EMgt 9407
Construction Technology
Course Introduction and Objectives
Dr. Attaullah Shah
Bio details of the Instructor
• Engr.Dr. Attaullah Shah
– Director ( Planning and Projects AIOU)
» pdaiou@yahoo.com. pd@aiou.edu.pk, www.drshahpak.weebly.com
» +92-333-5729809, +92-51-9057212
• Qualification
• PhD Civil Engineering ,M.Phil Eco ,MSc Structure Engg
• MBA, MA Eco, MSc Envir Design,BSc Civil Engg (Gold Medal), Post Grad Dip Comp (Gold
Medal)
• Professional and Field experience:
– 25 Years
• Research Publications in refereed journals and conferences:
– 26 Journals publications+40 Conference publications
• Areas of interests
» Construction project Management
» Structural Engineering
» Sustainable built Environment
Course Description
• The courses is aimed at emphasizing the technologies
and processes involved in the heavy construction:
– Excavation and earth-moving techniques,
– Foundation systems,
– High performance and other special concretes,
– Concrete form design, concrete and steel construction,
concrete and steel enclosure systems,
– Building frames and roofing structures.
– Building Codes etc.
Course outlines
• Week-1
– Introduction to topics,
– Construction Types,
– Construction Operations and Management
Process.
– The role of heavy construction projects in the
global socio-economic development
– Group activity/Assignment:
• Role of Construction industry in the socio-Eco
development
Course outlines
Week 2:
• Earth Moving and Excavation Techniques
• Ground Compaction and Finishing Techniques,
• Construction of Tunnels
Group Project-1
– Each group will select the project given from the list
bottom.
– Develop 2 page proposal for approval and
– Submit a comprehensive project report on the topic,
followed by presentation.
Course outlines
Week 3
• Foundation systems
• Special concretes
• Quiz # 1
•
•
•
•
•
Week 4
High Performance Concrete Design,
Concrete Form Design,
Robotization for Concrete Forms
Assignment No.2
(Individual assignment)
What are different types of foundations and how the
particular type of foundation is selected?
Course outline
Week 5
- Pre-stressed/Precast Concrete Construction
Week 6
- Mid Term Test (2-hours)
- Construction of Bridges
Week 7
- High-rise buildings and skyscrapers
• Assignment#3 (Group activity)
– Visit a high-rise building Constructed/under
const. in group and note down the salient
construction features of the building.
– What are the special precautionary needs
of high rise buildings
Week 8
Wood and masonry construction
Week 9
• Quiz-2
• Steel Construction and Composite steel
construction
Week 10
- Construction of Dames and hydraulic structures
– Assignment No.4: (Individual assignment)
– Write a comprehensive note on ten major dames of the
world, their material, construction etc.
Week 11
Oil Terminals Construction in the Ocean (tentative)
Week 12
- Quiz #3
- Safety in Construction
• Group Assignment
• The class will be divided into two groups
of 3 students each. The group
assignment will be prepared and
presented by the group. The group
leader will present and other group
members will assist. The duration of
presentation will be 15 min followed by 5
min questions and answers.
Project Instructions:
• You will write a report on a chosen heavy-construction
technique or technology, e.g. Construction of Cable
Stayed Bridges, Bridge Construction Techniques,
Cofferdams, High rise buildings, Earth Reinforcement
Methods, Micro Tunneling, Pipe Jacking
• Conduct an in-depth study using resources available in the
library and on the Internet.
• The report shall be submitted in the following format:
• Title Page
• Acknowledgments (if any)
• Table of Contents
• Executive Summary (total 1000 words or less)
• Brief introduction of the chosen topic
• Advantages and disadvantages
• Possible Applications
– Main Body of the Report (10-15 pages
including tables and pictures)
• Introduction (1-2 pages)
• History (if any)
• Advantages and disadvantages of the technique (12 pages)
• Possible applications in construction (1-2 pages)
• Step-by-step Procedure (with pictures)
• Comparison of chosen technique with other
available techniques (of the same nature) based on:
• Performance, Time or speed of construction, Cost
• Site constraints such as weather, site conditions etc.
• Any other criteria, which you feel important
– Case Study: Provides details of a project where this
technique has been used. You may include pictures of
that project as well.
– Limitations of the chosen technique
– Contractors or Companies which are currently using this
technique or providing such services (if any)
• Conclusions (discuss your opinions about the merits and
demerits
• References: At least 10 for graduate students
• All references must be properly cited in the report using numbers or last
name of the authors with year of publication. ( [1] or (Shah, 2005) ).
Grade Distribution (Subject to change)
On Campus
• Mid Term Exam
20 Percent
• Final Exam
40 Percent
• Class Assignments
10 Percent
• Quizzes
10 Percent
• Project Presentation
10 Percent
• Group Project
10 Percent
----------------------------------------------------• Total:
100%
Introduction
Construction Industry in
21st Century
Dr. Attaullah Shah
Introduction
Construction Industry in
21st Century
Dr. Attaullah Shah
Volume of Global Construction Industry
Role of Construction sector in Global
Economy
• Annual global construction output U.S $ 4.5 trillion
(2005)
• Output is heavily concentrated (77 per cent) in
• the high income countries (Western Europe, North
America, Japan and Australasia).
• The high-income countries produce 77 per cent of
global construction output with 26 per cent of total
employment.
• The rest of the world (comprising low- and middleincome countries) produces only 23 per cent of output
but has 74 per cent of employment – ……
• The Labor productivity in the developing countries is
low…… What can be the major reasons in your mind?
Construction market in 2011-12
• Construction spending growth has stalled and 2011 was the
fourth consecutive year with little or no growth (since 2007) .
• Overall, world construction spending grew by just 0.5% to $4.6
trillion and is still below the levels achieved in 2007.
• However, on a positive note, 2011 saw the first increases in
world construction spending since the start of the recession.
• Although, the outlook for 2012-13 is looking slightly more
pessimistic as the developing economies responsible for much
of the growth in the recent past are starting to slow as their
developed country export markets continue to decline.
• Asia and Latin America were the fastest growing regions in
2011 by a wide margin.
• For the second year running China was the largest market in
2011, and is forecast to be the fastest growing market in
2012-13
Global Construction spending 2011-12
and growth rate
European Market
• Sovereign debt crises and the uncertainty in
the Eurozone
• Only the Scandinavian counties are likely to
be largely immune from the impacts
• Austerity measures in many Western European countries
have focused on the postponement/cancellation of many
planned infrastructure projects.
• Construction spending growth will be significantly lower in
Western Europe than trend growth for the rest of the world.
• It is likely that it will be 2020 before the market in Western
Europe returns to output levels last seen in 2007.
• The fastest growing countries in Western Europe in 2012-13
are expected to be Germany (+1.8%) and the U.K. 1.6%
European Market-Cont’d
• The fastest growing countries in Eastern Europe in 2012
are expected to be Poland (+9.1%) followed by Russia
(+6.5%) and Turkey (+5.5%), all with growth levels
significantly above the average for the region as a whole.
• In Russia, construction spending on preparations for the
2014 Winter Olympics and the 2018 FIFA World Cup are
boosting already booming energy and transport
infrastructure spending.
Middle East
• In the Middle East, moderate construction spending growth
(+4.2%) is expected in 2012
• Much of the growth will be led by increases in infrastructure
construction spending, in particular energy infrastructure.
• Saudi Arabia, the largest market in the region, is also
expected to lead much of the growth in the region (+5%
pa), through to 2015
• Followed by a return to growth in the U.A.E. (+4% pa), much
of which will be led by Abu Dhabi, rather than Dubai which
remains subdued and is largely expected to remain that way
through the forecast period.
• Qatar continue to remain positive. Indeed, preparation for the
FIFA World Cup 2022 and upgrading of associated
infrastructure is expected to make construction spending.
Africa
• Due to recent turmoil in much of North Africa
• In particular, reconstruction in Libya and infrastructure
upgrades in Egypt are likely to act as a stimulus for the
region through to 2015.
• In the rest of the region there is a mixed picture emerging,
with some areas of strong growth, particularly Nigeria
(+8%), with continuing declines in others particularly South
Africa.
• Infrastructure construction is forecast to be the fastest
growing sector of construction output through to 2015.
The Americas
• The construction market in the U.S.A. is expected to remain
stagnant in 2012, with little or no growth forecast, much like
construction spending in Western Europe
• Some growth is expected in Canada and Mexico, although the
problems in the U.S.A. are expected to constrain growth in both
markets through to 2015.
• In contrast, much of South America is expected to see significant
growth in construction spending through 2012
• In particular, the larger markets of Brazil, Argentina and Chile
are forecast to see construction growth of over 5% in 2012.
• Indeed, Brazil and Panama are likely to have construction
spending growth of over 10% pa through to 2015
• In Brazil, preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the
2016 Rio Olympics are well advanced and increases in
construction spending are largely being led by infrastructures.
Australasia
• Construction spending in Australia is expected to grow by
close to 5% in 2012,
• Similarly, construction spending in New Zealand is forecast
to rise as earthquake reconstruction moves forward through
to 2015.
Global Construction Industry forecast.
Share of spending by region: 2015-20
• In the short term there is expected to be a degree of
stagnation in global construction spending in 2012, with
more sustained growth not expected until 2015 onwards
• Developing countries are expected to lead growth in 2012.
The strongest construction spending growth will again be in
China, followed by India and Indonesia
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
• The construction industry is one of the
largest industries in the United States as
well as world, historically accounting for
about 10% of the nation’s gross national
product and employing some 10 million
workers.
• It is widely recognized that construction as
a discipline is a combination of art and
science.
Construction industry segments
• Two very broad categories: - General building construction
- Engineered construction.
• General Building Construction
• Include residential, commercial, institutional and industrial
buildings.
• Residential construction produces buildings for human
habitation, including single-family dwellings, condominiums,
multifamily townhouses, flats and apartments and high-rise
apartment buildings.
• Commercial construction includes retail and wholesale stores,
markets and shops, shopping centers, office buildings,
warehouses and small manufacturing facilities.
• Institutional construction are medical clinics and hospitals,
schools and universities, recreational centers and athletic
stadiums, governmental buildings and houses of worship and
other religious buildings.
Construction industry segments
• Industrial construction is a special segment of the
industry that develops large-scale projects with a high
degree of technical complexity.
• Such endeavours result in facilities that manufacture and
process products; examples include steel mills, electric
power-generating plants, petroleum refineries,
petrochemical
processing plants
• Engineered construction
• This broad category of construction, sometimes called
engineering construction, is characterized by designs
prepared by engineers rather than architects, the provision
of facilities usually related to the public infrastructure and
thus owned by public-sector entities and funded through
bonds, rates or taxes and a high degree of mechanization
and the use of much heavy equipment and plant in the
construction process.
• Examples: PSDP mega projects in Pakistan
• Two common subcategories of engineered construction
are:
-Highway construction and
- Heavy construction.
Impact of Construction on National Economies
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
• Construction Contractors
– Companies and individuals engaged in the
business of construction are commonly
referred to as construction contractors
because they operate under a contract
arrangement with the owner.
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
FIGURE 1-1. Construction of St. Louis Gateway Arch.
(Copyright © American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc.
Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.)
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
• Construction
Industry Divisions
– The major divisions
of the construction
industry consist of
building construction
(also called “vertical
construction”) and
heavy construction
(also called
“horizontal
construction”).
FIGURE 1-2. Distribution of U.S. new
construction volume. (Source: Bureau of the
Census)
THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY
FIGURE 1-3. Modern building construction project.
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
FIGURE 1-4. Heavy construction project—Kennedy
Space Center launch complex. (U.S. Air Force
photograph)
THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
• Project Development and Contract
Procedures
– The major steps in the construction
contracting process include bid solicitation,
bid preparation, bid submission, contract
award, and contract administration.
Construction Project Lifecycle.
Construction Project Lifecycle.
• Pre-Project Phase:
•
•
•
•
An idea or perceived need or desire to improve
Project delivery system to be used
Type of contract to be used with the contractor.
The owner may engage a professional engineer, an
architect or a project manager during this pre-project phase
to advise on these important decisions.
• Planning and design phase
• It is convenient to divide this phase into three stages.
– Stage-I: The goal of the first stage is to define the
project’s objectives, consider alternative ways to attain
those objectives
– Stage-II: Develop schematic diagrams showing the
relationships among the various project components,
– Stage-III: Detailed design of the structural, electrical and
other systems
• Contractor selection phase
– Client: Procurement and tendering methods to be
– Contractor:
• Study of various methods and techniques/equipment by the
to workout the schedule of the project and all activities and
• Second, a priced proposal will be prepared, including the
direct costs of labour, materials, plant and subcontractors,
various overhead charges and a sufficient added amount
for profit.
– The last step in this phase is the submittal, opening
and evaluation of tenders, the selection of the
successful contractor and the finalization of the
construction contract.
• Project mobilization phase
– Various bonds, licenses and insurances must be secured ( Can
you name some)
– A detailed programme for the construction activities must be
prepared.
– The cost estimate must be converted to a project budget and
the system for tracking actual project costs must be established.
– The worksite must be organized, with provisions for temporary
buildings and services, access and delivery, storage areas and
site security.
– The process of obtaining materials and equipment to be
incorporated into the project must be initiated and arrangements
for labor, the other essential resource, must be organized.
– With the completion of this phase, it is finally time to begin the
actual field construction.
– Project operations phase
– Three majors areas are looked into by the contractors
• Monitoring and control ( Five aspects )
–
–
–
–
–
Time Management
Cost management
Quality Management
Work safety and
Environmental issues
• Resource Management
• Documentation and Communication
– Project closeout and termination phase:
• Finally, as the project nears completion, a number of special activities
must take place before the contractor’s responsibilities can be
considered complete.
• Tastings, final verification and acceptance etc
• closing the construction office and terminating the staff’s employment.
THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
• For major projects, steps in the project
development process include the
following:
– Recognizing the need for the project.
– Determining the technical and financial
feasibility of the project.
– Preparing detailed plans, specifications,
and cost estimates for the project.
– Obtaining approval from regulatory
agencies.
THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
• How Construction Is Accomplished
– Construction employing an owner
construction force.
– Owner management of construction.
– Construction by a general contractor.
– Construction using a design/build (turnkey)
contract.
– Construction utilizing a construction
management contract.
THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
FIGURE 1-5. Construction
employing owner
construction forces.
FIGURE 1-6. Owner-managed
construction. [Either (a) or (b)
or both may be employed.]
Many large industrial organizations, as well as a number of
governmental agencies, possess their own construction
forces. Although these forces are utilized primarily for repair,
maintenance, and alteration work, they are often capable of
undertaking new construction projects
More frequently, owners utilize their construction staffs to
manage their new construction.
THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
FIGURE 1-7. Construction by a general contractor.
- Construction by a general contractor operating
under a prime contract is probably the most common
method of having a facility constructed
THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
Design and Build:
Under the design/build or turnkey construction
concept (Figure 1-8), an owner contracts with a firm
to both design and build a facility meeting certain
specified (usually, performance oriented)
requirements.
Such contracts are frequently utilized by
construction firms that specialize in a particular type
of construction and possess standard designs which
they modify to suit the owner's needs.
Since the same organization is both designing and
FIGURE 1-8.
building the facility, coordination problems are
Construction employing
minimized and construction can begin before
a design/build firm.
completion of final design. In this case, the
construction contract is normally on a costreimbursement basis. This type of construction is
referred to as fast-track.
The major disadvantages of the design/build concept
are difficulty in obtaining competition
THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
Construction Management contracts:
A professional construction manager (CM)
acts as the owner's agent to direct both
the design and construction of a facility.
-Three separate contracts are awarded by
the owner for design, construction, and
construction management of the project.
FIGURE 1-9. Construction utilizing a
construction management contract.
Methods of Construction Procurement
Methods of construction project procurement (Mastermann,1996).
Design Bid Build vs Design & Build
Advantages of Design and
Build:
-Single point of Responsibility
-Price certainty
-Speed and high progress
-Effective Cost control
-Build ability/Constructability.
-Less claims
Disadvantages:
-Poor quality of design
-Additional fee for design revision and
improvements.
-Lack of flexibility in the contract
Classification Design & Build projects in China
CODES AND REGULATIONS
• Projects constructed in most areas of the world must
comply with a number of governmental regulations.
• Building Codes
– These include building codes, zoning regulations,
environmental regulations, and contractor licensing
laws, among others.
– International Building Code
– Pakistan Building Code ( Seismic provisions 2007)
– Pakistan Energy Code
• Zoning, Environmental, and Other Regulations
• CDA Zoning Code
• Environmental regulations (EIA)
• Safety and health Regulations (OSHA)
STATE OF THE INDUSTRY
• Construction Productivity:
• Much of the blame for industry low productivity problems
should be shared by owners, contractors, labor, and
government, many of the problems could be overcome by
improved management of the construction effort by owners
and contractors with the cooperation of the other parties.
• Reducing Construction Costs
–
–
–
–
–
Good work planning.
Carefully selecting and training workers and managers.
Efficiently scheduling labor, materials, and equipment.
Properly organizing work.
Using laborsaving techniques, such as prefabrication and
preassembly.
– Minimizing rework through timely quality control.
– Preventing accidents through good safety procedures.
Construction Management
• It refers to the act of managing the construction process
• The construction manager, who may be a contractor project
manager, superintendent, or one of their representatives, manages
the basic resources of construction.
• These resources include workers and subcontractors, equipment
and construction plant, material, money (income, expenditure, and
cash flow), and time.
– Poor construction management practices can lead to:
– Project delays that increase labor and equipment cost and the
cost of borrowed funds.
–
High material costs caused by poor purchasing procedures, inefficient
handling, and/or loss
– Increased subcontractor cost and poor contractorsubcontractor relations.
– High insurance costs resulting from material and equipment
loss or damage or a poor safety record.
– Low profit margin or a loss on construction volume and many
more
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
• The scope of construction management is broad and
includes such topics as construction contracts, construction
methods and materials, production and cost estimating,
progress and cost control, quality control, and safety.
• Elements of Construction Management
– Quality Management
• includes such activities as specification development,
process control, product acceptance, laboratory and
technician certification, training, and communication.
• Quality control (QC),which is a part of the quality
management process, is primarily concerned with the
process control function. Since the contractor has the
greatest control over the construction processi t has been
found that quality control is most effective when performed
by the contractor.
• Safety and Health
– Historically, the construction industry has had one of the
highest accident rates among all industries
– The following construction operations have been found to
account for the majority of serious construction injuries:
- Concrete construction, especially construction of
formwork, placing concrete into form work, and failure of
form work during construction.
- The erection of prefabricated trusses, precast concrete
elements, and structural steel.
- The construction and operation of temporary facilities
including scaffolding, construction plants, lifts, and storage
facilities- Working from elevated positions resulting in falls.
- Construction equipment operations.
– Organization for Construction
FIGURE 1-10. Representative construction company organization chart.
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
Reasons for Construction Company Failure;
Dun & Bradstreet and others have investigated the reasons
for the high rate of bankruptcy in the construction industry.
Some of the major factors they have
identified include:
-lack of capital,
-poor cost estimating,
-inadequate cost accounting,
and
- lack of general management ability.
All of these factors can be categorized as elements of poor
management. Such studies indicate that at least
90% of all construction company failures can be attributed to
inadequate management.
Use of Computers: limited but new networks
CONSTRUCTION TRENDS AND PROSPECTS
• Construction Trends
• Some of the major trends noted in the construction industry in
recent years include;
– Increasing international competition,
– Rapid changes in technology, the wide availability of in
formation via the Internet,
– increasing speed and ease of communication, and increasing
– Governmental regulation of the industry, particularly in the areas
of safety and environmental protection. As a result of these
developments, the larger well-managed construction firms are
capturing an increasing share of the total construction market.
- - These trends, along with the increasing use of computers for
design and management, have created a growing demand for
technically competent and innovative construction managers,
- - With increasing automation of construction equipment has come
an increasing demand for highly skilled equipment operators and
technicians
• Problems and Prospects
– In summary, the future of construction
appears as dynamic as does its past. An
abundance of problems, challenges,
opportunities, and rewards wait for those
who choose to enter the construction
industry.
Further study
• Please read the research paper:
• Role of Construction industry in the economic
development-An empirical evidence from Pakistan
•
www.civil.neduet.edu.pk/ICCIDC- I/Conference%20Proceedings/.../030.pdf
• Presented at ICCIDC-I in NED University Karachi.
• Please critically review the paper
Group Assignment
• Write a detailed note on “Role of
Construction industry in the socio-Eco
development with special reference to
developing country.
• Read the journal and conference papers