scholarly journals ESTABLISHING ENGINEERING S-CURVES TO EVALUATE SUPERVISION ENGINEER ALLOCATIONS FOR HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 890-902
Author(s):  
Shih-Hsu WANG ◽  
Wei-Chih WANG ◽  
Pei-Yuan HSU ◽  
Ci-Hao CHEN ◽  
Kun-Chi WANG
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Highway Construction ◽  
Stage Model ◽  
Planning Stage ◽  
Curve Model ◽  
Key Factor

An engineering consultant firm needs to allocate engineers to supervise a highway construction project in each month during the construction phase. Properly assigning the supervision engineers under a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract has been a key factor affecting the profitability of the firm and the quality assurance of the project. Assigning too many engineers will be a waste, while allocating too few engineers may harm the supervision quality. This work proposes a two-stage model to develop engineering S-curves (called ES-curves) for planning and controlling the engineering super­vision schedule. In the planning stage, a predictive ES-curve model is established based on historical ES-curves. In the controlling stage, an ES-curve is built according to the relationships between the engineering progress and construction progress. A cluster analysis and regression analysis are applied to the model development. A case study demonstrates that the produced ES-curves can help management in planning and evaluating when to increase or decrease the number of supervision engineers assigned to a project.

PCA Model and Case Study for Coastal Highway Construction Projects

2019 ◽  
Vol 94 (sp1) ◽  
pp. 191
Author(s):  
Wentian Gao ◽  
Jiayi Song ◽  
Wei Guo
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Highway Construction

A systematic approach to error isolation in computerized wastewater simulation models

2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (7) ◽  
pp. 367-376
Author(s):  
J. A. Lennox ◽  
Z. Yuan ◽  
J. Harmand
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Model Structure ◽  
Simulation Data ◽  
Treatment Processes ◽  
Activated Sludge Models

Activated sludge models are used extensively in the study of wastewater treatment processes. While various commercial implementations of these models are available, there are many people who need to code models themselves using the simulation packages available to them. Quality assurance of such models is difficult. While benchmarking problems have been developed and are available, the comparison of simulation data with that of commercial models leads only to the detection, not the isolation of errors. To identify the errors in the code is time-consuming. In this paper, we address the problem by developing a systematic and largely automated approach to the isolation of coding errors. There are three steps: firstly, possible errors are classified according to their place in the model structure and a feature matrix is established for each class of errors. Secondly, an observer is designed to generate residuals, such that each class of errors imposes a subspace, spanned by its feature matrix, on the residuals. Finally, localising the residuals in a subspace isolates coding errors. The algorithm proved capable of rapidly and reliably isolating a variety of single and simultaneous errors in a case study using the ASM1 activated sludge model. In this paper a newly coded model was verified against a known implementation. The method is also applicable to simultaneous verification of any two independent implementations, hence is useful in commercial model development.

scholarly journals Mathematical Techniques Employed in Planning a Construction Project: Case Study on the Construction of Retaining Walls

2016 ◽  
pp. 41-47
Author(s):  
Merrick Marvin
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Retaining Walls ◽  
Work Breakdown Structure ◽  
Comprehensive Plan ◽  
Complete Failure ◽  
Mathematical Techniques ◽  
Key Steps ◽  
And Control

The importance of planning and designing in construction projects is most apparent during the implementation of the respective activities; whereas the implications that normally arise from poorly controlled activities often result in overspending, delays, substandard products or complete failure of the project. There is the need for a comprehensive plan during the execution and control of construction activities; this is more so when the project is considered to be complicated by a variety of objectives. By employing mathematical techniques to the planning and designing of a project, it is theorized that this will enhance the administration of those matters influencing the project parameters of cost, time, quality and scope. The idea is applied to the study of a real project that involves the construction of retaining walls, so to justify the key steps in planning, moreover to integrate the parameters via mathematical techniques so to define the project baseline plan: inferential statistics applied in quality assurance, linear programming applied in the work breakdown structure, and decision theory applied in the networking/scheduling.

Regionalizing the Quality Assurance Processes in New England Area for Pre-Stressed and Precast Concrete Elements used in Highway Construction

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (8) ◽  
pp. 544-553
Author(s):  
Rasool Nemati ◽  
Eshan V. Dave ◽  
Jo E. Sias ◽  
Alan D. Perkins
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
New England ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Precast Concrete ◽  
Highway Construction ◽  
Acceptance Testing ◽  
Highway Infrastructure ◽  
Lower Productivity ◽  
Concrete Elements

The use of quality assurance (QA) processes in highway infrastructure is critical to ensure durable, safe, and economical transportation operations. These processes ensure the desired level of quality is maintained throughout manufacturing. Precast and pre-stressed concrete elements are commonly used in highway construction projects, including many bridge elements and drainage components. Owing to their widespread usage, it is necessary to have a comprehensive QA process that includes plant certification, manufacturer’s process and quality control, and agency inspection and acceptance testing. In many cases, one manufacturing plant will serve a region, fabricating a variety of elements for many state departments of transportation (DOTs). Since different state DOTs may have different QA processes in their specifications, the plants need to adjust the fabrication process with respect to these criteria, which results in higher expenses and lower productivity. Furthermore, each agency will need to provide inspection and acceptance testing resources at a fabricator’s location. This study reviews and evaluates the current QA processes for precast and pre-stressed concrete elements used in highway construction in the New England region. Based on a review of current practices, a set of unified QA process recommendations have been developed. This will result in significant financial savings by reducing the number of QA inspectors if the manufacturers for different construction projects around the region follow a unified procedure for maintaining and evaluating the quality of their products. Recommendations for plant/producer prequalification, pre-placement, during placement, and post-placement quality control and agency inspection practices have been developed and are presented.

Characterizing air pollutant emissions for highway construction projects

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Rasdorf ◽  
Phil Lewis ◽  
Ingrid Arocho ◽  
Joseph Hummer
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Highway Construction ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Real World Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Project Size

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to characterize the relationships between air pollutant emissions from heavy duty diesel equipment and highway construction project scope, schedule, and budget. Objectives included estimating total project emissions; developing a daily emissions profile; and developing new emissions estimating metrics based on project scope, schedule, and budget. Design/methodology/approach – The research approach involved collecting real-world data related to project scope, schedule, and budget from two highway case study projects. The data were used to establish an emissions inventory estimating methodology to calculate total emissions for each case study. The total emissions were normalized based on project size, duration, and cost in order to develop new emissions estimating metrics. Findings – The results proved that it is possible to characterize total equipment emissions based on project size, duration, and cost. The new emissions estimating metrics were quantitatively similar for both case studies. Research limitations/implications – The results were based on two case study projects. Additional data from more projects is needed to provide more highly refined numerical results. Practical implications – This approach enables project planners and managers to assess the environmental impacts of highway projects along with the financial and time impacts. Social implications – Construction equipment is a major contributor to the nation’s air pollution problem. Before pollutant emissions can be managed they must first be measured. Originality/value – The new emissions estimating metrics are a novel approach to comparing environmental impacts of two or more projects, as well as estimating total emissions for future highway construction projects.

scholarly journals Control of construction projects using the Earned Value Method - case study

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 186-195
Author(s):  
Krystyna Araszkiewicz ◽  
Magdalena Bochenek
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Key Management ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
Earned Value ◽  
Control Cost ◽  
Planning Stage ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

AbstractPlanning, controlling, monitoring progress are key management functions for effective implementation of construction projects. Commonly used instruments enabling performance of these functions include schedules and budgets, often in the form of a cost estimate. They are created at the initial planning stage to monitor and control cost and time deviations. Moreover, popular monitoring techniques are, for example, observation of milestones and comparative analysis of actual versus planned costs. This article presents a work progress control tool - the Earned Value Method (EVM) - which, despite its benefits, remains relatively unused in construction projects. The impact of the planning phase on the results obtained during the monitoring and control phase when utilizing EVM is discussed. This case study provides practical examples of using EVM in the implementation of construction projects and with the use of computer software. The novelty of the article results from the introduction of additional sensitivity analysis illustrating the impact of factors, such as an increase in costs or a change in delivery dates to the course of deviation curves. Use of sensitivity analysis in relation to the results of the CPI and SPI calculations affords combining control of costs and time with risk monitoring in the project. The findings reveal significant benefits in using EVM to implement construction projects but also highlight some important limitations.

Optimized Construction Equipment Allocation Method for Highway Construction Projects

2013 ◽  
Vol 671-674 ◽  
pp. 3120-3125
Author(s):  
Jaeh Yun Choi ◽  
Ho Jeong Song
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Highway Construction ◽  
Construction Equipment ◽  
Equipment Selection ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Equipment Utilization ◽  
Major Factors

Highway construction projects are divided into new roadway construction and rehabilitation projects. In Korea total contract value of highway construction projects was over $2 Billion in 2011, which took over 24% of the total budget of the Korea Highway Corporation, and the volume is expected to be increase due to many rehabilitation projects for the existing roadways. Highway construction is known as a collection of linear and repetitive operations that are highly equipment intensive. Typically, construction equipment costs made up to 40% of the total construction costs on the highway construction projects. Therefore, construction cost and time for the highway construction projects are highly dependent upon the effective usage of construction equipment. In other words, the utilization of construction equipment has a great impact on the entire construction process and the optimal selection of the equipment becomes the key factor to the project success. However, most construction projects rely on experience or intuition without proper consideration or planning when it comes to select construction equipment. This research involves analyzing current equipment utilization to identify the major factors affecting equipment selection process for the asphalt pavement operation with the help of a computer simulation technique. The methodology developed can replace educated-guessing in the planning process for the equipment selection process.

Faculty Development: A Stage Model Matched to Blended Learning Maturation

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L. Fetters ◽  
Tova Garcia Duby
Keyword(s):  
Faculty Development ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Technology Enhanced Learning ◽  
Stage Model ◽  
Years Of Experience ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Curriculum Innovation ◽  
Enhanced Learning

Faculty development programs are critical to the implementation and support of curriculum innovation. In this case study, the authors present lessons learned from ten years of experience in faculty development programs created to support innovation in technology enhanced learning. Stages of curriculum innovation are matched to stages of faculty development, and important lessons for success as well as current challenges are delineated and discussed.

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