improve the design, construction, and facility management of construction projects. Therefore, several issues about data acquisition and management arise during the design creation and development of a construction project due to the complexity, ambiguity, and fragmented nature of the Indian construction industry. This paper suggests a strategy for India’s AEC firms to successfully implement BIM in their current working processes. The research method involves studying the current state of BIM knowledge in the Indian construction industry along with the online survey used for data collection regarding the problems faced by the Indian AEC firms. These data were analyzed using inferential statistics to discover effective ways to introduce BIM by India’s AEC firms. Based on the analysis, a roadmap for the transitioning steps is developed for use.
Identification of the Root Causes of Construction Accidents: Method-Related Causes
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Chintalapudi, Venkata Siva Ganesh
Safety in construction is a problem that has been gaining increased attention in recent years. Although lots of research is being done to address different aspects of improving safety, the challenge remains in narrowing the focus by identifying specific problems. This study attempts to find problems in safety by collecting data from construction sites and performing an analysis. The data collection involved obtaining 205 incident investigation reports from a number of refinery and thermal power plant sites that belonged to the same contracting firm. Out of the 205 incidents, 120 were attributed to root causes that were method related. A software model is proposed, with the aim to reduce a considerable amount of effort and time spent writing method statements. Very few activities are covered, and the most important advantage is that the method statement can be implemented more efficiently with accurate data, design and accessibility within the standards.
Identification of Factors Contributing to Traffic Fatalities in the United States
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Kaur, Dharminder
Traffic accidents not only cause injuries and deaths but also result in significant property and economic losses. With annual 40,000 lives lost in United States and $80 billion in economic losses, research in minimizing accidents is a major priority. This research identified and ranked factors that reduce traffic fatalities and determined their relative importance. A total of 93 factors were identified and ranked into seven major categories through a systematic literature review. A questionnaire was sent to the State Departments of Transportation, and the responses were coded and analyzed using a relative importance index, rankings and percentages. The systematic literature review and survey results indicated that agencies should direct resources toward the highest-ranking factors to achieve better safety performance. Efforts should be made to improve infrastructure and influence road-user behavior towards safer habits. Laws and policies are vital to maintaining good road-user behavior, which could leads to lower traffic fatalities.

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