Construction Management
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Item Open Access THE IMPACT OF FATIGUE ON THE SAFETY PERFORMANCE OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY(East Carolina University, 2023-05-04) Garay, Daniel Enrique; Construction ManagementIn the construction industry, workers are constantly exposed to hazards such as chemical exposures, falls from heights, and accidents involving large machinery. Construction sites contribute to generating threats to human life and property, making safety a priority. When safety is taken as a serious matter, accidents, fatalities, and property damage can be avoided. The performance of construction workers impacts projects and determines their quality and success in achieving project goals. In construction sites, an indicator for measuring safety performance is the safety attitude, which is understood as the individual’s attitudes and actions towards the workplace. Several factors can affect a worker's safety attitude, one of these factors is Fatigue. This study aimed to analyze the impact of fatigue on safety performance in construction workers. To collect information, eighty workers were interviewed over eight weeks. The data collected were analyzed using a linear regression model, repeated ANOVA analysis of variance, and Friedman's rank sum test. Most significantly, the analysis revealed a correlation between the three scales used to measure fatigue (OFER, CIS, and FAS). Due to this correlation between scales, the investigation continued only with the analysis of the OFER scale. Further analysis, using linear regression models, showed a strong relationship between safety attitude and the OFER scale. As a result, Safety attitude significantly predicted fatigue levels in the construction workers. On the other hand, results showed that fatigue did not affect safety attitude, but safety attitude affected fatigue, at least for short periods. In conclusion, a worker’s attitude in reaction to workplace safety might be influenced by a high number of variables, amongst these variables fatigue is our focus. Simultaneously, it is critical to comprehend additional aspects to build a safer workplace. The results of this study highlight the significance of encouraging a safety attitude culture at work, as this can have a big impact on workplace safety. The report also recommends that fatigue management programs must be introduced in the construction sector to enhance safety and lower the hazards related to fatigue.Item Open Access Evaluating the Cost of Collection, Processing, and Application of Face Masks in Hot-Mix Asphalt (HMA) Pavements(2022) Massarr, Carol; Wang, George; Rahat, Hasibul Hasan; Sadek, HusamHuman activities significantly contribution to the yearly generated plastic wastes. Moreover, the enormous increase in face masks and face shields caused by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has doubled the generated plastic wastes. Although there is an added benefit of using plastic waste in construction, the cost associated with their application, specifically the face mask, has not been addressed. This paper presents a simplified and rapid estimation of the cost associated with the collection, processing, and application of face masks in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) pavements. Two scenarios, mask modified asphalt pavement and conventional asphalt pavement, are considered. The total cost is based on market price and prices from waste management facilities and plastic processing companies. Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) is used to evaluate the long-term costs of mask modified asphalt pavement and conventional asphalt pavement. Results show that no significant difference in initial total cost between the two scenarios for pavement sections with lengths less than 500m and the number of lanes less than 6. The difference in total cost begins with lengths greater than 500 m for 5 and 6 Lanes. Despite the higher initial costs for the mask modified asphalt pavement, the LCCA shows that there is a 29% maintenance cost reduction over the 40 years life cycle of the asphalt pavement. The use of LCCA shows the benefit of the selection of the most cost-effective strategy and how the use of mask modified asphalt pavement over the conventional asphalt pavement can save money over the life cycle of the asphalt and improve rutting and stiffens.Item Open Access Item Open Access Are Construction Managers from Mars and Workers from Venus? Exploring Differences in Construction Safety Perception of Two Key Field Stakeholders(2022-05-19) Namian, Mostafa; Tafazzoli, Mohammadsoroush; Al-Bayati, Ahmed Jalil; Kermanshachi, ShararehItem Open Access Generalized Cost-Effectiveness of Residential Wind Mitigation Strategies for Wood-Frame, Single Family House in the USA(2022-01-24) Massarra, Carol C.; Orooji, FatemehItem Open Access Ultra-High-Performance Concrete: Constituents, Mechanical Properties, Applications and Current Challenges(2021) Akhnoukh, Amin K.; Buckhalter, ChelseaItem Open Access Impact of the COVID-19: Hazard Recognition Performance and Safety Risk Perception Among Construction Workers(East Carolina University, 2022-04-29) Nabil, Fahim Ridwan; Namian, Mostafa; Construction ManagementThe construction industry is one of the most hazardous industries in the U.S., and COVID-19 has introduced additional safety risks to the workers' health and safety. Fatalities in the construction industry are higher compared to others. Researchers have identified construction workers' poor hazard recognition performance and safety risk perception as contributing factors to the high rates of accidents and occupational fatalities in construction. However, the long-term impact of COVID-19 as an emerging safety risk on construction workers' hazard recognition performance and safety risk perception has not been investigated. This study aimed to explore the long-term impact of COVID-19 on construction workers' hazard recognition and safety risk perception. The goal is to see if COVID-19 has the same effect on workers' performance as a physical injury and how their performance changes after experiencing COVID-19. Seventy-six workers were interviewed during the study. Each participant was shown four scenarios from a predefined 16 preset construction scenario. T-test was performed to test the research hypotheses between groups (group 1: workers who have not tested positive for COVID-19 and group 2: workers who tested positive for COVID-19). For the first hypothesis, data analysis showed that COVID-19 did not affect the construction workers' hazard recognition as there was no statistical difference in the test. However, when the safety risk perception score was analyzed, it was observed that there was a statistical difference between the safety risk perception of the two groups. COVID-19 positive workers tend to perceive higher safety risks. The study aimed to aid in the improvement of the construction safety environment across the U.S. and help construction safety managers and trainers to have a better idea about the long-term impact of COVID-19 on the safety performance of the workers.Item Open Access Automated Pavement Condition Assessment using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)(East Carolina University, 2021-04-27) Chawla, Vinay K; Massarra, Carol; Construction ManagementAssessing pavement condition is extremely essential in any effort to reduce future economic losses and improve the structural reliability and resilience. Data resulting from pavement condition assessment are used as a record of infrastructure performance and as a major component to assess their functionality and reliability. However, pavement condition assessment is challenging because of the cost associated with assessment, safety issues, and the accessibility restrictions, especially after natural hazards. This research aims to develop an automated classification model to rapidly classify pavement distresses. High-resolution aerial images representing alligator and longitudinal cracks are collected for flexible pavements using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) around East Carolina University (ECU) campus. The image classification model is developed using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), a deep learning approach. The results of the developed model indicate an accuracy of 96.7% in classifying the two categories of pavement distress. The developed model was further tested on a set of test images yielding a prediction accuracy of 90%. The methodology behind the developed model will help to reduce the need for on-site presence, increase safety, and assist emergency response managers in deciding the safest route to take after hurricane events. Additionally, application of the model will enable transportation engineers in rapidly assessing the pavement damage, aid in making quick decisions for road rehabilitation and recovery and devise a restoration or repair plan.Item Open Access The Risk of Power Imbalance in Project Delivery: A Study of Large Victorian Public Infrastructure Projects(2017-07) Zarei, Hamzeh; Kin Peng Hui, Felix; Duffield, Colin; Wang, GeorgeIn large public infrastructure projects, political risks due to the power imbalance between central and delivery agencies are often overlooked or underestimated. The primary motive of the delivery agency in distorting information for political gains should be deemed a risk that creates uncertainty for large projects planning the outcome. In this study, seven large infrastructure projects in the state of Victoria, Australia are examined through a workshop involving key stakeholders who had played active roles in these projects. The findings revealed that power asymmetry between central and delivery agencies exist and would lead to optimism bias, which in turn creates uncertainty and risk of overpromising in the business case. Power asymmetry exist in large infrastructure projects because the central agencies usually only have the responsibility but not the skill set needed to measure the robustness of the business case. These types of political risks are difficult to quantify and even detect. This paper recommends a few managerial strategies that have referential values and/or can be used to mitigate and circumvent this risk.Item Open Access Using Recycled Concrete Aggregate in Non-Structural Concrete on NCDOT Projects in Eastern NC(2016-04) Wang, GeorgeThese items are part of a grant project between Dr. Wang, Department of Construction Management, East Carolina University, and The North Carolina Department of Transportation. The grant project will run from August 1, 2016- July 31, 2018.Item Open Access Expansion des laitiers d’aciérie : à l’ouest, il y a du nouveau !(2016-04) Wang, George; Wang, Yuhong; Gaob, ZhiliContrairement aux laitiers de hauts fourneaux qui sont volumétriquement stables et faciles à utiliser en construction routière notamment, les laitiers d’aciérie contiennent de la chaux libre non hydratée en proportion variable qui peut occasionner leur expansion. Ainsi, afin d’envisager une exploitation maîtrisée de ces laitiers, il est indispensable d’en évaluer chaque type, selon son origine et les traitements qu’il a subi, afin de déterminer son instabilité volumétrique et son potentiel d’expansion. Or aujourd’hui, en l’absence de critères quantifiés permettant d’orienter les laitiers d’acierie vers des usages appropriés, ceux-ci demeurent peu utilisés. Les Etats-Unis ont sur ce point une longueur d’avance. Cet article présente les résultats d’études sur l’expansion volumétrique des laitiers d’acierie visant à élaborer des critères susceptibles de servir d’indicateurs pour l’utilisation de ces laitiers en tant que matériaux granulaires.Item Open Access Can Steel Slag Be Used as an Aggregate in Concrete and How? A Technical Approach by and Testing and Theoretical Molding(2016-05) Wang, George; Wang, YuhongSteel slag is the molten byproduct from steelmaking operations that is subsequently air-cooled for use. It has been used in cement manufacture and as unbound granular materials in construction. While numerous studies have revealed that concrete containing steel slag aggregate possesses good mechanical properties, and slag, as a byproduct, is cheaper than virgin aggregates, its practical use in Portland cement concrete is currently a forbidden area in the construction practices. What is the practicality, where is the crux of converting research results into to real production, and how to build the bridge between the laboratory experiment and the end products? Based on the philosophy of slag utilization, i.e., laboratory testing, field demonstration, and criteria establishment, the questions to be answered includes (1) two distinct laboratory test methods to determine the expansion force generated by slag particles; (2) conversion of the expansion force of mass slag aggregate to the expansion force of single slag particle; (3) mechanical disruption model of slag failure; and (4) usability criteria for the use of steel slag in a rigid or restrained matrices. The paper introduced the answers for the first two questions; and provides the mechanical model and criterion deduction to answer the other two questions that lead to criteria and specification establishment. Read More: http://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/9780784479827.025 This paper was presented at the 2016 Construction Research Congress in San Juan, Puerto Rico in May 2016.Item Open Access Eight Years Superb Performance of a Motorcycles Race Track Pavement – A Design and Construction Review(2016) Wang, George; Steenbakkers, MarcThe primary purposes of this paper are to review the special pavement design and construction activities employed in construction of the Calabogie race track after a visual conduction survey to the surface conditions and interaction with the operation personnel and users to verify the performance of the track during the eight years’ service, and the effectiveness of the construction strategies, materials and mix designs used in the asphalt paving eight years ago. It was found that the pavement demonstrated good condition after eight years’ service including hosting numerous racing and competition events. Special construction methods, material designs and quality control and quality assurance procedures are the major factors contributing to the success of the track. This paper reviews the hot mix asphalt design, and special construction techniques employed during the construction including the project specifications, special paving techniques, field quality control and assurance, hydrated lime application in the mix and during paving. The review of the construction of the race track surface paving will have referential value for asphalt paving activities in highway constructionItem Open Access Teaching Ethics for Construction Management Majored Students: Standalone or Micro-insert? – Globalization and Sustainability Considerations(2016-06) Wang, George; Buckeridge, John S.Ethical decision-making is central to the practice of construction management. This is no more evident than in the twenty-first century, when the construction industry must function in very diverse organizational contexts. While construction companies pursue projects in international markets, many investors are buying or forming joint ventures with domestic companies. New and varied professional attitudes have recently arrived in western markets because construction companies are increasingly employing managers from developing nations to undertake commercial and infrastructure engineering projects. The construction industry, in both developing and developed countries, is vulnerable to unethical behavior or corruption – vulnerability in part because of differences in culture and managerial systems across countries; and this diversity is manifest in the different perspectives of professional ethics and professional practice. On the other hand, the incorporation of sustainability principles in natural resources, environmental management, the economy and adoption of a “reduce, reuse and recycle” philosophy in construction and constructed facilities are clear imperatives. Our contention is that construction management students must be fully cognizant of these imperatives. However ethics education for most construction management students currently lacks global and sustainability components, and, further, curricula only require “micro-inserts” of ethics teaching without any systematic or standalone course for professional education. This is contrast to engineering programs, such as civil, environmental, and computer engineering. This paper discusses the nature of the construction industry, globalized trends, sustainable development and confirms the necessity for integrating ethics education into the curriculum – in anticipation that this will ensure the highest level of professionalism when construction management students graduate.Item Open Access Eight Year Review of Design and Construction: Calabogie Race Track Pavement(2016-04) Wang, GeorgePresented at the 52nd Annual International Conference of the Associated Schools of Construction in April 2016 at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.