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- Title
- A low-cost approach for rapidly creating demonstration models for hands-on learning.
- Creator
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O'Neill, Robert, Kinzli, Kristoph-Dietrich, Kunberger, Tanya, Badir, Asraf
- Abstract / Description
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Demonstration models allow students to readily grasp theory and relate difficult concepts and equations to real life. However drawbacks of using these demonstration models are that they are can be costly to purchase from vendors or take a significant amount of time to build. These two limiting factors can pose a significant obstacle for adding demonstrations to the curriculum. This article presents an assignment to overcome these obstacles, which has resulted in 36 demonstration models being...
Show moreDemonstration models allow students to readily grasp theory and relate difficult concepts and equations to real life. However drawbacks of using these demonstration models are that they are can be costly to purchase from vendors or take a significant amount of time to build. These two limiting factors can pose a significant obstacle for adding demonstrations to the curriculum. This article presents an assignment to overcome these obstacles, which has resulted in 36 demonstration models being added to the curriculum. The article also presents the results of student performance on course objectives as a result of the developed models being used in the classroom. Overall, significant improvement in student learning outcomes, due to the addition of demonstration models, has been observed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017-04-10
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000605
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Evolution of Heterogeneous Mixed Siliciclastic/Carbonate Aquifers Containing Metastable Sediments.
- Creator
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Franco, Daniel, Coulibaly, Kapo, Kunberger, Tanya, Kinzli, Kristoph-Dietrich, Arbelaez, Sebastian, Missimer, Thomas M.
- Abstract / Description
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Mixed carbonate and siliciclastic marine sediments commonly become freshwater aquifers in eastern coastal regions of the United States and many other global locations. As these deposits age, the carbonate fraction of the sediment is commonly removed by dissolution and the aquifer can become a solely siliciclastic system or contain zones or beds of pure quartz sand. During aquifer evolution, the sediment grain size characteristics, hydraulic conductivity, and porosity change. An investigation...
Show moreMixed carbonate and siliciclastic marine sediments commonly become freshwater aquifers in eastern coastal regions of the United States and many other global locations. As these deposits age, the carbonate fraction of the sediment is commonly removed by dissolution and the aquifer can become a solely siliciclastic system or contain zones or beds of pure quartz sand. During aquifer evolution, the sediment grain size characteristics, hydraulic conductivity, and porosity change. An investigation of these changes using mixed carbonate/siliciclastic sediment samples collected from a modern barrier island beach in southern Florida showed that the average mean grain diameter decreased with removal of the carbonate fraction, but the average hydraulic conductivity and porosity increased slightly, but not to statistical significance. This counterintuitive result occurs because of the change in the pore types from a combined shelter and intergranular pore system producing a dual porosity system in the mixed sediments to a single intergranular pore system in the siliciclastic sediment fraction. Within the mixed carbonate/siliciclastic sediment, in the pure carbonate fraction, large shell fractions form grain‐supported large pores, which become filled with sand‐sized quartz as the shell fragments decrease in size or as the sediment becomes compacted. The hydraulic conductivity increases because the shell fragments that were oriented perpendicular to flow caused an increase in the length of the flow path, or a larger scale tortuosity, compared with the flow through pure quartz sand.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017-05-10
- Identifier
- 10.1111/gwat.12529, fgcu_ir_001005, http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/gwat.12529
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Relationship between building floor and construction labor productivity: A case of structural work.
- Creator
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Nguyen, Long, Nguyen, Hung T.
- Abstract / Description
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The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between building floor and labor productivity of the structural work including formwork installation and rebar fabrication/installation. Design/methodology/approach - The case study methodology and learning curve theory are adopted for the paper. Records from the structural work of a 20-storey apartment building were analyzed to calculate floor-based labor productivities. Findings - Labor productivity of the formwork activity increased...
Show moreThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between building floor and labor productivity of the structural work including formwork installation and rebar fabrication/installation. Design/methodology/approach - The case study methodology and learning curve theory are adopted for the paper. Records from the structural work of a 20-storey apartment building were analyzed to calculate floor-based labor productivities. Findings - Labor productivity of the formwork activity increased more than twice in the first five floors. If the first cycle (floor 2) is omitted, the straight-line learning curve model shows a learning rate of 83.5 percent. Labor productivity of the rebar activity tended to increase in the first 15 floors. If the first two cycles are omitted, the straight-line learning curve model indicates a learning rate of 83.6 percent. Research limitations/implications - Future research is needed to examine and quantify factors that affect the level of learning in high-rise building construction. The relationship between building floor and labor productivity should be further investigated for other construction activities. Practical implications - Practitioners should consider the relationship between building floor and labor productivity and learning effects when planning manpower and construction duration for individual activities and for a building. Originality/value - The paper substantiates the hypothesis that labor productivity does not reach 100 percent of the normal level at the very first floors while they do not support the hypothesis that labor productivity does not reach 100 percent at the top floors.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013-01-01
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000562
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Case Law and Variations in Cumulative Impact Productivity Claims.
- Creator
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Nguyen, Long, Ibbs, William
- Abstract / Description
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Proving and quantifying lost productivity due to cumulative impacts of multiple changes are difficult tasks. This paper presents the most acceptable methods from case law and demonstrates their applications for analyzing the loss of productivity. These methods include earned value analysis, measured mile analysis, and combinations of these two. They are either well established or drawn from recent court and board decisions. A case study is used to illustrate and compare the use of these...
Show moreProving and quantifying lost productivity due to cumulative impacts of multiple changes are difficult tasks. This paper presents the most acceptable methods from case law and demonstrates their applications for analyzing the loss of productivity. These methods include earned value analysis, measured mile analysis, and combinations of these two. They are either well established or drawn from recent court and board decisions. A case study is used to illustrate and compare the use of these methods. These methods result in considerably different loss of productivity values though the actual amount (i.e., inefficiency in labor hours) is unique for a particular case and though these methods are often thought to be similar or even the same. How a measured mile analysis and its variants are employed affects the amount of lost productivity estimated. The variants can avoid some drawbacks of measured mile and earned value studies. Nevertheless, which method is more accurate and reliable is difficult to provide for a particular claim. Practitioners should choose between them based on the availability of project records and the nature of changes and cumulative impacts. Practitioners may also employ two or more methods to perform a “sensitivity analysis” of the chosen methods and persuade the other party and/or the jury that their estimate of lost productivity is sufficiently certain.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010-08-01
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000567
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Analysis of Adverse Weather for Excusable Delays.
- Creator
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Nguyen, Long, Kneppers, Jax, García de Soto, Borja, Ibbs, William
- Abstract / Description
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Severe weather conditions can be disruptive to construction. Contractors typically obtain time extensions for weather days beyond normal conditions. However, contracting parties often dispute the extent of weather-related time extensions. Typical industry contracts may overlook many important points that can provide an acceptable resolution. This paper classifies seven factors causing discrepancies in analysis of adverse weather for time extensions; namely, the definition of normal weather,...
Show moreSevere weather conditions can be disruptive to construction. Contractors typically obtain time extensions for weather days beyond normal conditions. However, contracting parties often dispute the extent of weather-related time extensions. Typical industry contracts may overlook many important points that can provide an acceptable resolution. This paper classifies seven factors causing discrepancies in analysis of adverse weather for time extensions; namely, the definition of normal weather, weather thresholds, type of work, lingering days, criteria for lost days, lost days equivalent due to lost productivity, and work days lost versus calendar days lost. An analysis of an actual weather-caused delay claim illustrates the impacts of those factors on the outcomes of the analysis. A contract should define anticipated weather delay days and their lingering days and provide threshold values for weather parameters to differentiate between predictable and unpredictable severe weather. The contract should clearly define how a time extension is granted in calendar days as a result of work days lost, and also address how a time extension is granted due to inefficiency caused by unusually severe weather. Future research may provide an appropriate mechanism for analyzing equivalent lost days to account for lost productivity.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010-12-01
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000566
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Quantifying the complexity of transportation projects using the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process.
- Creator
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Nguyen, Long, Nguyen, An T., Le-Hoai, Long, Dang, Chau N.
- Abstract / Description
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Transportation projects are increasingly complex. A systematic approach for measuring and evaluating complexity in transportation projects is imperative. Thirty six project complexity factors were identified specifically for transportation construction. Using factor analysis, this study deduced the six components of project complexity, namely sociopolitical, environmental, organizational, infrastructural, technological, and scope complexity. The Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy AHP)...
Show moreTransportation projects are increasingly complex. A systematic approach for measuring and evaluating complexity in transportation projects is imperative. Thirty six project complexity factors were identified specifically for transportation construction. Using factor analysis, this study deduced the six components of project complexity, namely sociopolitical, environmental, organizational, infrastructural, technological, and scope complexity. The Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy AHP) method was employed to determine the weights of the components and parameters of project complexity. Sociopolitical complexity was the most defining component of complexity in transportation construction. A complexity level (CL) was proposed to measure the overall project complexity. The application of the proposed approach was demonstrated in a case study of three transportation projects performed by a heavy construction company. As a quantitative measure CL enables managers to better anticipate potential difficulties in complex transportation projects. As a result, scarce resources will be allocated efficiently among transportation projects in a company’s portfolio.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015-02-28
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000561
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Alternative for Quantifying Field-Overhead Damages.
- Creator
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Nguyen, Long, Ibbs, William
- Abstract / Description
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The context of delays significantly affects delay responsibility. Among other things, recoverable damages for a delay should be related to the timing of the corresponding delay and its effect on indirect costs. This paper presents an alternative and integrated approach for quantifying and apportioning delay responsibility. It considers the context of a delay in terms of its timing and the degree of suspension during the course of a project. The proposed approach allocates project-site...
Show moreThe context of delays significantly affects delay responsibility. Among other things, recoverable damages for a delay should be related to the timing of the corresponding delay and its effect on indirect costs. This paper presents an alternative and integrated approach for quantifying and apportioning delay responsibility. It considers the context of a delay in terms of its timing and the degree of suspension during the course of a project. The proposed approach allocates project-site overhead costs onto schedule activities. It then helps track site overhead damages in a “real-time” manner while schedule-window analysis is employed to analyze the delay. A case study is used to illustrate its application. Results infer that the conventional daily overhead rate-based method can cause double payments because conventional recovery possibly covers parts of field overhead already paid from the original contract. This new approach also enables the application of the comparative negligence doctrine when concurrent delays occur by fairly sharing delay damages between the project parties. Practitioners can employ the proposed approach for reasonably quantifying and apportioning delay damages while researchers may further explore its applications in the industry.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007-10-01
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000568
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- Citation
- Title
- A study on project success factors in large construction projects in Vietnam.
- Creator
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Nguyen, Long, Ogunlana, Stephen O., Lan, Do Thi Xuan
- Abstract / Description
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Large construction projects are inherently complex and dynamic. A comprehensive answer on how to manage such projects successfully is difficult to provide. This paper expounds on the success factors for large construction projects in Vietnam. A survey questionnaire was used to collect data from practitioners. Factor analysis was employed to categorize these success factors perceived by 109 respondents from 42 construction-related organizations. Factor analysis uncovered that these success...
Show moreLarge construction projects are inherently complex and dynamic. A comprehensive answer on how to manage such projects successfully is difficult to provide. This paper expounds on the success factors for large construction projects in Vietnam. A survey questionnaire was used to collect data from practitioners. Factor analysis was employed to categorize these success factors perceived by 109 respondents from 42 construction-related organizations. Factor analysis uncovered that these success factors can be grouped under four categories, here titled the four COMs: comfort, competence, commitment, and communication. The result can be used as a guideline to successfully handle construction projects in Vietnam as well as in other countries, especially in the emerging economies in Asia and the rest of the world.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2004-01-01
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000563
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Concurrent Delays and Apportionment of Damages.
- Creator
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Nguyen, Long, Ibbs, William, Simonian, Lonny
- Abstract / Description
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This paper focuses on the subject of concurrent delay from a general contractor (GC)-subcontractor perspective. When there is a concurrent delay by multiple subcontractors, or between the GC and other subcontractor(s), there has not been a uniform approach as to how the liquidated damages are apportioned. Previous research seems to ignore this issue. This paper first reviews some relevant court cases. Using a warehouse project as a case study, it then examines different practices that the GC...
Show moreThis paper focuses on the subject of concurrent delay from a general contractor (GC)-subcontractor perspective. When there is a concurrent delay by multiple subcontractors, or between the GC and other subcontractor(s), there has not been a uniform approach as to how the liquidated damages are apportioned. Previous research seems to ignore this issue. This paper first reviews some relevant court cases. Using a warehouse project as a case study, it then examines different practices that the GC could take in apportioning damages of concurrent delays to both himself/herself as well as to the responsible subcontractors. Results are very inconsistent between and within the apportionment practices. This supports an alternative hypothesis that apportionment is an important issue. Practitioners should specify which apportionment practice will be used and under what circumstances it will be applied in their subcontracts. Researchers may develop a more consistent and reliable approach for this type of apportionment.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011-02-01
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000565
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Examination of communication processes in design-build project delivery in building construction.
- Creator
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Nguyen, Long, Tran, Dai Q., Faught, Allen
- Abstract / Description
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The construction industry has currently used numerous methods to deliver their projects, including traditional design-bid-build (D-B-B), design-build (D-B), construction management at risk, integrated project delivery, partnering, alliancing, etc. Each project delivery method has its own strengths and weaknesses and there is no single delivery method appropriate for every project. For a specific project, decision makers need to examine the project goals and objectives and other relevant...
Show moreThe construction industry has currently used numerous methods to deliver their projects, including traditional design-bid-build (D-B-B), design-build (D-B), construction management at risk, integrated project delivery, partnering, alliancing, etc. Each project delivery method has its own strengths and weaknesses and there is no single delivery method appropriate for every project. For a specific project, decision makers need to examine the project goals and objectives and other relevant factors to determine how they align with the attributes of each available delivery method. Due to many documented advantages of D-B projects (e.g. shortened project duration, early certainty of project cost, and increased innovation), the D-B project delivery method continues to grow as a viable delivery method in the construction market
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017-02-04
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000560
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Buckling behavior of a graphite/epoxy composite plate under parabolic variation of axial loads.
- Creator
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Badir, Asraf, Hu, Hurang, Abatan, Ayo
- Abstract / Description
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This paper investigates the buckling behavior of a symmetrically laminated composite rectangular plate composed of AS4 graphite fibers and 3501-6 epoxy resin under parabolic variation of axial loads. The plate is assumed to be general anisotropy and symmetric about its mid-plane. Two loading conditions are considered. They are (a) an axial load that varies parabolically with respect to the plate longitudinal direction, and (b) an axial load that varies parabolically with respect to the plate...
Show moreThis paper investigates the buckling behavior of a symmetrically laminated composite rectangular plate composed of AS4 graphite fibers and 3501-6 epoxy resin under parabolic variation of axial loads. The plate is assumed to be general anisotropy and symmetric about its mid-plane. Two loading conditions are considered. They are (a) an axial load that varies parabolically with respect to the plate longitudinal direction, and (b) an axial load that varies parabolically with respect to the plate transverse direction. Analytical solutions of buckling load and mode shape are obtained based on classical laminated plate theory and the Rayleigh–Ritz method. The influences of plate aspect ratio and fiber orientations have been investigated. Some numerical results from the present study are compared with published results and good agreement is found.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2003-06-01
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000608
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Column Analogy in Multi-Cell Structures with Fixed Columns.
- Creator
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Badir, Asraf, Badir, M.
- Abstract / Description
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A procedure is presented for the analysis of multi-cell structures such as multi-span and mul-ti-storey frames by use of the method of column analogy, normally applicable to analysis of single-span and closed frames. The multi-cell structure is first divided into a number of cells each of which can be readily ana-lyzed by column analogy for the applied external loads. A number of simultaneous equations are then written to restore continuity of the isolated cells. Certain moment-coefficients...
Show moreA procedure is presented for the analysis of multi-cell structures such as multi-span and mul-ti-storey frames by use of the method of column analogy, normally applicable to analysis of single-span and closed frames. The multi-cell structure is first divided into a number of cells each of which can be readily ana-lyzed by column analogy for the applied external loads. A number of simultaneous equations are then written to restore continuity of the isolated cells. Certain moment-coefficients are computed also by column analogy, and used in writing the continuity equations. Solution of these equations yields moment corrections which are superimposed to the moments of the isolated cells to arrive at the final bending moments of the multi-cell structure. The procedure is presented for the analysis of frames with fixed columns, and is applied for the analysis of three examples in order to illustrate the details of the solution. Results obtained are in excellent agreement with values calculated using the stiffness method.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012-01-01
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000606
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Effect of project complexity on cost and schedule performance in transportation projects.
- Creator
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Nguyen, Long, Le-Hoai, Long, Tran, Dai Q., Dang, Chau N., Nguyen, Chau V.
- Abstract / Description
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Project complexity is a contributing factor to project performance. Understanding how project complexity interacts with management actions and project performance is imperative. This study fills this knowledge gap by empirically exploring the relationship between construction project complexity and project performance and their interaction with resource allocation. Empirical data were collected from 79 transportation projects. Due to its capability to build several regression models by adding...
Show moreProject complexity is a contributing factor to project performance. Understanding how project complexity interacts with management actions and project performance is imperative. This study fills this knowledge gap by empirically exploring the relationship between construction project complexity and project performance and their interaction with resource allocation. Empirical data were collected from 79 transportation projects. Due to its capability to build several regression models by adding independent variables to previous models, moderated hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to identify the underlying effect of resource allocation on the project complexity and performance relationship. The results show that: (i) project complexity was significantly correlated with schedule growth (positive correlation) but not significantly correlated with cost growth; (ii) resource allocation was significantly correlated with schedule growth (negative correlation) but not with cost growth; and (iii) resource allocation had a buffering effect where increasing resource allocation significantly decreases the effect of project complexity on schedule growth. The findings from this study contribute to the extant literature on construction project complexity by empirically showing that the impact of project complexity on schedule performance interacts with the level of resource allocation. This understanding of the role of resource allocation may help construction managers and engineers to better administer and manage their complex transportation projects. The findings also imply that organizations should appropriately evaluate project complexity to allocate necessary resources to achieve project success.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018-11-19
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000559
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Quantified Impacts of Project Change.
- Creator
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Nguyen, Long, Ibbs, William, Lee, Seulkee
- Abstract / Description
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Changes almost always occur on construction projects. Among other things, they can hurt labor productivity. The relationship between change and labor productivity, though commonly acknowledged, is not well understood. In this paper, such causal linkages are illustrated to capture the interactions of changes, disruptions, productivity losses, and the responsible parties. They go an extra step from the current mechanism of changes, disruptions, and inefficiency to underline the critical role of...
Show moreChanges almost always occur on construction projects. Among other things, they can hurt labor productivity. The relationship between change and labor productivity, though commonly acknowledged, is not well understood. In this paper, such causal linkages are illustrated to capture the interactions of changes, disruptions, productivity losses, and the responsible parties. They go an extra step from the current mechanism of changes, disruptions, and inefficiency to underline the critical role of causing parties in cumulative impacts. From these causal linkages it is visible that: (1) even when disruptions are initially caused by one party (e.g., the owner), the other party (e.g., the contractor) may be able to reduce or escalate the disruptions and inefficiency throughout the course of work; and (2) productivity losses rarely result from a single causing factor but multiple and concurrent ones for which both parties can be responsible. Also, the methods available for quantifying lost productivity are systemized in this paper to visualize relationships among uncertainty, effort and expertise to use, and the level of contemporaneous project documentation required of these methods. A conceptual framework is also proposed herein to help project participants match the relevant quantifying analysis with their project circumstances.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007-01-01
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000570
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Simulating Construction Duration for Multistory Buildings with Controlling Activities.
- Creator
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Nguyen, Long, Phan, Duc H, Tang, Llewellyn C. M.
- Abstract / Description
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Construction schedules are uncertain in nature; therefore, predicting construction duration is a difficult task. Extensive research has proposed mathematical models to predict construction duration based on regression analysis, Monte Carlo method (MCM), and so on. Yet regression analysis cannot capture duration uncertainties. Studies normally use Monte Carlo methods to simulate hundreds to thousands of activities in a project schedule. This can be complicated, time-consuming, and unrealistic...
Show moreConstruction schedules are uncertain in nature; therefore, predicting construction duration is a difficult task. Extensive research has proposed mathematical models to predict construction duration based on regression analysis, Monte Carlo method (MCM), and so on. Yet regression analysis cannot capture duration uncertainties. Studies normally use Monte Carlo methods to simulate hundreds to thousands of activities in a project schedule. This can be complicated, time-consuming, and unrealistic because the statistical properties of all the activities cannot be readily determined in practice. Typical construction sequences in condominium building construction were first identified, and then the statistical distributions of controlling activities on the sequences were surveyed. Two-stage questionnaire surveys and goodness-of-fit statistical tests were conducted to achieve the mentioned objectives. Subsequently, a model for predicting the duration of building construction was proposed and applied to a high-rise building project. The results showed that the proposed model reasonably predicted the construction duration for this apartment building. The model fills the gap in knowledge of construction time forecast by introducing the concept of controlling activities to simplify the evaluation of the schedule uncertainty in multistory building construction. This research is beneficial for practitioners to estimate an overall construction schedule of building projects, especially in preconstruction phases.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013-07-01
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000564
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Modeling the Dynamics of an Infrastructure Project.
- Creator
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Nguyen, Long, Ogunlana, Stephen O.
- Abstract / Description
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Contractors frequently encounter various problems during project construction, even when properly employing traditional project management techniques and tools. These problems result in low project performance and poor project outcome. A dynamic simulation model is proposed to capture the dynamics of construction projects in the construction phase. Eight key feedback structures from previous models of project dynamics and the unique characteristics of construction projects are identified as...
Show moreContractors frequently encounter various problems during project construction, even when properly employing traditional project management techniques and tools. These problems result in low project performance and poor project outcome. A dynamic simulation model is proposed to capture the dynamics of construction projects in the construction phase. Eight key feedback structures from previous models of project dynamics and the unique characteristics of construction projects are identified as dynamic hypotheses. They include the structures of labor, equipment, material, labor and equipment interaction, schedule, rework, safety, and quality. Subsequently, a formal simulation model is mathematically formulated in terms of stock and flow diagrams. The model is then calibrated into a real project under construction. Part of testing indicates that the simulated behavior of the model and the actual behavior of the project are similar. This implies that the model is able to simulate the dynamics of the project and, consequently, to enhance project monitoring and control.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005-07-01
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000571
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Assessment of the Computing Component of Civil Engineering Education.
- Creator
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O'Neill, Robert, Abudayyeh, Osama, Cai, Hubo, Fenves, Steven J., Law, Kincho, Rasdorf, William
- Abstract / Description
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This paper presents the results of two surveys conducted by the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Task Committee on Computing Education of the Technical Council on Computing and Information Technology to assess the current computing component of the curriculum in civil engineering. Previous surveys completed in 1989 and 1995 have addressed the question of what should be taught to civil engineering students regarding computing. The surveys reported in this paper are a follow-up study to the...
Show moreThis paper presents the results of two surveys conducted by the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Task Committee on Computing Education of the Technical Council on Computing and Information Technology to assess the current computing component of the curriculum in civil engineering. Previous surveys completed in 1989 and 1995 have addressed the question of what should be taught to civil engineering students regarding computing. The surveys reported in this paper are a follow-up study to the two earlier surveys. Key findings of the study include: (1) the relative importance of the top four skills (spreadsheets, word processors, computer aided-design, electronic communication) has remained unchanged; (2) programming competence is ranked very low by practitioners; (3) the importance and use of geographic information system and specialized engineering software have increased over the past decade; (4) the importance and use of expert systems have significantly decreased over the past decade; and (5) the importance and use of equation solvers and databases have declined over the past decade.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2004-07-01
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000573
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Schedule Analysis under the Effect of Resource Allocation.
- Creator
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Nguyen, Long, Ibbs, William
- Abstract / Description
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The construction industry has employed various schedule analysis techniques to support delay claims. Paradoxically, resource-related issues are frequently ignored even though they can affect project completion time, too. The research presented here shows that delay analysis without resource allocation practice substantially affects results of schedule analysis. Some delay can cause unrealistic resource allocation in downstream work, which in turn may further delay the project. The effect of...
Show moreThe construction industry has employed various schedule analysis techniques to support delay claims. Paradoxically, resource-related issues are frequently ignored even though they can affect project completion time, too. The research presented here shows that delay analysis without resource allocation practice substantially affects results of schedule analysis. Some delay can cause unrealistic resource allocation in downstream work, which in turn may further delay the project. The effect of resource allocation can either add to or reduce the severity of some delaying event. Apportionment of delay responsibility may be inaccurate unless resource allocation practice is considered in the analysis. Practical and necessary steps are proposed to enhance the existing window analysis technique. A case study is presented to compare the enhanced window analysis with the existing window analysis. This research enables practitioners to make delay analyses and claims more practical and reliable. Further studies are needed to improve the usability, credibility, and acceptability of schedule analysis considering resource allocation.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007-02-01
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000569
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Large construction projects in developing countries: a case study from Vietnam.
- Creator
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Nguyen, Long, Ogunlana, Stephen O., Quang, Truong, Lam, Ka Chi
- Abstract / Description
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Although various studies have been undertaken into the factors affecting delays, cost overruns, quality, safety, and productivity, etc. and other problems in specific types of projects, these studies seldom discuss common and general problems of construction projects. Thus, comprehensive studies on these problems are essential. Since the problems are rather contextual, the studies need to focus on a specific geographical area, country or region. This paper presents problems of large...
Show moreAlthough various studies have been undertaken into the factors affecting delays, cost overruns, quality, safety, and productivity, etc. and other problems in specific types of projects, these studies seldom discuss common and general problems of construction projects. Thus, comprehensive studies on these problems are essential. Since the problems are rather contextual, the studies need to focus on a specific geographical area, country or region. This paper presents problems of large construction projects in Vietnam. Data analysis revealed that the problems could be grouped under five major factors: (1) incompetent designers/contractors, (2) poor estimation and change management, (3) social and technological issues, (4) site related issues, and (5) improper techniques and tools.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2004-10-01
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000572
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Visualization of road geometries based on CADD design standards.
- Creator
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Villiers, Claude, Yan, Xuedong, Guo, Dahai, Zalewski, Janusz
- Abstract / Description
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This research introduces a software solution to enable roadway designers to visualize their roads with minimum manual work. Roads appear as lines and arcs in roadway design software. Their visualization with colors can help achieve better natural understanding of road geometries. However, road visualization is such a time-consuming process that it has not been conducted on the regular basis in the practice of roadway design. The software solution described in this article can automatically...
Show moreThis research introduces a software solution to enable roadway designers to visualize their roads with minimum manual work. Roads appear as lines and arcs in roadway design software. Their visualization with colors can help achieve better natural understanding of road geometries. However, road visualization is such a time-consuming process that it has not been conducted on the regular basis in the practice of roadway design. The software solution described in this article can automatically visualize roadway designs, based on Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) design standards.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010-04-01
- Identifier
- fgcu_ir_000574
- Format
- Citation