Wayne Jensen

Comparative Study of Activity-Based Construction Labor Productivity in the United States and China

This research compares construction labor productivity (CLP) of the United States with its Chinese counterpart at the activity level to evaluate productivity differences between the two countries from an operational perspective. Supplementing other comparative construction studies measuring productivity by output value per person, this research examined CLP—measured by physical quantity installed per labor hour—based upon published national average productivity data. Sampled activities included earthwork, concrete, masonry, structural steel, waterproofing, and interior finishes. Paired comparisons (United States–China) of these selected activities were then analyzed and evaluated. The source of the U.S. labor productivity data was RSMeans Building Construction Cost Data, which was cross validated by data from the Walker’s Building Estimator’s Reference Book. The source of Chinese labor productivity data was mainly the Beijing construction quota, which was cross validated by Chinese quotas from several oth...

A concrete overlay on an asphalt road

Placing a concrete overlay directly on top of an older asphalt pavement is a procedure that has been used sporadically by transportation agencies for the past quarter century. This practice is now receiving more attention because of initial cost savings and because this type of concrete overlay has shown better than average long-term performance as a resurfacing strategy. Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) has three whitetopped sections that have been in service for between thirteen and twenty-three years. Based upon evaluation of pavement performance for existing whitetopped sections and a cost comparison of alternatives, NDOR recently authorized construction of a new whitetopped section on U.S. Highway 2. Performance of this new section is being closely monitored to obtain data on the long term cost effectiveness of whitetopping as a pavement rehabilitation strategy.

Civil Engineers as Master Builders and the Professionalization of Construction

The introduction of new technology, depletion of natural resources, and aging infrastructure drive the need for innovation in project delivery systems within the architect, engineer, and contractor (AEC) community. Current practices of AEC industries will inevitably change as clients seek more innovative solutions and better services. How civil engineering’s current practices and future vision fit into that evolving reality remains a question. In ASCE’s Vision 2025, civil engineers will function as master builders, which raises several questions concerning what exactly it means to be a master builder in the context of current and future AEC practices and how an engineer serving as a master builder will affect other AEC practitioners. This paper discusses the master builder concept and its implications from the perspectives of (1) current AEC practices and business models, (2) bodies of knowledge, and (3) professionalization. The basic research approach includes a qualitative analysis of the AEC industry’s...

Student perspectives on the qualities/behaviors of faculty that contribute most significantly to student learning

Construction Management (CM) students were provided with a survey and asked to select instructor qualities/behaviors that contribute most significantly to student learning. Results were analyzed and compared to results of a similar survey administered to psychology students. Results showed that 6 of the top 10 qualities were the same for the two groups. The remaining 4 qualities/behaviors in each groups top 10 indicated that CM students appear more task-oriented, whereas psychology students appear to be more relationship oriented. CM instructors can use the results of these surveys and the paired list of qualities/behaviors to improve their instruction skills by incorporating behaviors associated with specific instructional qualities into their current teaching practices.

Evolving Rehabilitation Strategies for Asphalt Pavement

Strategies for rehabilitation of flexible pavements have traditionally included mill and overlay or reconstruction. Three new strategies for flexible pavement rehabilitation currently being utilised by the Nebraska Department of Roads include partial depth in-place recycling, full depth in-place recycling and full-depth reclamation. Cost differences between the new and the traditional strategies were evaluated and conditions under which the new strategies are appropriate for use are discussed in this paper. A comparison based upon cost of rehabilitating a section of pavement using the two conventional and three new strategies found that the three recycling strategies provide flexible pavement which costs more than mill and overlay but less than complete reconstruction.

Post-design LEED certification for commercial and residential structures

LEED certification of structures is desired by many public and private owners for a variety of reasons. Pursuit of a LEED rating is commonly incorporated into design or construction at the earliest possible opportunity, as the certification process is significantly affected by owner motivation, project goals, and construction constraints. Is it possible to take a building not designed to LEED specifications and modify it as part of the construction process to obtain LEED certification? This article explores LEED certification after initial design has been completed with regard to issues the contractor can influence. LEED certification managed by the contractor appears possible for many commercial and residential structures.