Theses and Dissertations

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Open Access
A phenomenological study in understanding how paradigm shifts can occur
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Wackerman, April Elizabeth, author; Nobe, Mary Ellen C., advisor; Dunbar, Brian H., committee member; Benson, Delwin E., committee member; Aragon, Antonette M., committee member
The building industry is uniquely positioned in the context of contemporary societal trends as it was one of the industries hardest hit by the financial recession of 2007 and is one of the most environmentally unsustainable industries in the United States. While green building and sustainable design initially emerged as a way to affect change toward environmental sustainability, the share of global energy use from buildings continues to rise. Building leaders claim that in order to make a meaningful impact on looming environmental problems and pressures, an all-encompassing paradigm shift is needed in the building industry from an anthropocentric paradigm to one that more fully values and understands the interconnectedness between humans and nature. Little is known about what factors and activities facilitate transformative shifts in thinking for building professionals. This study examined the experiences of participants of the 2009 Whole Thinking Workshop hosted by the Center for Whole Communities in Vermont. The workshop was designed for leaders of environmental stewardship and social equality and included building and land use professionals. Like many professionals, the leaders in attendance were generally entrenched in their thinking and professional approach in their respective movements. The workshop provided a framework for leaders to explore their own biases and achieve a shift in thinking for how their work relates to the whole. The goal of the research was to understand and describe the participants' perception of the specific activities and factors of the workshop that facilitated a shift in their thinking. This study was conducted within a phenomenological framework and data were collected from participant observation, a focus group, and in-depth interviews. Three major themes emerged in the data and are characterized as dimensions of how to facilitate paradigm shifts in a workshop setting, and include: (1) Time, (2) Systems, and (3) Humanity. The Time Theme documented that time was a factor in facilitating paradigm shifts in two ways including an uninterrupted and appropriate amount of time during activities, in silence and during open dialogue, and time spent away from regular responsibilities. The Systems Theme documented the elements that created an environment conducive for shifting thinking, including shared understanding, diversity, safety, consistency, and engaging activities. The Humanity Theme documented elements that facilitated a shift in thinking by cultivating the quality of being human, including spirituality, contemplative practice, storytelling, aligning values, and open dialogue. This study provided insights to offer building professionals by revealing factors and activities of the Whole Thinking Workshop that were perceived as successfully facilitated shifts in thinking, therefore expanding understanding in how paradigm shifts can occur.
Open Access
Evaluating high school electricity consumption and expenditure intensity in the Poudre School District of northern Colorado
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Elliott, Jonathan W., author; Guggemos, Angela, advisor; Ore, Janet, committee member; Glick, Scott, committee member
With the exception of personnel-related expenditures, utilities represent the largest cost in school budgets, but are one area where expenses can be trimmed without compromising educational quality (Consortium for Energy Efficiency, 2005). In the Poudre School District of Northern Colorado, Fort Collins High School (FCHS) and Fossil Ridge High School (FRHS) have similar building attributes (square footage, mechanical systems, and architectural capacities). In contrast to FCHS (built 1995), FRHS (built 2005) has many energy efficiency features and is LEED-Silver and Energy- Star (2009) certified. Yet in recent years, the electricity costs and electric use intensities (EUIs) were comparable. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to evaluate electricity consumption to understand electric use patterns at these schools. Overall analysis indicated significantly more electricity use for lighting at FCHS (44.04% of total) when compared to FRHS (36.90% to total). Also, HVAC represents 33.16% at FCHS compared to 29.17% at FRHS. However, plug loads account for 24.99% of use at FRHS but only 16.35% at FCHS. Comparing energy performance using whole-building EUI (total annual electric consumption divided by total conditioned floor area) ignores secondary building characteristics that influence consumption. In order to improve the whole building EUI and identify areas of high consumption, individual workspace EUIs were separated for analysis. Variations in workspace specific floor areas and workspace EUIs were seen at both schools. Workspace EUI values ranged from 2.60 kWh/ft2/yr in closet/storage spaces to 40.68 kWh/ft2/yr in the kitchen workspaces. Further, workspace EUIs were partitioned into their HVAC, lighting, plug load, food service and residual components for analysis. Component EUI analysis identified major consumptive differences at the two schools: High for lighting in the trades classrooms and gymnasium at FCHS and high for plug loads in the computer labs at FRHS. Since both high schools have the same educational goals, overly consumptive component EUIs (in one school compared to the other) indicate workspaces where reductions in electric consumption may be possible without detrimental effects on education quality. Educational workspace distribution and the amount of electricity-consuming equipment vary between the schools and hence traditional whole-building EUI (total consumption/total conditioned floor space) must be interpreted with caution. Major differences in the component EUIs observed between the two schools indicated that the high-wattage lighting in the trades classroom and gymnasium at FCHS and the computer density at FRHS should be investigated for possible renovations to reduce electric use at these schools.
Open Access
Energy use and emissions reduction strategies for structural steel fabricators: a case study
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Bergstrom, Erik Anderson, author; Guggemos, Angela Acree, advisor; Criswell, Marvin E., committee member; Hamzeh, Farook, committee member
Energy price escalation, natural resource depletion, and wide-spread environmental degradation are driving demand for more sustainable construction methods and materials. Steel fabricators working to operate more sustainably require detailed energy and environmental analysis of operational practices in order to make informed improvements. Yet only limited research exists on the energy use and emissions associated with fabrication and material sourcing for structural steel used in building construction. This research involves a life-cycle inventory assessment of structural members used in a case-study building to address this gap in research and identify high-impact areas for future process improvement at one fabrication facility. With a life-cycle inventory model developed, feasible process improvements are measured against standard practices, and the associated energy savings and environmental improvements are identified. The main discovery of this research is that while the fabricator has the ability to make significant energy and emissions reductions by modifying operational process within their own facility, the most impactful opportunities are in material selection alternatives, such as sourcing reused materials. Structural steel fabricators can use these findings to reduce environmental impacts and operating costs, while delivering a more environmentally preferable product.
Open Access
A greener plan for public housing: a study of Colorado Housing Authorties' utilization of green built technology
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Rumley, William Jeffrey, author; Nobe, MaryEllen C., advisor; Clevenger, Caroline M., committee member; Ore, Janet, committee member
Reducing energy usage, or at least controlling energy consumption, is an important goal for Colorado Housing Authorities (CHAs). Additional goals include preventing the escalation of property rents, i.e., energy costs, as well as controlling administrative costs that result from high energy usage. Observational data, however, suggests that only a limited number of CHAs have undertaken energy conservation measures. This study examines current energy savings program implementation among CHAs. More specifically, the study will investigate how CHAs incorporate energy efficient technologies into existing facility maintenance as well as new property construction. Currently, information identifying a baseline of energy conservation by CHAs does not exist, and it the motivation of this study. Baseline energy conservation data will assist CHAs, as well as funding agencies, to identify current levels of technology implementation to use as a planning tool for current and future energy projects. The purposed methodological approach will incorporate the use of a census design, which will examine current attitudes, beliefs, opinions and practices of CHAs.
Open Access
Environmental emissions and energy use from the structural steel erection process: a case study
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Haney, Joshua H., author; Guggemos, Angela A., advisor; Criswell, Marvin, committee member; Clevenger, Caroline, committee member
Over the last two decades, sustainable (or green) building has been proven effective at reducing the environmental impact of buildings in an economically efficient way. In the United States, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building rating system has been at the forefront of the green building movement. LEED accomplishes breadth at the expense of depth and, as a result, many facets of the construction industry are not explicitly addressed by this standard. Specifically, structural steel has been championed as an environmentally responsible building material because of its high recycled content, but only limited investigation has been done into the erection phase environmental implications of the material. To reduce the environmental impact of structural steel construction operations, practitioners must first understand which activities are the most impactful, so that improvement efforts can be properly targeted. Using life cycle assessment (LCA), this case study quantifies the energy consumption and environmental emissions resulting from the erection of the structural steel frame for a mid-sized office building on the campus of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. Those data are then used to explore recommendations for environmentally-preferable methods of steel construction. The magnitude of total energy use and pollution emitted during the steel erection process is found to be significant, with CO2 generation totaling 342,000 kg. According to the case study, the major sources of emissions (in descending order of magnitude) are materials transportation to the site, operation of the 100-ton crane, and worker transportation to the site. The most effective strategies for reducing energy consumption and emissions identified by the study are: 1) sourcing materials within 500 miles, 2) shipping only full loads of materials, 3) improving site logistics and crane-sizing to reduce erection time, and 4) switching from an 8-hour to a 10-hour work day. These strategies resulted in reductions in total erection phase energy consumption and CO2 emissions of approximately 17.5%, 8.5%, 6.4%, and 3% respectively.
Open Access
Nail withdrawal properties of beetle-transmitted blue-stain fungus in lodgepole pine dimensional lumber
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Mizell, Michael Vincent, author; Nobe, Mary, advisor; Mackes, Kurt, committee member; Smith, Charles, committee member
The mountain pine beetle has existed in North American forests for many years to some extent, yet it has reached levels of epidemic proportions is recent years. The recent damage in our forests has been growing at an exponential rate, and there is little that can be done to stop the momentum. The current outbreak has been attributed to two main causes--aggressive wildfire prevention practices in our forests; and warmer winters that no longer reach the lower temperatures which used to kill the beetles seasonally. These two factors have allowed some forests to generate mountain pine beetle infestation rates higher than 50 percent. While there is little that can be done to stop the beetle, the wood can be harvested for commercial purposes after the attack. When the mountain pine beetle enters a tree, a blue-stain fungus is subsequently inoculated into the sapwood. It is the fungus that ultimately kills the tree by preventing water translocation through the cells in the sapwood. A few studies have found that if the tree is harvested within a few years of the attack, the wood produced from these trees maintains most mechanical properties. However, the body of knowledge on blue-stained wood is still quite limited and many researchers agree more studies need to be conducted. Most wood grading rules do not degrade wood for the presence of blue-stain, which would lead one to believe that with the massive potential supply of blue-stained lumber in our forests, it would be consumed at a high rate. It has been found, however that blue-stained wood is failing to generate demand, due in part to negative consumer perception of the mechanical properties of the wood. This study was aimed to refute the negative perception of blue-stained wood by performing a comparative study of the nail withdrawal properties of blue-stained and clear lodgepole pine dimensional lumber. This study harvested 10 blue-stained and 10 clear lodgepole pine trees from Summit County, Colorado. The trees were then milled, planed and cut into small blocks. Each block was tested for moisture content, specific gravity, face withdrawal and cross section withdrawal. The study found that on average, the blue-stained samples had slightly lower withdrawal resistance when compared with clear wood, for cross section withdrawal. On the other hand, the blue-stained sample generated a slightly higher average resistance than the clear wood for face withdrawal, and that when controlled for moisture content; the blue-stained samples yielded approximately 40 lbs more resistance than the clear wood samples, or a 7% increase. The difference in means being so minimal, it was concluded that there was no statistical or practical difference in nail withdrawal properties between blue-stained or clear wood samples using the cross section withdrawal test. It was also concluded that presence of blue-stain in lodgepole pine dimensional lumber could increase face withdrawal resistance.
Open Access
The potential of integrated project delivery in greening the structural steel delivery process
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Gotthelf, Helene Nathalie, author; Ozbek, Mehmet Egemen, advisor; Guggemos, Angela Acree, committee member; Taylor, Pete, committee member
The structural steel industry provides the world with one of the fundamental construction materials, steel, and in the process produces negative byproducts. While the steel industry has made commendable progress to reduce their environmental impacts, there remains room for improvement, particularly in the delivery process of structural steel. Currently, the majority of the structural steel industry uses traditional delivery methods to execute design, engineering, detailing, fabrication, and erection. Construction industry professionals are realizing the drawbacks of traditional delivery systems and are now exploring the opportunities provided by Integrated Project Delivery (IPD).The researcher studied the potential that IPD could have on lessening the environmental impacts of the steel industry through a case study of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Research Support Facilities (RSF) project. Data was collected through interviews with NREL RSF project team members. Data analysis revealed thirty opportunities for improvement to reduce the environmental impacts associated with the delivery of structural steel. Overarching process recommendations expand on the need to establish direct lines of communication among the structural steel team, ensure early involvement of the erector and fabricator in the steel design phase, and utilize appropriate technology.
Open Access
Energy consumption in the use phase of residential housing: a case study of rammed earth and wood framed construction in the northern Colorado Front Range
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Jensen, Kirk E., author; Guggemos, Angela Acree, advisor; Dunbar, Brian H., committee member; Glick, Scott A., committee member; Ore, Janet, committee member
This study investigated rammed earth (RE) housing energy consumption compared to the traditional wood frame structure (SB) typically used in residential construction in the northern Colorado Front Range (NoCOFR). There has not been a great deal of study of rammed earth and the relationship of energy consumption. Therefore, similar studies using direct observations and others using artificial neural networks (ANN) and computer statistical simulations have been used for comparing the results of this study as a validation. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the energy consumption used by both RE & SB during the use phase of the structure. While total energy use is important, this study focused on heating and cooling measured by data gathered from participant utility records. The claims, by proponents of rammed earth housing are that the inhabitants can save between 30-50% on energy consumption. The results of this focused study indicate that the energy consumption comparison is inconclusive given the limited number of rammed earth homes in the study due to the regional focus. However, as a result of this study and the communications between the researcher and the participants, it is clear that most people do not understand how their home functions. This highlights a need for further studies into how to continually educate homeowners about home system construction and the impacts construction type has on efficient operation of heating and cooling systems.
Open Access
Current industry perceptions of the role of the contractor in the LEED certification process
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Loppnow, Stephen Wesley, author; Nobe, MaryEllen C., advisor; Dunbar, Brian H., committee member; Folkestad, James E., committee member
LEED certification has been rapidly adopted on the Front Range of Colorado as the primary green building rating system. LEED has required project teams and contractors to adopt new tasks and management activities in order to meet LEED requirements and owner expectations. It is understood that contractors are critical to successful implementation of the LEED process and ultimately meeting the LEED goals of a project. This research was designed to help determine what opportunities exist for contractors to better add value to the LEED process on future projects, and to identify differences among architects and designers, green building consultants and contractors in their perception of the contractor's role in LEED. A survey was distributed to building professionals with LEED experience on the Front Range of Colorado asking for feedback about the contractor's role, opportunities to add value and factors that may limit contractor success in LEED. Findings confirm that contractors have significant impact on the LEED process, and that there is opportunity for contractors to further add value to the process in the future. Also, that difference in perception of the contractor's role and contractor opportunity to add value does vary among the three main research groups: architects and designers, green building consultants and contractors. Key opportunities for contractors to better add value to the LEED process include: engagement in an integrated design process, taking on leadership in the LEED process, better LEED related cost estimating and management, better or expanded use of technology, better tracking tools and LEED management processes, and continuing education and LEED credentialing. Contractors and green building consultants often have closely aligned perception of the contractor's role in LEED, however each group showed variation in their perception of the contractor's role that was specific to their area of professional practice.
Open Access
Entering construction professionals: survey of work values and career expectations
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Moore, Jennifer Dawn, author; Guggemos, Angela A., advisor; Khattab, Mostafa, committee member; Gloeckner, Gene W., committee member
The discussion of human resources is a broad and complex one, especially in an industry as diverse as construction which employs unskilled and skilled crafts workers, clerical and professional staff, as well as a variety of construction professionals. With an understanding that employers must develop more effective ways of rewarding and developing their workforces to compete for new hires and retain their current personnel, the goal of this research is to give those construction organizations focused on strategic human resource management a better understanding of the individuals currently entering the workforce. The general research design of this study was a comparative and associational research approach or a non-experimental approach. In this particular case, this research design was appropriate as the study was centered on defining work values and career expectations of soon-to-be Construction Management graduates as related to their personal characteristics. As such, the intention of the survey employed was twofold. One aspect was to gain a personal profile of these individuals and an assessment of what values these entering construction professionals hold. The second piece was to examine this descriptive data and seek an understanding into any relationships which may exist among the personal characteristics of entering construction professionals and their stated life, behavioral, and work values. From this sample some general trends of this population were found. A review of the mean rankings of life and behavioral values shows the values associated as self-centered ranked highest of all values while social-centered were lowest. Instrumental values of moral-focused and competence-focused ranked between these two terminal values and were nearly identical. The work values associated with status and independence ranked above those associated with competence and growth and comfort and security. Those in the construction industry must recognize that the graduates of today are different than those of past generations and that what it takes to hire and retain these individuals is different than the strategies employed even a decade ago. Likewise, for the first time in American history, companies are challenged with managing four generations of employees at once, each with different values, expectations, and attitudes. For the industry to continue to grow and prosper, the leaders of tomorrow must be recruited and trained today and companies must identify a leadership succession plan, placing renewed emphasis on strategic human resource management.
Open Access
A framework for evaluating environmental commitment tracking programs in state departments of transportation
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Fillion, Andrew Christopher, author; Ozbek, Mehmet, advisor; Clevenger, Caroline, committee member; Taylor, Peter, committee member
Environmental tracking systems (ETSs) are used by state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) as well as by Federal agencies to track environmental commitments on construction projects from the project development stage through design, construction, and project completion. In this study a framework is developed that any state DOT can use to evaluate existing ETSs implemented by other state DOTs. This framework will allow that state DOT to identify the system that best meets its needs with the ultimate purpose of adopting that system. The framework's main function will be to identify and prioritize the features that a state DOT is looking for in an ETS, to evaluate existing ETSs used by other state DOTs with respect to those features, and to provide a final recommendation on which ETS should be adopted by that state DOT. The developed framework was implemented at the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). The findings and recommendations for that implementation example are also included in this study.
Open Access
Identifying the areas where building information modeling software adds value for general contractors working in the State of Colorado
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Sheata, Wally, author; Hamzeh, Farook, advisor; Senior, Bolivar, committee member; Ghosh, Sudipto, committee member
The purpose of this research is to identify the areas where Building Information Modeling (BIM) software is currently adding value to General Contractors working in the state of Colorado. The scope of this study is limited to the top Local and National General Contractors in the state of Colorado generating over $100 million a year in revenue as reported by McGraw Hill 2009 Top Colorado Contractors. An exploratory study was completed using industry experts as well as academic research to identify areas where BIM adds value to general contractors. The findings indicate that the majority of the sample group is using BIM on their projects to a certain degree, with very little negative value in any category. There were slight differences when comparing the national and local contractors with regards to the area of added value through the use of BIM, but overall they were very consistent. A conclusion was drawn that while these firms are very interested in BIM and want to continue to grow it within their firms, there are still many areas where BIM has yet to be fully utilized to add value within both the national and local companies.
Open Access
Measuring perceived accessibility of students with disabilities at a public university
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Simonson, Steve, author; Glick, Scott, advisor; Nobe, Mary, committee member; Marla, Roll, committee member
The purpose of the research was to explore the perceptions that students with disabilities had towards facility accessibility and quality of education at a public university and to determine any relationships between their perceptions of accessibility and perceptions of quality of education. Students' perceptions were measured using an online survey instrument. The survey was a thirty three question survey with questions exploring students' perceptions of accessibility of campus as a whole, accessibility of older buildings, accessibility of newer buildings, and quality of education. Students were found to perceive both accessibility and quality of education positively; however, there were numerous areas of statistically significant differences in students' opinions when they were grouped by demographic groups. The results also indicated that there was a positive relationship between perceived accessibility and perceived quality of education.
Open Access
Photovoice for post-occupancy evaluation: students explore health in a sustainable school
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Marley, Jenifer, author; Nobe, MaryEllen, advisor; Clevenger, Caroline, committee member; Banning, James, committee member
This study engaged six fourth grade students who attend a LEED® gold certified school, Bethke Elementary School located in northern Colorado, as co-researchers to explore their perspectives about health in their school environment. The methodology used in the study was developed as a participatory post-occupancy evaluation (PPOE) method, an innovative adaptation of an existing participatory visual research method, photovoice. The study documents a PPOE method that provided students an opportunity to voice their perspectives through the use of photography, digital story-telling and semi-structured focus group discussions. The method emphasizes the first-hand perspective of building occupants, in this case children. The study raises awareness about the opportunities green schools have to facilitate children's health. The students identified fourteen physical environmental attributes that they perceive as facilitating health according to their own conceptual definition established during a focus group discussion at the beginning of the study. Two of the fourteen attributes emerged as the most significant, including community connectivity and a connection to nature. Additionally, the research discusses social sustainability in relationship to an internationally recognized health framework. Five themes emerged in the study including stewardship; a desire for learning; participation in recreation, physical activities, and relaxation; sense of belonging to a community; and cultural values and attitudes of well-being. The study addresses shortcomings of existing post-occupancy evaluation techniques, and proposes an interdisciplinary, qualitative approach to the evaluation of children's environments. Building professionals, school facilities planners, school administrators, as well as others interested in the health and well-being of children in relation to their everyday environments will find this study meaningful.
Open Access
Determining the items that structure bridge management components and their relative weights
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Johnson, Joshua F., author; Ozbek, Mehmet Egemen, advisor; Clevenger, Caroline, committee member; Atadero, Rebecca, committee member; Chen, Suren, committee member
Ensuring the optimal allocation of available resources between competing bridges is difficult, especially when considering a combination of factors such as continual age related deterioration, ever-increasing traffic demands, and limited resources to address preservation and improvement needs. Optimally allocating funding is crucial since bridges are an essential and expensive component of transportation networks. Bridge Management Systems (BMSs) are commonly used tools that aid managers and decision makers in establishing methods for optimizing available resources and determining how to distribute funds between competing bridges. Recently, NCHRP Synthesis 397 Bridge Management Systems for Transportation Agency Decision Making investigated how transportation agencies are using BMSs and the current state of bridge management practices. The report identified concerns of inadequacy and ineffectiveness with bridge management practices that base decisions solely on single value assessments such as Pontis' Bridge Health Index or the Sufficiency Rating, as found in the federally mandated National Bridge Inspection Standards. Given the critiques in the NCHRP report and other literature related to bridge management, it is evident there exists a need to pursue and develop alternative bridge management practices and systems. The overall purpose of this research is to investigate the concept of isolating the items used to make up a single rating or index in an effort to categorize them under distinct bridge management components such as structural condition, impact on public, and hazard resistance. Each bridge management component has a defined objective as follows: • Structural Condition - accurately access the structural adequacy of a bridge. • Impact on Public - evaluate how bridge attributes affect the traveling public. • Hazard Resistance - evaluate how bridge attributes and external factors affect the vulnerability of a bridge concerning the probability of an extreme event as well as the probability of failure during that event. The specific objectives of this research are (i) to identify the appropriate items that make up each of the aforementioned components and (ii) to determine the relative importance of those items as represented by weighting factors. To achieve these objectives, the researcher conducted a two-part survey seeking input from key bridge management personnel from State DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and other industry professionals and experts. The first part of the survey identified the appropriate items and the second part determined the relative importance of those items using a mathematical method called the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The primary contribution of this research is to provide bridge management engineers and decision-makers with effective bridge management components, with well-defined objectives and related items, which clearly identify and distinguish differences in bridge attributes that may go unnoticed when using a single rating or index. This will especially be useful for State DOTs and local agencies, like the Wyoming Department of Transportation, from which the motivation for this research was adapted, who are developing BMSs and methods customized to their particular needs. Upon establishing the bridge management components, by determining the items that make up the components and their relative weights, transportation agencies may utilize them in a variety of ways to conduct multi-criteria decision analyses that complement their current bridge management practices, which in turn may better illustrate the operation of bridges in their system. The total number of respondents was 47, of which 32 were from 29 different State transportation agencies. Of the 47 participants, only 27 contributed to the second part of the survey. A major finding of this research was a result of several participant remarks about with quantifying preservation and maintenance demands through the addition of a fourth bridge management component. The preservation and maintenance component encompasses items that are bridge elements, but may not contribute to the structural capacity of a bridge. Given the degree of influence of adding a fourth component, further research is recommend to confirm these findings and conclusions with a refined two-part survey similar to this research study and possibly interviews or focus groups.
Open Access
Risk perception and cultural differences of Latinos across the residential, commercial, and heavy civil construction sectors
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Bormann, Kane, author; Lopez del Puerto, Carla, advisor; Gilkey, Dave, committee member; Clevenger, Caroline, committee member
In the field of construction, Latino workers currently suffer a disproportionate higher rate of injuries and fatalities than non-Latino workers. Socio cultural barriers exist that may contribute to this disproportionately higher rate; but, what effect does the sector of the construction industry employing the Latino worker have on safety incidents? The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in Latino construction worker's perceptions about safety culture and risk across the three construction sectors of residential, commercial, and heavy civil. This study is a continuation of the research collected for a cross-sectional study on Safety Culture and Risk Perception differences between Latino and non-Latino Construction workers. Analysis was conducted on 219 Latino responses to surveys collected in the Denver Metro and Northern Colorado areas. This study found that significant difference was exhibited between Latinos in different sectors of construction on six different questions. Those questions were, work productivity and quality having a higher priority than safety, feeling uncomfortable with work practices being observed and recorded, some safety rules and procedures being difficult to understand, immigrant workers making the worksite unsafe, willing to take more risks than coworkers, and the dangers present on construction sites cannot cause my death or the death of others. The research and results from this study will add to the literature of available knowledge and help achieve the overall goal of reducing the disproportionate safety incidents Latinos suffer in the construction industry.
Open Access
Rocky Mountain National Park waste audit and recycling behavioral change intervention initiative
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Dale, Elliot, author; Nobe, MaryEllen C., advisor; Clevenger, Caroline, committee member; Cross, Jennifer, committee member
Many federal, regional, and local municipalities and organizations have identified solid waste management, with a focus on landfill waste reduction, to be a core component of their sustainability operations. Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is one such organization seeking to increase sustainability through improved landfill waste diversion. RMNP conducted a park-wide waste audit in the summer of 2011, identifying the Family Campground location type as having the greatest opportunity to increase recycling rates and decrease trash volumes. Moraine Park Campground, the largest campground in RMNP, was selected for a two-year behavior change campaign and study. Community-based Social Marketing (CBSM) was used as the framework to identify strategies to increase recycling behaviors of park visitors. In accordance with CBSM, observations of waste disposal behaviors and intercept surveys with Moraine Park Campground visitors were conducted. Analysis of this data was performed using two qualitative data analysis techniques: Template Analysis and Constant Comparison. Such analyses identified the barriers to recycling to be awareness, convenience, and commitment. Analyses identified recycling benefits to include general environmental benefits, a connection to place, cleanliness, and the preservation of the environment for future generations. Utilizing CBSM tools for strategy development, strategies to promote recycling behaviors included: gaining recycling commitments upon campground entrance, receipt of equipment for sorting recyclables, Ranger programs to increase recycling commitment and awareness, and the use of multiple recycling prompts to act as reminders. These strategies were implemented in Moraine Park Campground in the summer of 2012 with varying success and consistency. A second waste audit conducted in 2012 found recyclables in the landfill waste stream reduced in the Family and Group Campground overall by 6% and 19%, respectively, as compared to the 2011 waste audit. This equates to a 23% decrease of recyclables in the waste stream in the Family Campground and a 68% decrease in the Group Campground. In addition, an exit survey was distributed to campers to determine their awareness of the strategies, and the perceived effectiveness of the implemented strategies. Results indicate that a camper's commitment to recycle coupled with the receipt of a reusable recycling bag was the most effective recycling behavior change strategy. Moreover, prompts in high visibility locations to remind campers to recycle were also highly effective. To further increase recycling in RMNP campgrounds, the barriers and benefits to long-term, institutional behavior change of park employees should be further researched. This study provides insight into the use of behavior change strategies for sustainable waste management in a National Park campground setting. The results can help other locations with similar visitor/employee interactions develop strategies to increase recycling participation.
Open Access
Assessing an educational safety training solution for Latino construction workers
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Miller, Megan Renae, author; Lopez del Puerto, Carla, advisor; Clevenger, Caroline, committee member; Gilkey, David, committee member
Latino construction workers are at a higher risk of occupational injury than any other ethnic group in the United States. Inappropriate safety training is one of the leading causes behind the alarming number of workplace accidents suffered by Latinos. As the total number of Latino construction worker deaths continues to trend upwards the need for culturally appropriate training is also increasing as workers of all ethnicities have equal rights to obtain the knowledge necessary to prevent on the job injuries. This study investigated 45 Latino construction workers in northern Colorado to determine the effectiveness of an educational video in enhancing viewer knowledge on fall protection safety, to verify that the video content and presentation was a culturally appropriate training technique and to analyze the participants' reactions. The researcher compared the participants' pre and post-video surveys on scaffolds knowledge and their reactions to the video. The results indicate that the use of an educational video in Spanish using non-descript characters is a culturally appropriate means to educate Latino construction workers.
Open Access
Last Planner® system affects organizational learning
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Langerud, Brandon D., author; Senior, Bolivar, advisor; Nobe, Mary, committee member; Fugate, Brian, committee member
To better understand organizational learning within the construction industry, this research examines the possible relationship between organizational learning and the Last Planner® System (LPS) of construction planning. The research survey was administered to construction professionals to assess their use of LPS and measure the level of organizational learning within their respective companies. LPS is a planning system that increases value and minimizes waste through focusing on collaborative communication and learning from the past; overlapping well with key factors of learning organization. Hypothesis one stated that LPS users would score higher on the Learning Organization Capability Score (LOCS). Through the data analysis it was found that the first hypothesis should be rejected due to discovery of an inverse relationship then proposed. The second hypothesis proposed that LPS users would score higher on the effective transfer of knowledge and team and group problem solving sub-scales. This was found to show statistical significance, however in the opposite direction then originally hypothesized. Hypothesis three proposed a positive correlation between an organizations number of lean production planning characteristics utilized and their LOCS, this was found to show no statistical significance. While a reverse relationship was found between LPS use and the LOCS, the review of literature suggests the opposite and further research should be done before any final conclusions can be made. This research served as a preliminary investigation of the relationship between organizational learning and the Last Planner® System, a more comprehensive and in depth research would greatly benefit the topic area.
Open Access
Perceptions of barriers towards reusable building material stores
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013) Hess, Adam B., author; Nobe, Mary, advisor; Cotrell, Stuart, committee member; Clevenger, Caroline, committee member
This paper explores perceptions of barriers towards reusable building material stores in Northern Colorado. Use of these stores minimizes harmful affects to the environment, creates affordable alternatives to new building materials, and benefits community by creating jobs. This study measures the attitudes of people as well as the perceived barriers associated with reusable building material stores. The model being used to test and measure these concepts is the Theory of Planned Behavior which states that behaviors are influenced by a person's attitude and their behavioral intentions. This paper applies part of the theory to see if attitudes and barriers predict behavioral intention. This information can help eliminate perceived barriers and increase attitudes therefore increasing the behavior of shopping at these reusable building material stores.