• Title/Summary/Keyword: Engineering professionals

Search Result 364, Processing Time 0.026 seconds

Small Unmanned Aerial System (SUAS) for Automating Concrete Crack Monitoring: Initial Development

  • Kang, Julian;Lho, B.C.;Kim, J.W.;Nam, S.H.
    • International conference on construction engineering and project management
    • /
    • 2015.10a
    • /
    • pp.310-312
    • /
    • 2015
  • Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS) have been gaining a special attention in the U.S. recently because it is capable of getting aerial footages conveniently and cost effectively, but also because of its potential threat to the safety of our society. Regarding the benefits, one can easily find successful cases. For example, remote controlled or pre-programmed unmanned aircraft help ranch owners monitor their livestocks or crop harvesting status cost-effectively without having to hire human pilots. The professionals in the construction industry also acknowledge the benefits they could gain from using SUAS. Some firms already use a small unmanned aircraft for monitoring their construction activities, which may help project managers figure out construction progress, resolve disputes in real time, and make proactive decisions for quality control. However, there are many technical challenges that my hinder the use of small unmanned aircraft in the construction industry. This paper explores opportunities and challenges in using unmanned aircraft to monitor concrete cracks on the surface of containment building in the nuclear power plant.

  • PDF

Reinforced-Concrete Works Productivity Analysis on Nuclear-Power-Plant Project

  • Lim, Jin-Ho;Huh, Young-Ki;Oh, Jae-Hun;Seo, Hyeon-Taek
    • International conference on construction engineering and project management
    • /
    • 2015.10a
    • /
    • pp.600-601
    • /
    • 2015
  • Both the importance and process of estimating Nuclear-power plant construction time and cost have increased in significance as energy user costs themselves have become more significant. In estimating construction time, few parameters are more significant than work item production rates and factors significantly affecting the rates. A standardized data collection tool was used to acquire a total of 401 data points from a S Nuclear-power plant project, for selected critical works: form-work, rebar-work, and concrete-pouring. With the data, several hypothesized drivers of the man-hour production rates and crew-day production rates were also analyzed. Findings from this study will enable industry professionals to enhance accuracy of time and cost estimation for nuclear power plant construction.

  • PDF

RELATIONSHIP-BASED PROCUREMENT METHODS FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE - THE WAY FORWARD

  • Jian Zuo;Xiao-Hua Jin;Mark McDonald
    • International conference on construction engineering and project management
    • /
    • 2011.02a
    • /
    • pp.124-131
    • /
    • 2011
  • Public infrastructure is crucial to promote and sustain a sustainable economic growth and a health community. A large amount of capital investment is generally required in infrastructure projects that motivate the involvement of the private sector in the delivery process. Various relationship-based procurement methods have been attempted to maximize value-for-money. In this paper, the problems and challenges that relationship-based procurement methods have been facing are explored. A particular focus is placed on the challenges for the public-private partnership (PPP) model. Possible strategies for adapting the PPP models in the post-Global Financial Crisis era are proposed and discussed. In addition, the challenges facing alliancing, which is one of the other important relationship-based procurement methods, are also examined. Views on infrastructure procurement in the future were sought from industry professionals via interviews and are reported in this paper as well.

  • PDF

The Effects of Online Real-time Constuctivist Practical Trainings in an IT Company (IT 기업의 구성주의 교수학습환경 기반 실시간 온라인 실습 교육 효과 분석)

  • Ahn, Seulki;Lee, Myunggeun
    • Journal of Engineering Education Research
    • /
    • v.27 no.2
    • /
    • pp.25-34
    • /
    • 2024
  • Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it seems to have been impossible to run offline training courses. To overcome this situation, online training courses has been emerged. Just moving the educational environment from offline to online instead of re-designing the curriculum, however, is not effective for trainees. To maximize educational effectiveness, it is necessary to re-design the curriculum based on constructivist appoach which gives trainees experience on skills and knowledge about their job. As for re-designing the curriculum into real-time online practical learning based on constructivism, learning satisfaction and work efficacy of trainees may have been increased. From these results, HRD professionals in an IT company should need to consider how to structure the curriculum when they design the real-time online practical learnings.

Safety Education in the Curriculum of Construction Programs

  • Awolusi, Ibukun;Sulbaran, Tulio;Song, Siyuan;Nnaji, Chukwuma;Ostadalimakhmalbaf, Mohammadreza
    • International conference on construction engineering and project management
    • /
    • 2022.06a
    • /
    • pp.508-515
    • /
    • 2022
  • Construction safety education will continue to attract the interests of construction educators, researchers, and industry professionals due to its immense influence on accident reduction and prevention. A well-educated workforce with a thorough understanding of safety requirements and procedures is needed to develop and apply effective safety and health programs as well as devise strategic means of preventing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities on construction projects. The objective of this research is to evaluate construction safety education in the curriculum of construction programs in the United States. An analysis of construction safety courses across accredited construction programs in the U.S. is conducted to synthesize important details and common themes. A nationwide characterization of the safety courses presented followed by an assessment selected a few programs as a pilot study. Critical elements of the courses such as course titles, course year, credit hours, topics covered, and alignment with professional certification or outreach training courses are characterized. Findings from the study reveal the similarities and variations that exist among safety courses taught in different construction programs in the U.S. These findings could result from several influencing factors, which could be the subject of further investigations geared toward improving safety education in construction programs.

  • PDF

Comparing the Operation Cost of Washington Safety Rest Areas with Other States Using Performance-Based Method

  • Shrestha, Kishor;Berg, Alix;Tafazzoli, Mohammadsoroush;Kisi, Krishna
    • International conference on construction engineering and project management
    • /
    • 2022.06a
    • /
    • pp.640-648
    • /
    • 2022
  • In the United States, the Safety Rest Areas (SRAs) were introduced as highway roadside infrastructures in the early 1900s. The State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) operate/maintain their SRAs using different methods. The Washington DOT used the in-house workforce method for over 20 years, whereas some states moved to Performance-Based Contracting (PBC) from the in-house workforce to save cost primarily. Several existing studies claimed that using the PBC approach saved costs on several highway assets. Thus, the principal objective of this study is to compute and compare the unit operating/maintenance cost of SRAs using the in-house workforce method (in Washington state) with the PBC approach (in other states). The findings of this study show that the average annual cost using the PBC approach was much more than the average annual cost using the in-house workforce approach. The findings also show that in Washington state, the 'Labor Cost' category was a key expenditure, which is statistically higher than other categories. The 'Labor Cost' was followed by the 'Other Services', and then 'Materials and Supplies' and 'Equipment.' The study's findings indicated that outsourcing does not always save costs for agencies. The study findings may help transportation construction/maintenance professionals select a cost-effective approach for their future planning.

  • PDF

The Impact of Fatigue on Hazard Recognition: An Objective Pilot Study

  • Ibrahim, Abdullahi;Okpala, Ifeanyi;Nnaji, Chukwuma;Namian, Mostafa;Koh, Amanda
    • International conference on construction engineering and project management
    • /
    • 2022.06a
    • /
    • pp.450-457
    • /
    • 2022
  • The construction industry is demanding, dynamic, and complex making it difficult for workers to recognize hazards. The nature of construction tasks exposes workers to several critical risk factors, such as a high rate of exertion and fatigue. Recent studies suggest that fatigue may impact hazard recognition in the construction industry. However, most studies rely on subjective measures when assessing the relationship between physical fatigue and hazard recognition, limiting such studies' efficacy. Thus, this study examined the relationship between physical fatigue and hazard recognition using a controlled experiment. Worker fatigue levels were captured using physiological data and a subjective exertion scale. The findings confirmed that physical exertion plays a significant role in hazard recognition skills (p < 0.05). This research contributes to theory and practice by providing a process for objectively assessing the influence of physical fatigue on worker safety and providing construction professionals with some critical insight needed to improve workplace safety.

  • PDF

Analysis of BIM Impact on Preventing Rework in Construction Phase (시공단계 BIM 적용에 의한 재시공 방지 효과분석)

  • Lee, Myung-Do;Cha, Min-Su;Lee, Ung-Kyun
    • Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
    • /
    • v.18 no.2
    • /
    • pp.169-176
    • /
    • 2018
  • The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of applying BIM to the construction phase on preventing rework. Previous studies have presented the contribution of BIM in various ways, but a more practical and reliable analysis methodology are required. In this study, a BIM effect analysis methodology was proposed after collecting requirements on BIM effect analysis from field professionals. In the case study, the rework prevention effect was analyzed based on the proposed methodology. As a result, it was found that BIM application produced the rework prevention effect of approximately KRW 370,519,593. In addition, a consultation with field professionals on the suitability of the proposed methodology and effect analysis results were revealed that the results were sufficiently reliable. The results of this study can be used as efficient basic materials for research on BIM performance measurement in the future.

Relationship of Occupational Category With Risk of Physical and Mental Health Problems

  • Ahn, Jaeouk;Kim, Nam-Soo;Lee, Byung-Kook;Park, Jungsun;Kim, Yangho
    • Safety and Health at Work
    • /
    • v.10 no.4
    • /
    • pp.504-511
    • /
    • 2019
  • Objectives: We evaluated the physical and mental health problems of waged workers in Korea who had different classes of occupation. Methods: We used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2017) to examine 22,788 workers who were waged employees and categorized these workers into 5 occupational classes. Results: "Unskilled manual workers" were more likely to be older, less educated, have lower monthly income, and work fewer hours per week. Among men and relative to "managers and professionals" (reference group), "skilled manual workers" were more likely to have physician-diagnosed osteoarthritis, "clerks" were less likely to report suicidal ideation, and "unskilled manual workers" were more likely to report suicidal ideation. Among women and relative to "managers and professionals" (reference group), "service and sales workers" and "unskilled manual workers" were more likely to report physician-diagnosed osteoarthritis, depressive feelings, and suicidal ideation. However, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases did not differ among the occupational classes for men and women. Conclusion: We identified differences between men and women and among those in different occupational classes regarding employment status, physical health, and mental health. "Unskilled manual workers" of both genders were more likely to be older, less educated, have less monthly income, work fewer hours per week, and have suicidal ideation. Female "service and sales workers" were more likely to have osteoarthritis, depressive feelings, and suicidal ideation.

A Study on the Design Evaluation Indicators and Improvements of Urban Public Space (도시 공공공간 디자인 평가 지표 도출 및 개선 방안 연구)

  • Lee, Hoon-Gill;Lee, Joo-Hyung
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
    • /
    • v.16 no.11
    • /
    • pp.8021-8029
    • /
    • 2015
  • This study obtains design assessment indexes that should be considered in order to improvements of the public space was to analysis the importance in the public officials/academics and practitioners side. Obtained assessment topics in accordance with characteristic of public space through previous research to them and after a detailed selection indicators was so lead through the FGI. Derived surface was subjected to the significance analysis AHP through the survey expert. For this study, the importance of the public space are working professionals usability, publicness, environment, connectivity, identity, spatiality the order, public officials/academics usability, environment, connectivity, identity, spatiality, publicness the order. In addition, professionals working in the comprehensive analysis of the most important priority was to recognize safety, public officials/academics of the most important element appeared to have cleanliness. The results obtained in this study will be used as an index that can be used in planning and evaluation for consideration of the next improvement of public space.