<p>The transportation industry has accounted for various work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). A critical contributing factor to these WMSDs is physical fatigue occurring during activities that require the workers to adopt awkward postures and to exert excessive forces repetitively. While extensive previous research has been conducted in the construction sector to study injured workers, common WMSDs, related risky activities, ergonomic interventions, and physical fatigue detection methods to ensure the health of workers, there was a notable gap in understanding how physical fatigue and WMSDs can be prevented in the transportation industry. Due to the difference of duration, intensity, frequency, and procedure of activities between the transportation and the construction industries, findings from the construction industry cannot be directly applied into the transportation industry. Therefore, it was necessary to explore how the risk of developing physical fatigue and WMSDs can be mitigated, specifically in the transportation industry. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Preventing the development of physical fatigue and WMSDs in the transportation industry requires a comprehensive study including identification of worker types who were injured the most, exploration of the most common WMSDs and the activities causing the most injuries, proposal and evaluation of ergonomic interventions, and automated detection of physical fatigue. Specifically, it was found that transportation maintenance workers were injured the most based on the historical injury data of transportation workers from the Indiana Department of Transportation. Second, it was found that lower back injuries were rated as the most common WMSDs and lifting activities (e.g., lifting bags of materials and sign stands) were rated as the activity causing most WMSDs, followed by pushing/pulling activities (e.g., shoveling and pulling a dead deer), based on an online survey of transportation maintenance workers. Two subsequent on-site observations were conducted to gain a detailed understanding of how exactly the riskiest activity (i.e., lifting bags of dry concrete mix) was exactly performed and to suggest ergonomic interventions. Third, two ergonomic interventions were proposed based on unsafe postures that workers used and the excessive weights of loads that workers lifted. Specifically, given that workers needed to stoop (bending their backs) to lift bags of dry concrete mix placed at a lower level in real practice, a back exoskeleton could potentially support the workers in maintaining a healthier posture and in providing force to the worker’s back muscles when they bend their backs beyond a safety range, thus lowering the chance of excessive back muscle exertion, and then reducing the risk of developing physical fatigue and WMSDs. Additionally, establishing and adhering to a recommended lifting weight limit could alleviate the excessive exertion of workers muscles, thereby contributing to a decrease in physical fatigue and WMSDs prevalence. </p> <p><br></p> <p>To test the effectiveness of the two proposed ergonomic interventions, field experiments were performed. The experiment involved 29 transportation maintenance workers who lifted bags of dry concrete mix of three different weights including 31.5-pound bags (a weight calculated based on the Recommended Weight Limit equation considering actual vertical distance, horizontal distance, angle of asymmetry, etc.), 50-pound bags (a weight calculated based on the Recommended Weight Limit equation under the ideal condition, and it is also the weights sometimes used onsite), and 80-pound bags (the most common weights used on site) with and without wearing a back exoskeleton. The workers’ physical fatigue was measured using the surface electromyography (EMG) sensors, the electrodermal activity (EDA) sensors, and the heart rate (HR) sensors, while their perceived exertion of muscles, local perceived pressures, and acceptance levels were measured through subjective scales. The results from field experiments revealed several key findings: (1) There was a significant decrease in lumbar erector spinae (LES) muscle activities when wearing the back exoskeleton, especially during lifting 80-pound bags (from 61.7% to 50.8% of EMG); (2) when the weight of the bags was reduced to 31.5 pounds, there was a significant decrease in LES muscle activities (from 61.7% to 16.8% of EMG), in comparison to the activities measured while lifting 80-pound bags; (3) among all muscle groups, the LES activities were the most significant during lifting; (4) using a back exoskeleton helped to lower the perceived muscle exertion during the lifting of bags of varying weights; and (5) a majority of participants deemed the back exoskeleton as an acceptable form of assistance.</p> <p><br></p> <p>In addition to the adoption of ergonomic interventions, the detection of physical fatigue at an early stage can also be used to alert workers to rest or adopt correct postures, thus effectively preventing the development of WMSDs. Based on the field experiments, the approach to physical fatigue detection was explored by using different machine learning algorithms. Participants' physical fatigue levels were measured through EMG, EDA, HR, and motion (collected by inertial measurement units) data. A 10-fold cross validation revealed that the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithm achieved the highest accuracy (87.84%) in identifying and predicting three physical fatigue levels (i.e., the low physical fatigue level, the medium physical fatigue level, and the high physical fatigue level) among transportation maintenance workers. </p> <p><br></p> <p>The findings from this research can aid transportation professionals in better understanding the risks in their workplace and provide better solutions. For example, transportation professionals should pay more attention to the identified types of workers, areas of injury on the body, and activities causing most WMSDs. This research also provided evidence that the back exoskeletons and the 31.5-pound bags can effectively reduce the risk of having physical fatigue. Therefore, transportation professionals could consider implementing the back exoskeletons or replacing current 80-pound bags with 31.5-pound bags to assist workers to perform activities in a safer way. In addition, this research provided a tool for automated physical fatigue detection which can be potentially utilized to alert workers of physical fatigue at an early stage. Theoretically, this research provided insights into the possibility of employing physiological measurements as effective tools for evaluating ergonomic interventions in real-world contexts. Furthermore, this research delved into the use of the ANN algorithm, integrating with EMG, HR, and motion data, and proved their accuracy in detecting physical fatigue among transportation maintenance workers.</p> <p><br></p> <p>This research also has several limitations and needs future work. For example, the benchmark used in this study to label three physical fatigue levels (i.e., the low physical fatigue level, the medium physical fatigue level, and the high physical fatigue level) was the Borg 6-20 scale, which is a subjective measure and may be susceptible to recall bias. Monitoring of lactic acid levels, as a gold standard for measurement of physical fatigue, could be employed in the future to offer a more accurate measurement of physical fatigue levels for the physical fatigue detection. However, measuring lactic acid comes with its ethical challenges, due to the invasive nature of the test. Therefore, finding a balance between obtaining accurate and objective measures and ensuring the well-being and consent of the participants can be a critical component of future research. </p>

Computer peripherals, such as keyboards, scanners, printers, cameras, and Personal Data Assistants (PDAs) typically communicate with a host PC via an unencrypted protocol, leaving them vulnerable to eavesdropping techniques, such as keyloggers. An encryption system was developed that is simple enough to be used in peripherals that do not have large amounts of processing power and memory. A software driver loaded in the operating system of the host computer communicates with a simple 8-bit microcontroller in the peripheral device. The driver handles key generation, key exchange, and provides decrypted data to the operating system. A key exchange protocol allows the driver and microcontroller to securely exchange randomly generated keys. The system can function without user intervention, but will alert a user if a non-encrypting or non-authorized peripheral device is detected. The system is designed to be implemented over a variety of interfaces including PS/2, RS-232, TCP/IP over Ethernet, 802.11, and Bluetooth. A demonstration system was built, which encrypts data on the PS/2 bus between a keyboard and the host computer. Several ciphers were considered for use in encryption. The RC4 cipher was selected for encrypting and decrypting the data in a demonstration system because of it's speed and efficiency when working with 8-bit data. The driver and the microcontroller share a hard-coded key, which is used to encrypt a randomly generated session key, in order to provide a secure exchange of the session key. The demonstration system performs well, without introducing enough latency to be noticed by the user, and the microcontroller is idle over 95% of the time, even when a fast typist is using the keyboard.

The purpose of this research is to discover if home builders along the Wasatch Front in Utah are advertising smart home technologies. Research was conducted by a review of the display advertisements placed in the Saturday and Sunday editions of The Deseret Morning News/Salt Lake Tribune from March 4, 2006 through April 1, 2006. An internet search for smart home terminology was performed on the web sites of home builders advertising in The Deseret Morning News/Salt Lake Tribune. A review of the display advertisements for the Deseret Morning News/Salt Lake Tribune revealed that home builders are not using that medium of advertising for smart home technology. A review of the usage of smart home terminology on the home builders' websites showed similar results. Although there was some usage of smart home terminologies on the websites, the vast majority were found on only two of the home builders' websites.

The most common personal authentication techniques used for identity management employ a secret PIN or password that must be remembered. The challenge, for a given user, is that a multitude of such codes must be recalled over the course of the day for transactions involving distinct computer applications. Password mania prevails. Fingerprint biometric technology is an ideal alternate solution to this password recall problem. In spite of their availability for nearly thirty years, fingerprint biometric systems still remain uncommon in public sectors of industry such as education, government, and technology. Technology has improved sufficiently that false acceptance and rejection rates are no longer valid excuses. Two proposed reasons for this lack of deployment are 1) society's misunderstanding regarding the personal privacy, security, and function of the technology; and 2) inadequate education regarding the technology. This present research was structured to test these hypotheses, and attempt to identify the major societal factors that have limited fingerprint biometric eployment in IT authentication systems. Three research approaches regarding acceptance of fingerprint biometric technology by targeted populations were used in this study, namely 1) a personal survey, 2) a personal training exercise, and 3) a web-based survey. Targeted populations included the general public in the State of Utah and its legislative members who made decisions regarding identity management legislation for state departmental functions. Objectives of this research included gaining a better understanding of 1) legislator's perceptions of why past legislation was rejected, and 2) the public's perception of the personal security of the technology. An additional objective was the confirmation that proper education on security issues improves personal confidence in and acceptance of fingerprint biometric technology.

Accounting plays a crucial role in the success of any business, but it is particularly vital in the construction industry, a complex field that typically requires the coordination of multiple subcontractors and multiple jobs in any given year. Although small-volume home builders make up 70 percent of the membership of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), a trade association of the home building industry, little is known about the accounting practices of these builders. This thesis undertook to study the accounting practices of small-volume home builders. Small-volume home builders were defined as those producing 25 homes or fewer in a given year. A 20-question questionnaire was sent to 750 small-volume home builders, 141 of which responded for a 20-percent response rate. The names were taken from a sampling of an NAHB membership list. Respondents were asked about their accounting practices, including what type of accounting method they used, whether they employed an outside certified public accountant, and what types of accounting software they used. Respondents were asked to give specifics about their accounting system, such as how their chart of accounts was developed and how they viewed different accounting tools. Collected data was run through the data-analysis program SPSS for Windows. The results gave a picture of the accounting practices of these small-volume home builders. There was a fairly even split between cash and accrual methods of accounting. Most owners or managers did their own day-to-day accounting, and most employed an outside CPA. Most used Quickbooks computer software for every accounting function, and most reviewed financial statements monthly. Most respondents were satisfied with their accounting system. Reasons for this satisfaction included ease of use, simplicity, accuracy, and the ability to job cost. On the other hand, dissatisfaction with an accounting system was often tied to expense of software, complexity, and the need for frequent updating of software programs. These responses give an important first look at what kinds of accounting methods small-volume homebuilders are using.

This thesis researched why light gauge steel framing members are not used more in single-family residential construction. A survey was designed to extract information from licensed contractors in Utah on uses of light gauge steel framing members in residential homes. The purpose of the research was to discover what Utah builder's perception was concerning light gauge steel framing. Also, the researcher tried to learn a little about the contractors to see if there was a correlation between contractors that used light gauge steel and those that did not. Names of licensed general building contractors and residential contractors and their contact information were acquired from the State of Utah's Department of Professional Licensing. A random sample of the licensed contractors was selected. They were contacted by mail and telephone and invited to participate in a survey. The researcher discovered that light gauge steel was used in a very limited amount. The respondents seemed build using traditional methods, namely lumber. They were unfimiliar with light gauge steel and its properties, as well as the benefits and disadvantages of light gauge steel.

Price volatility is a consistent problem that affects all of the parties involved in the residential construction industry. The myriad factors that can have an impact on construction costs are such that it is extremely hard to anticipate upcoming changes in a timely and accurate way. When prices fluctuate during the course of a project, estimates become erroneous and completion of projects within expected budgets becomes difficult. Increasing prices typically leave contractors with the majority of the risk burden due to the enforceability of contracts that are likely to have been executed months prior. The risk associated with the owner's role primarily exists when prices decrease and they are required to make payments on pre-existing contracts that do not accurately reflect "actual" costs at the time of construction. The risk of price volatility needs to be managed. Numerous methods have been developed for managing the risk of price volatility. The various methods available are implemented based on the parties involved, the types of contracts being used, and the existing market conditions. Typical practices transfer the risk of price volatility to other involved parties, be it the owner, the contractor, subcontractors, or suppliers. However, no method has proven completely effective at removing the risks associated with price volatility. Involved parties need to utilize a combination of best practices to protect themselves. They need to coordinate and communicate with the other parties to ensure that the risk of price volatility is appropriately accounted for and managed throughout the construction process.

In the commercial construction industry, the problem of price volatility as it pertains to materials and labor is a consistent problem. The changing instability of market conditions presents a challenge for construction companies to accurately estimate and complete projects within budget. This volatility can lead to higher costs and more risk to suppliers, contractors, and owners which can cause financial distress for all parties involved in the construction process. As lump sum contracts are typically being used on many projects, the owners seem to have the upper hand and are forcing contractors to honor lump sum contracts even when prices increase significantly. Owners are also using their position to reap the benefits of price decreases by basing future work relationships with the contractor as an incentive to pass on any savings of price decreases. Volatility in construction will continue to be a risk that participants in the construction industry in Utah will face. Commercial construction projects will continue to be built as the population increases and as more buildings are needed to service other industries. Price volatility can be economically dangerous when price changes affect the assumptions on which the contract is based. While there is no proven method to remove the risk of price volatility, methods have been developed to control the risk participants are exposed to in various contracting methods. Contractors, owners, and suppliers need to coordinate with each other and use best practices that will distribute the risk to the party that has the capability to handle the risk.

During the last few decades immigration by foreigners seeking work in the construction industry in the United States has increased dramatically. Of those seeking jobs in construction, Hispanics represent the largest and fastest growing population. The proportion of reportable accidents among Hispanic on-site construction workers in the United States is higher than that of non-Hispanics. This trend of on-site construction accidents is evident not only in states that have traditionally high populations of Hispanics, such as New York, Florida, California, Arizona, and Texas, it is also manifested in the State of Utah. This research focused on causes of accidents among Hispanic on-site construction workers along the Wasatch Front of Utah, which includes Brigham City, Utah in the north to Provo, Utah in the south. General contractors, subcontractors, job-site superintendents and on-site workers were interviewed to determine both causes of and solutions to accidents among Hispanic on-site construction workers. Results of this research indicated that some of the major causes of on-site accidents among Hispanics included worker negligence, lack of proper safety training, language barriers, and cultural issues. Suggested solutions include financial bonuses for good safety records, on-site translators, recognition of workers who complete approved training in job-site safety, and worker education on the importance of safety

The original intent of this paper was to examine early mormon pioneer woodworking. Upon investigation, however, it was discovered that there is one type of early utah mormon woodworking about which very little has been written and which includes some of the best efforts of these early craftsmen. This woodworking is the interior work done in the construction of the early mormon temples. This paper will attempt to document the state of early pioneer craftsmanship and show examples of this work.