Comparison of Personality Traits among Estimators, Project Managers, and the Population

The intuitive hypothesis that Construction Management Professionals (CMP) must have a high level of people skills implies that they should be different than the population at large in terms of people skills. In addition, estimators do not deal with as many people as project managers; therefore, they may not have/need as high of people skills as project managers. This paper tests these hypotheses through the analysis of 47 personality traits of 102 experienced applicants for construction management positions and compares this analysis to the traits of the overall population. The analysis suggested that (1) CMP were significantly different from the general population in 34 traits, and they were not significantly different in 13 other traits; (2) construction estimators and project managers were not significantly different except in two traits: human services and gregariousness

Case History of Microtunneling through a Very Soft Soil Condition

Waikiki Public Bath Force Main Replacement Project consists of 1,037 m of 400 mm force main that carries the wastewater from the Public Bath pump station to a gravity sewer on the Kuhio Avenue. This force main transports wastewater underneath Kalakaua Ave, very close to some of the most expensive real state in the world. This area is the heart of Waikiki beach, and it is full of beach resorts, five star hotels, shopping, etc. The soil strata can be described as 2.50 to 3.00 m deep of beach sand on top of half a meter of a very hard coral ledge on top of a lagoon deposit layer (very soft gray fat clay). The NSPT values in this lagoon deposit layer range from zero to eight. The specified construction method for this project was microtunneling of 700 mm of Permalok steel casing with a 400 mm PVC carrier pipe inside the casing. The annular space between the two pipes was grouted with low density grout. Many problems were encountered during the construction phase of this project. This paper is a retrospective review of the project from the contractor’s point of view. It covers the design and construction aspects of this project in addition to the encountered problems and the lessons learned from that project

Impact of Prevailing Wages on the Cost among the Various Construction Trades

In 1997, the Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 102 which established the Ohio School Facilities Commission as a separate agency to oversee the rebuilding projects of the public schools in Ohio. The bill also exempted the construction contractors from paying prevailing wages on these projects on the hypothesis that this exemption would lower the construction cost. The purpose of this study is to investigate this hypothesis through the statistical analysis of 8,093 bids received from the years 2000 through 2007 for the schools’ construction. Union contractors who paid their workers union wages and non-union contractors who did not pay prevailing wages bid these projects. The hypothesis, that prevailing wage laws increased the construction cost, was tested by comparing the bids/ SF (square foot) from both groups (union and nonunion) for the different construction trades. The study indicated that there was statistical significant difference between the bids/square foot for union contractors and the bids/square foot for non-union contractors for only the following trades: earthwork, existing conditions, plumbing, electrical and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning). The averages of bids/SF from the union contractors were higher than those from the non-union contractors for earthwork, existing conditions and plumbing works, and the opposite for electrical and HVAC works. There was no statistical significant difference in the bids from the communications, concrete, conveying equipment, electronic safety and security, equipment, finishes, fire suppression, furnishings, masonry, openings, structural steel, thermal and moisture protection, plastics and composites and wood works

Comparison of Union and Non-Union Bids on Ohio School Facilities Commission Construction Projects

In 1997, the Ohio senate passed Senate Bill 102 which established the Ohio School Facilities Commission as a separate agency to oversee the rebuilding projects of the public schools in Ohio. To lower the construction cost, the bill exempted construction contractors from paying prevailing wages on these projects based on the hypothesis that this exemption would save the Ohio tax payer 10.7%. Many other studies concluded that these savings would range from 1.5 to 26%. The purpose of this research was to investigate this hypothesis through the statistical analysis of 8093 bids received for the schools’ construction from the years 2000 through 2007. Union contractors- who paid their workers union wages-and non-union contractors- who did not pay prevailing wages- bid these projects. By comparing the bids/SF from both groups (union and nonunion), the hypothesis was tested. The research indicated that there was no significant difference between the bids for union contractors and the bids for non-union contractors

The effect of pipe bursting on nearby utilities, pavement, and structures

This dissertation has involved field and analytical studies of ground movements, ground vibrations and other design issues associated with trenchless pipe replacement (or pipe bursting, as it is commonly known). The process is used to replace an existing underground service pipe with a completely new pipe but without the disturbance and cost of excavating a trench from the surface. The process typically involves the insertion of a tool into the existing pipe that has a maximum diameter that is slightly larger than the existing pipe. This tool is used to break the existing pipe into pieces and to displace the pieces and neighboring soil outwards into the surrounding ground while a new pipe is installed behind the tool. There are several variations of the process with different approaches to various aspects of the breakage and replacement. The trenchless pipe replacement offers advantages of low cost, reduced surface disturbance, and the ability to replace an old pipe with a new pipe of equal or larger diameter and capacity Concerns about the use of the method have centered principally on the ground movements and vibrations produced by the technique--particularly when existing pipe is being replaced by a larger diameter pipe-- and also on any damage experienced by the replacement pipe as it is being pulled into the ground. By further development of the understanding of the effects of the process and by refining the safe limits for the replacement process in terms of soil type, groundwater conditions, type of pipe being burst, degree of up-sizing, proximity to existing services, depth below the street, etc., it is expected that many of the concerns expressed by owners and consultants about the use of the techniques will be allayed and attention directed to the particular circumstances where special precautions need to be used. The cost advantages inherent in on-line replacement over open-cut replacement in many circumstances, and the resulting potential growth of this market, make the improved understanding of ground movements and impacts on adjacent structures well worthwhile

Current State Of Wireless Information Technology In The Construction Industry In Ohio

Construction projects are increasingly getting complex and fragmented in nature, yet contractors persistently face shortened project durations and reduced budgets. Timely delivery of accurate and reliable information among all project participants is critical and important because information is the foundation upon which decisions are made and projects are estimated, planned, monitored, and controlled. Recent developments in technology promise to introduce efficiencies that were not previously available to the industry. This study seeks to identify the current state of wireless information technology through the analysis of quantitative data from a web-based survey that represents the views of the respondents on the usage and interest in wireless technology. The study suggests that the level of interest in wireless technology is much higher than the level of use. Wireless technology enhanced the skills, productivity, and customer service of the participants, but did not improve their ability to negotiate projects and monitor project costs. The respondents believe that the return on investment is not a barrier; slow download speeds and durability are the largest barriers keeping people from using wireless technology

Design and Construction Cost of a Water Line Underneath I-75 in Bowling Green, Ohio

The City of Bowling Green, OH operates a water distribution system that delivers high quality water. The system operates optimally in a grid system; larger, “trunk water mains,” are installed in a grid pattern on the outer limits of the system with smaller lines branching from the larger lines. Almost all the residential, industrial, and commercial areas in Bowling Green were originally limited to the west side of I-75. However over the past few decades, these areas grew on the east side of I-75. Two 24” water mains crossed underneath I-75 at the central and south part of the city to provide water to the east side. These limit development in the north eastern section and subject the WWTP (located in that part) to an undue risk if any damage occurs in the central trunk. The installation of a 16” waterline underneath I-75 at the northern end will ensure fire protection for the existing industry and supply a second water source to the WWTP. Four construction methods are examined to cross the interstate with a new waterline: open cut with detouring traffic, postponing the installation until resurfacing the interstate to install the line by open cut, horizontal directional drilling, and auger boring. This paper examines the design and construction cost of the four potential methods of construction to install a 16” waterline underneath I-75

Estimating the Required Jacking Force

The process of estimating the required jacking force to jack a pipe through the ground was, and still is, an art requiring much experience and good judgement. Many factors and risks affect the determination of the jacking force. This paper is an attempt to use civil engineering techniques to rationalize and compare methods for estimating the required jacking force. Four of these methods are summarized and used to estimate the jacking loads on a job completed in Staten Island, New York. The actual and predicted results are compared. The frictional resistance values estimated based on Terzaghi 1 s silo theory with the parameter values selected based on guidance given in the German AWPC manual 11 ATVA 161 11 and in the Kubota are five to seven times higher than the average actual jacking forces. On the other hand, the frictional resistance force calculated by Marston 1 s formula and Terzaghi 1 s coefficient are about twice the average actual jacking force. Therefore, based on this comparison only, multiplying the force calculated by these latter two formulas by an adequate factor of safety would be more appropriate. Terzaghi Is theory with the parameter set of the ATV A 161 and Kubota method are conservative but not the most economical solution. The penetration or tip resistance values estimated using the shear strength resistance method are much lower than those calculated using the passive earth pressure method, which represents the most conservative method

Ground Vibration Associated with Pipe Bursting

Pipe bursting is a trenchless pipe replacement technique that offers advantages of low cost, reduced surface disturbance, and the ability to replace an old pipe with a new pipe of equal or larger diameter and capacity. Concerns about the use of the method have centered principally on the ground movements and vibrations produced by the technique - particularly when existing pipe is being replaced by a larger diameter pipe- and also on any damage experienced by the replacement pipe as it is being pulled into the ground. These concerns motivated the Trenchless Technology Center (TTC) to conduct a research project to study the effect of pipe bursting on nearby utilities, pavements, and structures

The Impact of Project Delivery Methods on Dispute Occurrence in Public Highway Projects

The construction industry is a complex and competitive industry in which different participants with different expertise, talents, and levels of knowledge work together to achieve their objectives and complete a project. Sine different participants with different interest involve in a construction project, therefore, conflicts arise and become inevitable. Conflicts in projects will cause an adversarial environment which result to disputes. Hence, if conflicts are not well managed and resolved in a timely manner, they quickly turn into disputes, which prevent the successful completion of the construction project, in terms of cost and time, and increasing the potential for poor project performance and failures. It has also been conceived that selecting the most appropriate project delivery and management method is a key to reduce disputes on a project. Hence, having an early and important decision to select the right Project Delivery Method is critical in order to have a successful result. This research empirically addresses the impact of PDM selection on severity and frequency of the disputes, which based on such a choice can result in. As a result, this study is discussing whether the PDM selection can affect the type and severity of the disputes in projects or not. This study had been conducted with the collaboration of U.S. Department of Transportation and can help those people who are making a decision to select an appropriate PDM and sign the construction contracts under the best PDM selection in order to gain the best results based on their choice