CAPSTONE PROJECTS
DISCOVER THE SKILLS IN OUR FOURTH YEARS’ TOOLKITS Bachelor of Science Construction Project Management, 2015
SAIT Polytechnic School of Construction Calgary, AB T2M 0L4 Phone: 403.284.8367 Email: construction.info@sait.ca Learn more at sait.ca
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT The Bachelor of Science in Construction Project Management program provides students with the basis for broader management decisions and on-site leadership in construction operations, structured management, and leadership techniques. The program prepares students for leadership roles in the construction industry. It consists of a combination of core courses, specialty courses, and general education courses. As construction project managers, graduates will ultimately be responsible for many aspects of a client’s project, including project design, planning, scheduling, managing employees and contractors, managing equipment and materials, and budgeting.
CAPSTONE PROJECT The fourth-year capstone project is a faculty-mentored and student-driven research project that applies specialty knowledge with the combined skills learned throughout the Bachelor of Science in Construction Project Management program. Student teams research management-related issues pertinent to the construction sector and built environment and provide solutions to those real-world challenges with an industry sponsor. This major program activity is expected to contain some elements that are deemed to be innovative, experimental, or exploratory in nature. In the capstone’s inaugural year, projects included everything from examining current local construction waste management procedures, to integrating a progressive communications system, to proposing solutions to current housing issues in First Nations communities. The following pages showcase the research and innovation displayed by our fourth-year BSc CPM students.
INSPIRING PROGRESS MOHAMED MERHI | STEVEN LUFT | TAS RAFIYAT | ERIC APPL
CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT
STRATEGY AND POLICY SUGGESTIONS FOR RECYCLING IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Recognizing wasteful practices in the current local construction industry, Eric Appl, Steven Luft, Mohamed Merhi, and Tas Rafiyat set out to research best waste management practices in other North American cities and globally. After analyzing data collected at local residential, commercial, and industrial construction sites, the team determined that it is currently more cost effective to recycle than to send waste to the landfill. Construction companies, therefore, need incentives to progress to more environmentally conscious practices.
PILOT PROGRAM Implement a pilot program where there would be a trial 80% waste diversion.
DECONSTRUCTION PERMIT Introduce a deconstruction permit (making it easier and quicker for construction companies to acquire), and revise the current demolition requirements (making it more costly and less efficient to acquire).
WASTE MANAGEMENT LEGISLATION Legislate a waste management plan as a requirement for a building permit.
The project team recommended a three-phase plan to encourage a cultural shift towards sustainability in our province and our city.
“Collaboration is key to the success of projects and programs.
This is particularly true in waste management because landfill space is finite. We need to do everything we can in all sectors to keep valuable resources out.� BRIAN NG, P.Eng., Waste Management Engineer Waste & Recycling Services, The City of Calgary
Student team Eric Appl, Steven Luft, Mohamed Merhi, Tas Rafiyat Faculty advisor Shahab Moeini Industry partners City of Calgary, CH2M
EMPOWERING LEADERS
ROB DVORACK | DANIELLE LAMBERT | JAY REDEKOP
COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT PLANNING STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAMS Rob Dvorack, Danielle Lambert, and Jay Redekop worked with an organization in the construction industry to identify the main barriers to effective communication between members amongst the cross-functional teams of Engineering and Construction and determine how those barriers can be mitigated.
COMMUNICATION PLAN
RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
The plan outlines various aspects of project communications including: > the appropriate communication channels to be utilized and when > who is responsible for completing which project tasks > who is the responsible owner of project information > formal document control procedures for project information
Dvorack, Lambert, and Redekop conducted a qualitative assessment which revealed that the greatest barrier to effective communication was the lack of well-defined roles and responsibilities, resulting in issues of redundancy, accountability, and document control.
The team developed a communication management plan to formalize processes and procedures for effective communication of project information. The plan defines the roles and responsibilities of the cross-functional team members and the project stakeholders.
The silo effect can be mitigated by promoting cross-functional teams within the company to share information and work toward a common goal. The clearly defined roles and responsibilities sets accountability and expectations, organizes project resources efficiently, and allows for smooth project execution and delivery.
Student team Rob Dvorack, Danielle Lambert, Jay Redekop Faculty advisor Tareq Baker Industry partner ATCO Structures & Logistics
EXPLORING STRATEGIES JOSEPH CLARK | SHELDON HARDING
HOUSING STRATEGY FOR FIRST NATIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPROACHING THE CURRENT HOUSING ISSUES IN SIKSIKA NATION The state of Aboriginal housing falls below the standard of housing elsewhere in Canada, threatening the health and well-being of the people residing in them. Sierra Albery, Joseph Clark, and Sheldon Harding set out to research the needs in Siksika Nation in terms of housing, develop a sustainable construction plan, and provide recommendations to enhance current living conditions. The team’s research indicated that the current housing problems stem from: > inadequate income to support the purchase of housing > absence of a functioning housing market > lack of clarity around the government’s responsibility to respond to the problem
Student team Sierra Albery, Joseph Clark, Sheldon Harding Faculty advisor Azzeddine Oudjehane Industry partner Siksika Nation
Based on literature research, interviews with the housing director for Siksika Nation, interviews with previous councilors and elders, and questionnaire results from band members, Albery, Clark, and Harding recommend the following:
GOVERNANCE An effective governance structure is the foundation of providing a construction plan that contributes to strengthening societies. The policies should reflect the traditions of the nation and therefore communication with community members is essential.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING Educating all parties involved in the housing process is key. Appropriate management and proper implementation of recommendations from the Guide to Housing Policy outlined by the Assembly of First Nations in 2010 is crucial. In addition, involving the homeowner as early in the process as possible may instill a sense of pride in ownership and result in a reduction of degradation of on-reserve houses.
CREATING CONNECTIONS
EMILY WARD | MARK UNIAT
INTEGRATED WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE CREATING A CENTRAL HUB TO CONNECT PRODUCTIVITY WITH CLAIMS AND DISPUTES Observing a disconnect between business units within an organization, Mark Uniat and Emily Ward developed a prototype model of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) as an integrated approach to increasing effective communication and creating project efficiencies. The model focuses on process integration using widely available software. The system also proactively stores the necessary data to protect the company from the financial impact of claims.
INFORMATION ACCESS In creating the WBS-based project management system, business units are able to access more accurate information in real time on each project. This means there will be a stronger connect between site actuals and perceived progress.
VALUE OF PROJECT-BASED WBS Uniat and Ward suggest that a project-based model is important for the construction industry for the following reasons: > It creates a more integrated project team > It reduces the communication time between members and promotes collaboration and ownership of work > It allows the project manager to define a vision for the project and work with the team to achieve that vision > It creates accountability to the project and reduces mistakes and turn around time of project tasks
“The capstone project is an excellent idea — it allows for practical application to theory learned academically. I was quite impressed with the students who worked with us.” STEPHEN REVAY, VP Western Region Revay and Associates Limited
Student team Mark Uniat, Emily Ward Faculty advisor Shahab Moeini Industry partner Revay and Associates Limited
ANALYZING INITIATIVES TYSON THOMSON | COSMIN POPA | CHASE HEPWORTH
WASTE MANAGEMENT PLANNING IMPLEMENTING PROACTIVE STRATEGIES FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT The Applied Research and Innovation Services (ARIS) group at SAIT expressed interest in developing a waste management plan for the construction of the new Green Building and Technologies Lab on the SAIT campus. The lab is targeting LEED status and has space constrictions during the construction phase. Chase Hepworth, Cosmin Popa, and Tyson Thomson tackled that challenge by generating a plan that meets the requirements of the LEED category “Construction and Demolition Waste Management� from the 2013 LEED v4, making recommendations that minimize the impact that the waste plan has on the site footprint, and proposing new solutions to deal with site waste generation.
RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS By quantifying waste and assigning prices to alternatives, the team was able to provide a business case supporting green initiatives. Additionally, the team approached each material with a qualitative assessment to determine the positive impact waste diversion would have on the environment.
RECOMMENDATIONS Hepworth, Popa, and Thomson recommend implementing proactive waste plans to achieve a positive environmental impact and improve cost savings. By tracking the amount of waste generated in a construction schedule, industry can determine what type of waste should be expected at what point in time. This type of foresight will help with waste sorting and the type of bins that will be present on site at any given time. A waste management process also ensures that recyclable materials will reach the correct facilities. Owners and contractors will be able to evaluate the cost benefits of different waste management alternatives before implementing and plan accordingly.
Student team Chase Hepworth, Cosmin Popa, Tyson Thomson Faculty advisor Sujeewa Wimalasena Industry partners Avalon Master Builder, SAIT Polytechnic
Applied Research and Innovation Services
VALIDATING EVIDENCE
ADAM MORSTAD | AVREE BUJACZEK | ANDREW BRENNAN
BENEFITS OF INTEGRATED PROJECT DELIVERY DETERMINING REASONS TO IMPLEMENT THIS SYSTEM IN THE CANADIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
“At CHANDOS we are strong believers in project-based learning — being able to tie in the theory to the practical. We are happy to provide this type of insight.” MATT ABEL, Project Manager CHANDOS Construction Ltd.
RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS The team researched the benefits of IPD in North America and conducted a survey with local stakeholders who recently participated in IPD projects. They found that benefits such as quality, cost, and schedule were the main reasons Calgary construction companies chose IPD over traditional delivery methods. Their survey results also displayed a strong correlation between using IPD and improved communications and relationships throughout the project process.
Student team Andrew Brennan, Avree Bujaczek, Adam Morstad Faculty advisor Tareq Baker Industry partner CHANDOS Construction Ltd.
IPD SELECTION CRITERIA AMONG CALGARY CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES Selection criteria
Andrew Brennan, Avree Bujaczek, and Adam Morstad investigated the effectiveness of Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), a new delivery method in the construction industry that has a collaborative approach. The method takes advantage of the expertise of different teams at the early stages of a project.
Cost Quality Schedule Safety Efficiency Risk management Sustainability Relationships 0
20
40
60
80
Percentage of respondents who indicated the criteria was important when evaluating the IPD method
RECOMMENDATIONS The project team concluded that IPD is an effective delivery method and yields added value on projects. They suggested that a high level understanding of the IPD method is vital to its effectiveness.
PROVIDING SOLUTIONS
SCOTT WEAVING | AARON VILLESTAS
CONCRETE MATERIALS AND EFFICIENCIES INVESTIGATING ALTERNATIVES FOR THE CONCRETE FORMWORK INDUSTRY Aaron Villestas and Scott Weaving worked with local concrete construction company, Firmus Contracting Inc., to identify alternative concrete formork methods, equipment, and materials to minimize formwork costs and increase their work efficiency.
FORMWORK TYPES A comparison analysis of Timber Formwork Systems and Metal Formwork Systems revealed differences in weight, durability, and efficiency. The team found that Timber Formwork Systems have a higher initial cost, but a longer life cycle and better durability. Considerably lighter Timber Formwork Systems contribute to quicker erection and striking times and less strain on workers, resulting in higher work efficiency.
Student team Aaron Villestas, Scott Weaving Faculty advisor Mohamed Nazir Industry partner Firmus Contracting Inc.
EQUIPMENT Villestas and Weaving assessed costs associated with concrete formwork operating equipment and vehicles. While they determined that the company’s current equipment and vehicle combination for residential construction is a viable option, they found that using a certain alternative equipment mix would improve costs in residential concrete construction projects. They also found that if the company intends to work on commercial projects in future, using a new appropriately selected equipment mix will be essential to maintain cost and work efficiencies.
MATERIALS Concrete wall ties made of steel are widely used in concrete wall construction. Using steel ties has been a safety concern for Firmus Contracting Inc. due to sharp steel ties protruding out of concrete during the formwork removal process. The team investigated substituting steel ties with a newly developed polymer tie and found that it is a viable and cost effective option.
THINKING FORWARD MARK JOHNSTON | CHRISTIAN MEYER | CAMERON MUNDLE
WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
STRATEGIES FOR THE DECONSTRUCTION OR RENOVATION OF NON-RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION Mark Johnston, Christian Meyer, and Cameron Mundle examined current deconstruction and demolition practices in the Calgary construction industry. They researched and reviewed documentation and conducted observations at two on-site locations and administered a survey among several construction companies to identify salvage methods and barriers to the implementation of a deconstruction management plan. Their findings indicated that although demolition waste was being accounted for, no measures were being used as a baseline to effectively minimize the quantity of waste. The team also determined that there was a disconnect between having a waste management policy and implementing effective waste management.
Student team Mark Johnston, Christian Meyer, Cameron Mundle Faculty advisor Azzeddine Oudjehane Industry partners ELAN Construction, Flintstone Concrete Breakers
POLICY IMPLEMENTATION Johnston, Meyer, and Mundle suggested that a certification board at the local level implement policies to improve current deconstruction and demolition practices. Implementation in Calgary may encourage other municipalities to engage in more effective processes and eventually lead to implementation at the provincial level. Proper infrastructure and education are vital in order to provide a positive future for improved waste management practices.
DECONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PLAN A systematic implementation of deconstruction management plans is a direct driver for the creation of detailed industry specifications. Standards to enable deconstruction/demolition waste management could have a positive impact in altering the way architects and engineers design buildings and structures. With a waste management plan, engineers could potentially improve constructibility and include a phase for deconstructibility analysis. Implementing these procedures would allow for maximum reusability of materials.
CONGRATULATIONS CAPSTONE AWARD RECIPIENTS The Calgary Construction Association, with support from industry members, provided the following six exceptional students with a scholarship of $2,500 for their academic effort in providing real-world solutions to the commercial and/or industrial construction industry.
ROB DVORACK, BSc Project Coordinator, ELAN Construction Limited Rob Dvorack lived in Kelowna, BC and worked as a residential framer before deciding to move to Calgary in search of new opportunities — beginning with SAIT’s Bachelor of Science in Construction Project Management program. His interests are in residential and commercial projects. Dvorack had three internships as a field engineer with PCL before accepting his current position at ELAN Construction. DANIELLE LAMBERT, BSc Project Coordinator/Estimator, Thermal Systems Prior to entering the BSc CPM program, Danielle Lambert was an Open Studies student at Mount Royal University. Her interests are in commerical and residential projects. During her time at SAIT she had two internships with ATCO Structures & Logistics: building a 2,500 man camp in Saskachewan and working at their head office in Calgary for the Project Control department.
ADAM MORSTAD, BSc Independent Adam Morstad was an accountant and then began working on renovation and deck projects when he decided to come back to SAIT in the BSc CPM program. His interests are in commercial and residential projects and will be seeking a coordinator role. Morstad’s internships were at Pacer Corporation as construction coordinator in Fort McKay at the CNRL Horizon Oil Sands Site, with CHANDOS Construction as project coordinator, and with ELAN Construction as a project assistant.
“The stakeholders of the Calgary Construction Association recognize that by investing in education, today’s youth will contribute to economic and social progress. The CPM student capstone projects will lead to greater innovation, resulting in a more efficient and productive workforce.” DAVE SMITH, President Calgary Construction Association
JAY REDEKOP, BSc In-Line Inspection Project Manager, TransCanada Pipelines Jay Redekop was a labourer in road construction for five years before entering the BSc CPM program. His interests are in industrial, oil and gas, and infrastructure projects. Redekop’s internships included project coordination at SPECS, a construction consulting company in residential and commercial restoration, and at Pacer Foundations Corporation, an industrial oil and gas/heavy civil/infrastructure construction company. MARK UNIAT, BSc Project Manager, Golden Triangle Construction Mark Uniat owned a landscaping business, worked in tech sales, and studied business before deciding to enrol in the BSc CPM program. His interests are in institutional and industrial projects. Uniat’s internships were at ATCO Structures in various roles including: project controls, project coordinator, materials coordinator, and junior site management.
EMILY WARD, BSc Project Coordinator, EllisDon Prior to entering the BSc CPM program, Emily Ward traveled Australia and studied geology at Mount Royal University. Her interests are in commercial and industrial/infrastructure projects. Ward’s internship at EllisDon as a project coordinator became her full-time career after graduating from the BSc CPM program in 2015.
THANKS TO OUR
INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Our Industry Advisory Committee is integral to the success of our program. We believe in collaboration and we work together as a learning community to serve our students and partners. By providing our students with skills in demand by industry, we are preparing them for success and providing our community with qualified workers. Thank you for your insight and continued support. > > > > > > > > >
Adrian Begley, Pacer Corporation Julie Berdin, ARPI’s Industries LTD. Marco Civitarese, City of Calgary Kees Cusveller, Graham Group Brad Hammond , Westcor Barry Hawkins, Independent John P. Lacroix, Bantrel Brian Maurer, Albi Renova Gary Moro, Albi Homes
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Todd Poulsen, ELAN Construction Brad Regier, Clark Builders Roger Ward, MCEL Glenn Winter, Shell Marlen Buitelaar, SAIT Polytechnic, Academic Chair — BSc CPM > Shuna Talbot, SAIT Polytechnic, Administrative Assistant
THANKS TO OUR
GENEROUS DONORS Scholarships and awards recognize the academic achievements and community involvement of our students. Sincere thanks to all the donors who supported the Bachelor of Science in Construction Project Management program and our students in reaching their academic goals during the 2014/2015 academic year: > > > > >
Albi Homes Ltd. Albi Renova Ltd. AON Reed Stenhouse Brookfield Residential Calgary Construction Association
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CANA Construction Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating City of Calgary D.T. Consulting Morgan Construction and Environmental Ltd.
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