Investigation of Designers\u27 and General Contractors\u27 Perceptions of Offsite Construction Techniques in the United States Construction Industry

ABSTRACT This study aimed to examine the current utilization of offsite construction techniques in the building sector of the U.S. construction industry, and to investigate the architects\u27/engineers\u27 (A/Es\u27) and general contractors\u27 (GCs\u27) perceptions of benefits and barriers of using these techniques, and also to identify the motivations and barriers of using these techniques by A/Es\u27 and GCs\u27 responses. A self-administrated survey questionnaire was developed as primary research methodology. 1200 A/Es and GCs were randomly selected as research subjects, and T-tests and regression tests were utilized in the study to achieve the research objectives. The study found that both A/Es and GCs identified that using offsite construction techniques would increase product quality, overall labor productivity, and onsite safety performance. It also reduces the overall project schedule, onsite disruption of other adjunct operations and negative environmental impact of construction operations. The transportation restraints, the inability of making changes onsite, and limited design options appeared to be most significant challenges of using offsite construction techniques based on the finding. In addition, this study found that the residential, commercial and industrial respondents perceived the use of these techniques differently regarding to the impact of product quality, design options, jobsite management efficiency, overall project cost, owner\u27s negative perceptions, and local building regulations. The finding also indicated that the people who had used these techniques before had more positive attitude than those never utilized these techniques. The findings also indicated majority respondents believed the use of these techniques would increase in the next 5-10 years. Several practical recommendations were proposed in this study regarding to overcome transportation restraints, increase the design options and eliminate the impact of inability to make onsite changes by using these techniques

Essays on Agricultural Water Pollution and Human Health

This dissertation mainly focuses on agricultural policies, water pollution and human health. Chapter.2 examines the causal impact of agricultural water pollution on individual health outcomes. The findings suggest that agricultural water pollution worsens health outcomes and these adverse health effects appear to be largely due to contaminated drinking water. Chapter.3 explores both of the intended wealth effect and unintended pollution effect on human health caused by China’s agricultural support polices. I find that although the income effect dominates on reducing the overall sickness, the pollution effect is more substantial on the diarrhea incidence and adult BMI. Income affects slightly higher than pollution on adults\u27 overall health, while pollution has higher impacts on children\u27s overall health. Chapter.4 builds a dynamic optimization model internalizing the health cost of agricultural water pollution. My simulation results suggest that policymakers should manage fertilizer application rates based on the initial nitrate concentration levels

Personalized Multidimensional Process Framework For Dynamic Risk Analysis In The Real Estate Industry

The risk analysis for real estate property investment is subject to high risk. It is qualitatively and quantitatively assessed by various techniques such as the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and the analytic network process (ANP) which determine the risk factors based on expert survey, weight and rank the factors using algorithm and mathematical formula and decide the best investment based on performance index of the alternatives given. However, experts from the field have different opinions and judgments about the environment of the real estate industry and this scenario will affect the result of the risk factor weight and ranking. Moreover, different investors have different goals and objectives to be achieve. Thus, this paper will propose a new personalized multidimensional process (PMP) framework based on knowledge discovery. This framework comprises of two new methods namely the personalized association mapping (PAM) method and the personalized multidimensional sensitivity analysis (PM-SA) method. The innovations of this research are the justification of risk factor weight and ranking. It will be based on deterministic approach using historical data driven to decision support using knowledge discovery in database and the heuristic approach which is refers to investors personalization of the risk factors which fulfil their requirements

Determining Optimal Traffic Opening Time Through Concrete Strength Monitoring: Wireless Sensing

Construction and concrete production are time-sensitive and fast-paced; as such, it is crucial to monitor the in-place strength development of concrete structures in real-time. Existing concrete strength testing methods, such as the traditional hydraulic compression method specified by ASTM C 39 and the maturity method specified by ASTM C 1074, are labor-intensive, time consuming, and difficult to implement in the field. INDOT’s previous research (SPR-4210) on the electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique has established its feasibility for monitoring in-situ concrete strength to determine the optimal traffic opening time. However, limitations of the data acquisition and communication systems have significantly hindered the technology’s adoption for practical applications. Furthermore, the packaging of piezoelectric sensor needs to be improved to enable robust performance and better signal quality. In this project, a wireless concrete sensor with a data transmission system was developed. It was comprised of an innovated EMI sensor and miniaturized datalogger with both wireless transmission and USB module. A cloud-based platform for data storage and computation was established, which provides the real time data visualization access to general users and data access to machine learning and data mining developers. Furthermore, field implementations were performed to prove the functionality of the innovated EMI sensor and wireless sensing system for real-time and in-place concrete strength monitoring. This project will benefit the DOTs in areas like construction, operation, and maintenance scheduling and asset management by delivering applicable concrete strength monitoring solutions

Ideias de governança em Kong-Zi Jiayu e seus valores contemporâneos

Kong-Zi Jia Yu is a book that recorded many Confucius and his disciples’ conversations and thoughts, making it an indispensable source to explore traditional Chinese culture and ideas. In particular, the governance ideas presented in the book are still highly relevant today. People-oriented thoughts were the core of governance wisdom, paradigmatic kingcraft and virtuous courtiers were a sensible part of governance, and the penological ideas further ensured the robust operations of it. In the new era, new ideas like “putting the people as the top priority”, Xi Jinping’s thoughts on building cadre teams and governing China by the rule of law have successively proposed as creative converts and innovative development of Chinese culture that has been carried forward over thousands of years. Inheriting and promoting these cultural "genes", refining their ideological essence, are of great reference value for cultivating the current political landscape, enriching the connotation of the construction of the cadre team in the new era, adhering to the rule of law and providing ideas for the formulation of current rural governance policies.Kong-Zi Jia Yu é um livro que registrou muitas conversas e pensamentos de Confúcio e de seus discípulos, tornando-o uma fonte indispensável para explorar a cultura e as ideias tradicionais chinesas. Em particular, as ideias de governança apresentadas no livro ainda são altamente relevantes hoje. Os pensamentos orientados para as pessoas eram o núcleo da sabedoria da governação, a realeza paradigmática e os cortesãos virtuosos eram uma parte sensata da governança, e as ideias penológicas asseguravam ainda mais as operações robustas da mesma. Na nova era, novas ideias como “colocar o povo como prioridade máxima”, os pensamentos de Xi Jinping sobre a construção de equipas de quadros e governar a China pelo Estado de direito foram sucessivamente propostos como conversões criativas e desenvolvimento inovador da cultura chinesa que foi levado adiante ao longo de milhares de anos. Herdar e promover estes “genes” culturais, refinando a sua essência ideológica, são de grande valor de referência para cultivar o panorama político atual, enriquecendo a conotação da construção da equipa de quadros na nova era, aderindo ao Estado de direito e fornecendo ideias para a formulação das actuais políticas de governação rural