In 1997, the Ohio senate passed Senate Bill 102 which established the Ohio School Facilities Comm... more In 1997, the Ohio senate passed Senate Bill 102 which established the Ohio School Facilities Commission as a separate agency to oversee the rebuilding projects of the public schools in Ohio. To lower the construction cost, the bill exempted construction contractors from paying prevailing wages on these projects based on the hypothesis that this exemption would save the Ohio tax payer 10.7%. Many other studies concluded that these savings would range from 1.5 to 26%. The purpose of this research was to investigate this hypothesis through the statistical analysis of 8093 bids received for the schools ’ construction from the years 2000 through 2007. Union contractors- who paid their workers union wages-and non-union contractors- who did not pay prevailing wages-bid these projects. By comparing the bids/SF from both groups (union and nonunion), the hypothesis was tested. The research indicated that there was no significant difference between the bids for union contractors and the
In 1997, the Ohio senate passed Senate Bill 102 which established the Ohio School Facilities Comm... more In 1997, the Ohio senate passed Senate Bill 102 which established the Ohio School Facilities Commission as a separate agency to oversee the rebuilding projects of the public schools in Ohio. To lower the construction cost, the bill exempted construction contractors from paying prevailing wages on these projects. The purpose of this research was to investigate this hypothesis through the statistical analysis of 8093 bids received for the schools' construction from the year 2000 to 2007. Union contractors who paid their workers union wages and non-union contractors who did not pay prevailing wages bid these projects. The hypothesis that prevailing wage laws (PWL) increased the construction cost was tested by comparing the bids/SF from both groups (union and non- union) along the different construction trades. The research indicates that there was statistical significant difference between the bids/SF for union contractors and the bids/SF for non-union contractors for only the foll...
Waikiki Public Bath Force Main Replacement Project consists of 1,037 m of 400 mm force main that ... more Waikiki Public Bath Force Main Replacement Project consists of 1,037 m of 400 mm force main that carries the wastewater from the Public Bath pump station to a gravity sewer on the Kuhio Avenue. This force main transports wastewater underneath Kalakaua Ave, very close to some of the most expensive real state in the world. This area is the heart of Waikiki beach, and it is full of beach resorts, five star hotels, shopping, etc. The soil strata can be described as 2.50 to 3.00 m deep of beach sand on top of half a meter of a very hard coral ledge on top of a lagoon deposit layer (very soft gray fat clay). The N SPT values in this lagoon deposit layer range from zero to eight. The specified construction method for this project was microtunneling of 700 mm of Permalok steel casing with a 400 mm PVC carrier pipe inside the casing. The annular space between the two pipes was grouted with low density grout. Many problems were encountered during the construction phase of this project. This paper is a retrospective review of the project from the contractor's point of view. It covers the design and construction aspects of this project in addition to the encountered problems and the lessons learned from that project.
Gravity sewer installations require a level of accuracy tolerance of 25 mm (1 inch) on line and g... more Gravity sewer installations require a level of accuracy tolerance of 25 mm (1 inch) on line and grade. Gravity sewers [smaller in diameter than 914 mm (36 inch)] can be installed using open cut and trenchless techniques such as pilot tube guided boring, microtunneling, and auger boring. Each of these techniques has advantages and disadvantages, and each can be the best option under certain circumstances. Open cut is a costly alternative if the sewer is deep, is below the ground water table, or includes costly reinstatement. Similarly, the above-cited trenchless methods are costly. Therefore, the owners of gravity lines need more economical alternative technique than these methods. The ability of conventional horizontal directional drilling, to install pipelines with the required accuracy for sewer installations, is questionable. However, the ArrowBore technique promises the ability to install gravity sewers using horizontal directional drilling as a cost-effective alternative. This paper presents a case history of the installation of 122 m (400 ft) of 300mm (12 inch) diameter gravity sewer in Berea, Ohio that was installed using the ArrowBore method. This sewer line was 12 m (40 ft) deep in gray clay with shale fragments. The sewer was installed successfully, except at a certain location where an unforeseen rock formation was encountered. This paper presents the design and construction aspects of this sewer, along with a discussion of the lessons learned.
The intuitive hypothesis that Construction Management Professionals (CMP) must have a high level ... more The intuitive hypothesis that Construction Management Professionals (CMP) must have a high level of people skills implies that they should be different than the population at large in terms of people skills. In addition, estimators do not deal with as many people as project managers; therefore, they may not have/need as high of people skills as project managers. This paper tests these hypotheses through the analysis of 47 personality traits of 102 experienced applicants for construction management positions and compares this analysis to the traits of the overall population. The analysis suggested that (1) CMP were significantly different from the general population in 34 traits, and they were not significantly different in 13 other traits; (2) construction estimators and project managers were not significantly different except in two traits: human services and gregariousness.
All projects are subject to risks that have both a direct and indirect effect on the project cost... more All projects are subject to risks that have both a direct and indirect effect on the project cost and time. The risks vary from project to project because of the unique nature of each project. It is important for the project management team to include risk management as an integral part of their project planning and execution. Risk management strategies should be incorporated in every phase of an HDD project to ensure that the project meets the required quality and safety standards, and that the project delivery is within cost and schedule. This paper takes a look at Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) construction risks (the risks that occur during the construction phase) from the contractor's point of view. Through a literature survey and content analysis of previous works, various HDD construction risks were identified. An industry survey was administered and interviews with major HDD contractors in the state of Ohio were conducted and both the probability of occurrence and impact of these risks on project cost were determined. The paper employed the use of a probability-impact model to identify the critical construction risks and suggests risk management measures and strategies that can be utilized to effectively minimize the risks.
All projects are subject to risks that have both a direct and indirect effect on the project cost... more All projects are subject to risks that have both a direct and indirect effect on the project cost and time. The risks vary from project to project because of the unique nature of each project. It is important for the project management team to include risk management as an integral part of their project planning and execution. Risk management strategies should be incorporated in every phase of an HDD project to ensure that the project meets the required quality and safety standards, and that the project delivery is within cost and schedule. This paper takes a look at Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) construction risks (the risks that occur during the construction phase) from the contractor’s point of view. Through a literature survey and content analysis of previous works, various HDD construction risks were identified. An industry survey was administered and interviews with major HDD contractors in the state of Ohio were conducted and both the probability of occurrence and imp...
Pipelines provide a vital service in transporting water, wastewater, drainage, natural gas, petro... more Pipelines provide a vital service in transporting water, wastewater, drainage, natural gas, petroleum, and other products. "Pipelines 2006: Service to the Owner" provides guiding principles for managing the design, construction, and operation of pipelines. It contains 97 papers that were presented at the Pipeline Division Specialty Conference held in Chicago, Illinois from July 30 to August 2, 2006. "Pipelines 2006" delves into topics such as hydraulic design, asset and construction management, durability, infrastructure renewal, planning, seismic effects and safety, soil structure interaction, and trenchless technology construction. It's an indispensable resource for anyone involved in the engineering of pipelines.
Waikiki Public Bath Force Main Replacement Project consists of 1,037 m of 400 mm force main that ... more Waikiki Public Bath Force Main Replacement Project consists of 1,037 m of 400 mm force main that carries the wastewater from the Public Bath pump station to a gravity sewer on the Kuhio Avenue. This force main transports wastewater underneath Kalakaua Ave, very close to some of the most expensive real state in the world. This area is the heart of Waikiki beach, and it is full of beach resorts, five star hotels, shopping, etc. The soil strata can be described as 2.50 to 3.00 m deep of beach sand on top of half a meter of a very hard coral ledge on top of a lagoon deposit layer (very soft gray fat clay). The NSPT values in this lagoon deposit layer range from zero to eight. The specified construction method for this project was microtunneling of 700 mm of Permalok steel casing with a 400 mm PVC carrier pipe inside the casing. The annular space between the two pipes was grouted with low density grout. Many problems were encountered during the construction phase of this project. This pa...
Culverts are very critical to drainage and transportation of fluids under highways. State Departm... more Culverts are very critical to drainage and transportation of fluids under highways. State Departments of Transportation maintain thousands of these culverts under highways, road and freeways. The Ohio Department of Transportation alone maintains over 85,000 culverts under Ohio's priority and general highways. Through regular inspections and condition assessment of these culverts, a course of action ranging from routine maintenance to replacement is recommended. Pipe bursting is a viable alternative to replace deteriorated culverts. However, a high percentage of these culverts are made of corrugated metal pipes which are challenging to burst because the ridges tend to fold under the compression stress making it difficult, and often times, impossible to burst. The research team at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in collaboration with two pipe bursting manufacturers (TT Technologies and Hammerhead) conducted pipe bursting research tests aimed at finding solutions to bursting corrugated metal pipes. This paper provides an overview of the pipe bursting operations through which four corrugated metal pipe culverts (12", 18", and 24" in diameter) were successfully replaced through this collaborative effort.
The City of Bowling Green, OH operates a water distribution system that delivers high quality wat... more The City of Bowling Green, OH operates a water distribution system that delivers high quality water. The system operates optimally in a grid system; larger, “trunk water mains,” are installed in a grid pattern on the outer limits of the system with smaller lines branching from the larger lines. Almost all the residential, industrial, and commercial areas in Bowling Green were originally limited to the west side of I-75. However over the past few decades, these areas grew on the east side of I-75. Two 24” water mains crossed underneath I-75 at the central and south part of the city to provide water to the east side. These limit development in the north eastern section and subject the WWTP (located in that part) to an undue risk if any damage occurs in the central trunk. The installation of a 16” waterline underneath I-75 at the northern end will ensure fire protection for the existing industry and supply a second water source to the WWTP. Four construction methods are examined to cro...
In 1997, the Ohio senate passed Senate Bill 102 which established the Ohio School Facilities Comm... more In 1997, the Ohio senate passed Senate Bill 102 which established the Ohio School Facilities Commission as a separate agency to oversee the rebuilding projects of the public schools in Ohio. To lower the construction cost, the bill exempted construction contractors from paying prevailing wages on these projects based on the hypothesis that this exemption would save the Ohio tax payer 10.7%. Many other studies concluded that these savings would range from 1.5 to 26%. The purpose of this research was to investigate this hypothesis through the statistical analysis of 8093 bids received for the schools ’ construction from the years 2000 through 2007. Union contractors- who paid their workers union wages-and non-union contractors- who did not pay prevailing wages-bid these projects. By comparing the bids/SF from both groups (union and nonunion), the hypothesis was tested. The research indicated that there was no significant difference between the bids for union contractors and the
In 1997, the Ohio senate passed Senate Bill 102 which established the Ohio School Facilities Comm... more In 1997, the Ohio senate passed Senate Bill 102 which established the Ohio School Facilities Commission as a separate agency to oversee the rebuilding projects of the public schools in Ohio. To lower the construction cost, the bill exempted construction contractors from paying prevailing wages on these projects. The purpose of this research was to investigate this hypothesis through the statistical analysis of 8093 bids received for the schools' construction from the year 2000 to 2007. Union contractors who paid their workers union wages and non-union contractors who did not pay prevailing wages bid these projects. The hypothesis that prevailing wage laws (PWL) increased the construction cost was tested by comparing the bids/SF from both groups (union and non- union) along the different construction trades. The research indicates that there was statistical significant difference between the bids/SF for union contractors and the bids/SF for non-union contractors for only the foll...
Waikiki Public Bath Force Main Replacement Project consists of 1,037 m of 400 mm force main that ... more Waikiki Public Bath Force Main Replacement Project consists of 1,037 m of 400 mm force main that carries the wastewater from the Public Bath pump station to a gravity sewer on the Kuhio Avenue. This force main transports wastewater underneath Kalakaua Ave, very close to some of the most expensive real state in the world. This area is the heart of Waikiki beach, and it is full of beach resorts, five star hotels, shopping, etc. The soil strata can be described as 2.50 to 3.00 m deep of beach sand on top of half a meter of a very hard coral ledge on top of a lagoon deposit layer (very soft gray fat clay). The N SPT values in this lagoon deposit layer range from zero to eight. The specified construction method for this project was microtunneling of 700 mm of Permalok steel casing with a 400 mm PVC carrier pipe inside the casing. The annular space between the two pipes was grouted with low density grout. Many problems were encountered during the construction phase of this project. This paper is a retrospective review of the project from the contractor's point of view. It covers the design and construction aspects of this project in addition to the encountered problems and the lessons learned from that project.
Gravity sewer installations require a level of accuracy tolerance of 25 mm (1 inch) on line and g... more Gravity sewer installations require a level of accuracy tolerance of 25 mm (1 inch) on line and grade. Gravity sewers [smaller in diameter than 914 mm (36 inch)] can be installed using open cut and trenchless techniques such as pilot tube guided boring, microtunneling, and auger boring. Each of these techniques has advantages and disadvantages, and each can be the best option under certain circumstances. Open cut is a costly alternative if the sewer is deep, is below the ground water table, or includes costly reinstatement. Similarly, the above-cited trenchless methods are costly. Therefore, the owners of gravity lines need more economical alternative technique than these methods. The ability of conventional horizontal directional drilling, to install pipelines with the required accuracy for sewer installations, is questionable. However, the ArrowBore technique promises the ability to install gravity sewers using horizontal directional drilling as a cost-effective alternative. This paper presents a case history of the installation of 122 m (400 ft) of 300mm (12 inch) diameter gravity sewer in Berea, Ohio that was installed using the ArrowBore method. This sewer line was 12 m (40 ft) deep in gray clay with shale fragments. The sewer was installed successfully, except at a certain location where an unforeseen rock formation was encountered. This paper presents the design and construction aspects of this sewer, along with a discussion of the lessons learned.
The intuitive hypothesis that Construction Management Professionals (CMP) must have a high level ... more The intuitive hypothesis that Construction Management Professionals (CMP) must have a high level of people skills implies that they should be different than the population at large in terms of people skills. In addition, estimators do not deal with as many people as project managers; therefore, they may not have/need as high of people skills as project managers. This paper tests these hypotheses through the analysis of 47 personality traits of 102 experienced applicants for construction management positions and compares this analysis to the traits of the overall population. The analysis suggested that (1) CMP were significantly different from the general population in 34 traits, and they were not significantly different in 13 other traits; (2) construction estimators and project managers were not significantly different except in two traits: human services and gregariousness.
All projects are subject to risks that have both a direct and indirect effect on the project cost... more All projects are subject to risks that have both a direct and indirect effect on the project cost and time. The risks vary from project to project because of the unique nature of each project. It is important for the project management team to include risk management as an integral part of their project planning and execution. Risk management strategies should be incorporated in every phase of an HDD project to ensure that the project meets the required quality and safety standards, and that the project delivery is within cost and schedule. This paper takes a look at Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) construction risks (the risks that occur during the construction phase) from the contractor's point of view. Through a literature survey and content analysis of previous works, various HDD construction risks were identified. An industry survey was administered and interviews with major HDD contractors in the state of Ohio were conducted and both the probability of occurrence and impact of these risks on project cost were determined. The paper employed the use of a probability-impact model to identify the critical construction risks and suggests risk management measures and strategies that can be utilized to effectively minimize the risks.
All projects are subject to risks that have both a direct and indirect effect on the project cost... more All projects are subject to risks that have both a direct and indirect effect on the project cost and time. The risks vary from project to project because of the unique nature of each project. It is important for the project management team to include risk management as an integral part of their project planning and execution. Risk management strategies should be incorporated in every phase of an HDD project to ensure that the project meets the required quality and safety standards, and that the project delivery is within cost and schedule. This paper takes a look at Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) construction risks (the risks that occur during the construction phase) from the contractor’s point of view. Through a literature survey and content analysis of previous works, various HDD construction risks were identified. An industry survey was administered and interviews with major HDD contractors in the state of Ohio were conducted and both the probability of occurrence and imp...
Pipelines provide a vital service in transporting water, wastewater, drainage, natural gas, petro... more Pipelines provide a vital service in transporting water, wastewater, drainage, natural gas, petroleum, and other products. "Pipelines 2006: Service to the Owner" provides guiding principles for managing the design, construction, and operation of pipelines. It contains 97 papers that were presented at the Pipeline Division Specialty Conference held in Chicago, Illinois from July 30 to August 2, 2006. "Pipelines 2006" delves into topics such as hydraulic design, asset and construction management, durability, infrastructure renewal, planning, seismic effects and safety, soil structure interaction, and trenchless technology construction. It's an indispensable resource for anyone involved in the engineering of pipelines.
Waikiki Public Bath Force Main Replacement Project consists of 1,037 m of 400 mm force main that ... more Waikiki Public Bath Force Main Replacement Project consists of 1,037 m of 400 mm force main that carries the wastewater from the Public Bath pump station to a gravity sewer on the Kuhio Avenue. This force main transports wastewater underneath Kalakaua Ave, very close to some of the most expensive real state in the world. This area is the heart of Waikiki beach, and it is full of beach resorts, five star hotels, shopping, etc. The soil strata can be described as 2.50 to 3.00 m deep of beach sand on top of half a meter of a very hard coral ledge on top of a lagoon deposit layer (very soft gray fat clay). The NSPT values in this lagoon deposit layer range from zero to eight. The specified construction method for this project was microtunneling of 700 mm of Permalok steel casing with a 400 mm PVC carrier pipe inside the casing. The annular space between the two pipes was grouted with low density grout. Many problems were encountered during the construction phase of this project. This pa...
Culverts are very critical to drainage and transportation of fluids under highways. State Departm... more Culverts are very critical to drainage and transportation of fluids under highways. State Departments of Transportation maintain thousands of these culverts under highways, road and freeways. The Ohio Department of Transportation alone maintains over 85,000 culverts under Ohio's priority and general highways. Through regular inspections and condition assessment of these culverts, a course of action ranging from routine maintenance to replacement is recommended. Pipe bursting is a viable alternative to replace deteriorated culverts. However, a high percentage of these culverts are made of corrugated metal pipes which are challenging to burst because the ridges tend to fold under the compression stress making it difficult, and often times, impossible to burst. The research team at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in collaboration with two pipe bursting manufacturers (TT Technologies and Hammerhead) conducted pipe bursting research tests aimed at finding solutions to bursting corrugated metal pipes. This paper provides an overview of the pipe bursting operations through which four corrugated metal pipe culverts (12", 18", and 24" in diameter) were successfully replaced through this collaborative effort.
The City of Bowling Green, OH operates a water distribution system that delivers high quality wat... more The City of Bowling Green, OH operates a water distribution system that delivers high quality water. The system operates optimally in a grid system; larger, “trunk water mains,” are installed in a grid pattern on the outer limits of the system with smaller lines branching from the larger lines. Almost all the residential, industrial, and commercial areas in Bowling Green were originally limited to the west side of I-75. However over the past few decades, these areas grew on the east side of I-75. Two 24” water mains crossed underneath I-75 at the central and south part of the city to provide water to the east side. These limit development in the north eastern section and subject the WWTP (located in that part) to an undue risk if any damage occurs in the central trunk. The installation of a 16” waterline underneath I-75 at the northern end will ensure fire protection for the existing industry and supply a second water source to the WWTP. Four construction methods are examined to cro...
Uploads
Papers by Alan Atalah