College - Author 1
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Department - Author 1
Construction Management Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Construction Management
Date
3-2026
Primary Advisor/Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Philip Barlow, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Construction Management Department
Abstract/Summary
Construction productivity is influenced by many environmental conditions, particularly extremely high temperatures. In regions where high temperatures are normal, workers experience increased fatigue, require additional safety controls, and can even lead to scheduling conflicts. This senior project evaluates how heat differences in two parts of California affect productivity by comparing two projects managed by the same general contractor: one located in California’s Central Valley (Sacramento) and one located on the Central Coast (San Luis Obispo). Throughout the study, there will be two data sources seen: weekly labor recap reports focusing on a particular task (Concrete) and semi-structured interviews with industry professionals who have experienced working in both regions. Sacramento’s project data shows higher cumulative concrete labor hours compared to the coastal project in San Luis Obispo during the same reporting period. The times reported and studied throughout this research were June 2024- mid Sept of 2024. Interview findings indicate that noticeable productivity impacts start to show when the thermometer hits approximately 95°F, with the greatest decline occurring in afternoon hours and after lunch. In terms of labor, concrete will be the main point of study. The task of concrete placement is usually identified as time sensitive and sometimes requires early morning start times to manage curing and quality risks. While individual activity level production rates may appear comparable, cumulative labor burden and safety driven adjustments suggest that sustained heat contributes to measurable efficiency loss. Findings indicate that regional heat impacts are operational rather than catastrophic and may not be fully incorporated into bidding assumptions.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cmsp/935
Poster Board