Multimedia techniques for construction education and training

The current profession of civil engineering often focuses education and training on code compliance rather than constructability and construction techniques. Also, it is well accepted that it takes a decade or more for engineers to develop a high-level project construction understanding and many state departments of transportation rely on in-field training for entry-level inspectors, with little or no education provisions for contractors. This research investigated the use of time-lapse photography to develop training and education material that will improve the understanding of project construction and crucial quality control specifications of an entry-level engineer, contractor, or inspector. Overall, the project team has deployed more than 160 time-lapse cameras to capture and document various construction activities since the project inception in May 2015 on over 25 construction sites throughout the state of Indiana. This document uses time-lapse photography and other media forms to monitor construction projects such as roadway construction on US 31 in Carmel and Westfield, construction of mechanically stabilized earth walls, roundabout construction, and bridge demolition in West Lafayette and Cedar Grove in order to develop educational and training materials for engineering students, construction inspectors, and contractors. This is accomplished in this document through construction case studies, time-lapse images, YouTube videos, and references to relevant INDOT Standard Specifications. Additionally, the project team has acquired quantitative data on the effectiveness of utilizing time-lapse photography to better educate in a classroom setting. The project team discovered that time-lapse photography did indeed enhance the lecture and following its use, students showed improvement

Multimedia Techniques for Construction Education and Training

The current profession of civil engineering often focuses education and training on code compliance rather than constructability and construction techniques. Also, it is well accepted that it takes a decade or more for engineers to develop a high-level project construction understanding, that and many state departments of transportation rely on in-field training for entry-level inspectors, with little or no education provisions for contractors. This research investigated the use of time-lapse photography to develop training and education material that will improve the understanding of project construction and crucial quality control specifications of an entry-level engineer, contractor, or inspector. Overall, the project team has deployed more than 160 time-lapse cameras to capture and document various construction activities since the project inception in May 2015 on over 25 construction sites throughout the state of Indiana. This document uses time-lapse photography and other media forms to monitor construction projects such as roadway construction on US 31 in Carmel and Westfield, construction of mechanically stabilized earth walls, roundabout construction, and bridge demolition in West Lafayette and Cedar Grove in order to develop educational and training materials for engineering students, construction inspectors, and contractors. This is accomplished in this document through construction case studies, time-lapse images, YouTube videos, and references to relevant INDOT Standard Specifications. Additionally, the project team has acquired quantitative data on the effectiveness of utilizing time-lapse photography to better educate in a classroom setting. The project team discovered that time-lapse photography did indeed enhance the lecture and following its use, students showed improvement

Implementation of Weigh-in-Motion Data Quality Control and Real-Time Dashboard Development

State agencies have implemented weigh-in-motion (WIM) sensors for years to assess and monitor various aspects of highway commercial motor vehicle traffic. This study analyzes 3.5 years of WIM data from 33 WIM sites provided by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and compares systematic procedures to identify WIM locations with measurement errors. The following areas are examined: WIM accuracy and precision, class 9 front axle weight, left-right front axle residual, and impact of pavement smoothing on WIM performance. The statistical distribution of Class 9 truck’s front axle weight as a performance metric is suggested for automated online software. This study also assessed the accuracy and precision of two WIM sites by direct comparison with weight data obtained at Indiana State Police certified weigh scales. A 5 month study on I-94 collected 564 static weights and found that 98% of the WIM weights were within ± 5% of the static weights. A second study on I-70 collected 262 static weights and found that 87% of the WIM weights were within ± 5% of the static weights after statistical adjustment

Identifying Effects and Applications of Fixed and Variable Speed Limits

In Indiana, distracted driving and unexpected queues have led to an increase in the amount of back-of-queue crashes, particularly on approach to work zones. This report presents new strategies for the assessment of both transportation safety and traffic operations using crowd-sourced probe vehicle data and a speed laser vehicle re-identification scheme. This report concludes by recommending strategies for the placement of variable speed limits (VSL) adjacent to work zones and suggestions for future research

Multimedia techniques for construction education and training

The current profession of civil engineering often focuses education and training on code compliance rather than constructability and construction techniques. Also, it is well accepted that it takes a decade or more for engineers to develop a high-level project construction understanding and many state departments of transportation rely on in-field training for entry-level inspectors, with little or no education provisions for contractors. This research investigated the use of time-lapse photography to develop training and education material that will improve the understanding of project construction and crucial quality control specifications of an entry-level engineer, contractor, or inspector. Overall, the project team has deployed more than 160 time-lapse cameras to capture and document various construction activities since the project inception in May 2015 on over 25 construction sites throughout the state of Indiana. This document uses time-lapse photography and other media forms to monitor construction projects such as roadway construction on US 31 in Carmel and Westfield, construction of mechanically stabilized earth walls, roundabout construction, and bridge demolition in West Lafayette and Cedar Grove in order to develop educational and training materials for engineering students, construction inspectors, and contractors. This is accomplished in this document through construction case studies, time-lapse images, YouTube videos, and references to relevant INDOT Standard Specifications. Additionally, the project team has acquired quantitative data on the effectiveness of utilizing time-lapse photography to better educate in a classroom setting. The project team discovered that time-lapse photography did indeed enhance the lecture and following its use, students showed improvement

102nd Annual Purdue Road School Time-Lapse Of Activities

The 102nd Annual Purdue Road School was held March 8 – March 10, 2016. Some events documented in this time-lapse video are the opening session, the exhibitor hall setup, exhibitor luncheon, technical session photos, road school luncheon, and association’s breakfast

Differential role of SLP-76 domains in T cell development and function

The adapter SLP-76 is essential for thymocyte development. SLP-76(−/−) mice were reconstituted with SLP-76 deletion mutant transgenes to examine the role of SLP-76 domains in T cell development and function. The N-terminal domain deletion mutant completely failed to restore thymocyte development. Mice reconstituted with Gads-binding site and SH2 domain deletion mutants had decreased thymic cellularity, impaired transition from double to single positive thymocytes, and decreased numbers of mature T cells in the spleen. Calcium mobilization and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase activation were decreased in the Gads-binding site mutant but almost normal in the SH2 domain mutant. T cells from both mutants failed to proliferate following T cell antigen receptor ligation. Nevertheless, both mutants mounted partial cutaneous hypersensitivity responses and normal T cell dependent IgG1 antibody responses. These results indicate differential roles for SLP-76 domains in T cell development, proliferation and effector functions

Bat-Associated Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a globally prevalent disease that affects humans, causing systemic illness that may lead to multi-organ involvement. Clinical signs include sudden fever, general malaise, muscular pain, conjunctival suffusion, and jaundice. Disease is caused by pathogenic bacteria including over 200 serologic variants. Most serologic variants have primary reservoirs in wild mammals, which continually infect and colonize domesticated animals. The organism has been recovered from rats, swine, dogs, cattle, and other animals, notably bats. Most studies have focused on domestic animals as reservoir hosts; however, because of their abundance, spatial distribution, and interrelationship with domestic animals, bats are becoming an epidemiologically significant source of leptospires. We present a case of serologically confirmed leptospirosis after bat exposure to add to the growing literature of bats as a possible source of transmission. Recognition of the common presentation of leptospirosis and Weil’s disease, and identification of animal vectors, including bats, allows for the selection of appropriate antibiotic management to aid in resolution of symptomotology