Abstract
Many modular projects experience accidents and problems in practice, as there are many unique issues and challenges compared to conventional “stick-built” structures. In 2017, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) team designed, constructed, and transported a sustainable housing prototype for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon competition. The competition requires students to build an efficient and innovative building powered by renewable energy. The project experienced several problems associated with its unique modular design. This paper presents the results of a qualitative case study to identify difficulties and generate recommendations for future modular projects. The authors collected data from key project participants using a survey comprised of specific questions. Results showed that the most critical problem throughout the project’s execution was communication among project participants and the managing organization. The main technical issues identified during construction were associated with the adequate performance of the integrated trailer chassis hitches. During the competition phase, the critical problem was the time crunch experienced due to delays caused by the chassis difficulties. Key suggested recommendations for future projects are: (1) integrating a general contractor for project organization to keep everything running smoothly; and (2) consistent and frequent communication throughout the design phase among all design and construction teams. These findings provide valuable information for future student modular project teams for designing, constructing, and transporting modular housing.
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Acknowledgements
The authors express their gratitude to the interviewees who donated their time to this study. The authors also thank UNLV’s Solar Decathlon 2017 team members for their excellent work and success in their competition.
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Appendix
Appendix
Solar Decathlon Survey
Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability, the information provided from these surveys will be compiled for a paper regarding best practices and lessons learned from the 2017 Solar Decathlon competition.
Name:
Project Role:
1. What were some of the major problems experienced during the construction phase through the competition phase? Please explain in some detail.
2. What solutions were used for the problems mentioned above? Please explain in some detail.
3. In hindsight, could any of the solutions be improved for the future, if so, how? Also, on that note, which problems could have been avoided and how? Please explain in some detail.
4. With the knowledge and experience you have now, would you be willing to participate in the next Solar Decathlon or comparable international events? Why or why not? Please explain in some detail.
5. Should UNLV compete, what advice would you give to the students participating in the 2020 Solar Decathlon competition?
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Prestia, J., Choi, J.O., Lee, S., James, D. (2023). Lessons Learned from UNLV’s Solar Decathlon 2017 Competition Experience—Design and Construction of a Modular House. In: Walbridge, S., et al. Proceedings of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering Annual Conference 2021. CSCE 2021. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 247. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0968-9_45
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