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Lesson 1.1 What Is Construction

The document discusses the construction industry and construction management. It provides definitions of construction, the key players involved including owners, design professionals, and contractors. It describes the roles and responsibilities of each player. It also outlines different types of construction contracts and the typical structure of the construction industry, dividing it into building, engineered, and industrial construction. The overall purpose is to introduce students to the construction industry and practitioners.

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391 views5 pages

Lesson 1.1 What Is Construction

The document discusses the construction industry and construction management. It provides definitions of construction, the key players involved including owners, design professionals, and contractors. It describes the roles and responsibilities of each player. It also outlines different types of construction contracts and the typical structure of the construction industry, dividing it into building, engineered, and industrial construction. The overall purpose is to introduce students to the construction industry and practitioners.

Uploaded by

Cotangent TwoPi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Department of Civil Engineering

College of Engineering and Technology


Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES
Telefax: none
Email: coe@vsu.edu.ph
Website: www.vsu.edu.ph

CEng 157- Construction Methods and Project Management

Module 1: Introduction to the Construction Industry

The construction industry (including design, new and renovation construction, and the
manufacture and supply of building materials and equipment) is one of the largest parts of the
national economy and affects all people, organizations, and institutions. Because construction is
an exciting, dynamic process that often provides high income for workers and contractors, it is an
appealing career opportunity. However, the seasonal and irregular nature of construction work
often serves to significantly reduce the annual income of many workers. In addition, construction
contracting is a very competitive business with a high rate of bankruptcy.

Lesson Summary
The construction industry is vast and varied. The primary objective of this construction is
a need for shelter. Then constructing buildings for assembly and churches in which to worship.
As society's need expanded, so did the building capabilities. Though the means and the
methods have changed over the centuries, the construction industry is still about building
communities that serve people.
This lesson discussed the definition and key players in the world of construction. It is very
important to understand the various roles and responsibilities of these many players as they
influence the construction management process

Learning Outcomes

• At the end of this course, the students must able to:


1. Discuss what is the real definition of construction and its relevance.
2. Introduce the different construction practitioners involved in the construction industry.

Lesson 1.1 What is Construction?

Construction is the activity of putting together different elements, using a detailed design
and plan, to create a structure for a certain location. When you construct large structures, you
need to have a clear plan of how you are going to do that. You also need to know the specific
location. Architects and engineers design and build the structure with that location in mind.

It is widely recognized that construction as a discipline is a combination of art and science.


While understanding the technical aspects of construction is extremely important, it is also
essential that construction professionals have knowledge of the business and management
aspects of the profession. Close observation and participation in actual construction projects are
very valuable in obtaining an understanding of the construction process as well. While
construction has traditionally been a very conservative industry, the increasing rate of
technological development and growing international competition in the industry is serving to
accelerate the development of new construction methods, equipment, materials, and
management techniques. As a result, the coming years will see an increasing need for innovative
and professionally competent construction professionals.

Construction Practitioners
Client / Owner
One who has the legal right or title to a piece of property and has the capability of
financing a project. No construction would ever be accomplished without owners. They
are the driving force behind the construction industry. Their demands for housing,
commercial facilities, industrial products, and infrastructure are the chief motivation to
build. After determining the need and deciding to build, the owner is accountable for four
primary duties:
• Developing the program and outlining the needs and requirements of the
end users.
• Determining the quantity, extent, and character of the project by defining
the scope of work.
• Creating the overall budget for the project, including land acquisition,
development, design, and construction costs.
• Providing the funding for the project and making periodic payments to the
designers and the contractor.
Design Professionals
Refers to the person who provides quality services with regards to building and
development designs in exchange for a fair remuneration. The construction manager
works with both the architect and the engineer on a regular basis throughout the
construction process. The following are the primary responsibilities of the designers:
• Assisting the owner in developing the facility program and determining end
user needs and requirements.
• Advising the owner regarding the image and character of the facility and
establishing broad design goals .
• Assisting the owner in selecting products to fit the program and the budget.
• Advising the owner on special and aesthetic issues and generating graphic
solutions to problems
• Developing the final building plans, construction details, and specifications.

Construction Contractors
Companies and individuals engaged in the business of construction are commonly
referred to as construction contractors (or simply contractors) because they operate under a
contract arrangement with the owner.

Classifications of Construction Contractors:


1. General Contractors are engaged in a wide range of construction activities and
execute most major construction projects. When they entering to a contract with an
owner to provide complete construction services, they are called prime contractors.
2. Specialty Contractors limit their activities to one or more construction specialties,
such as electrical work, plumbing, heating and ventilating, or earthmoving. Specialty
contractors are often employed by a prime contractor to accomplish some specific
phase of a construction project. Since the specialty contractors are operating under
subcontracts between themselves and the prime contractor, the specialty contractors
are referred to as “subcontractors”. Thus, the terms “subcontractor” and “prime
contractor” are defined by the contract arrangement involved, not by the work
classification of the contractors themselves.

Figure1.Prime and Design Professional Contract

Figure 2 .Design and Build Contract


Figure 3. Individual Contract

Structure of the Construction Industry


Since the construction sector is so diverse, it is helpful to look at the major types of projects
typical of construction to understand the structure of the industry. Construction projects can be
broadly classified as (a) building construction, (b) engineered construction, and (c)
industrial construction, depending on whether they are associated with housing, public works,
or manufacturing processes.
The building construction category includes facilities commonly built for habitational,
institutional, educational, light industrial (e.g., warehousing, etc.), commercial, social, and
recreational purposes. Typical building construction projects include office buildings, shopping
centers, sports complexes, banks, and automobile dealerships. Building construction projects are
usually designed by architects or architect/engineers (A/Es). The materials required for the
construction emphasize the architectural aspects of the construction (e.g., interior and exterior
finishes).
Engineered construction usually involves structures that are planned and designed
primarily by trained professional engineers (in contrast to architects). Normally, engineered
construction projects provide facilities that have a public function relating to the infrastructure and,
therefore, public or semipublic (e.g., utilities) owners generate the requirements for such projects.
This category of construction is commonly subdivided into two major subcategories; thus,
engineered construction is also referred to as (a) highway construction and (b) heavy
construction. Highway projects are generally designed by state or local highway departments.
These projects commonly require excavation, fill, paving, and the construction of bridges and
drainage structures. Consequently, highway construction differs from building construction in
terms of the division of activity between owner, designer, and constructor. In highway
construction, owners may use in-house designers and design teams to perform the design so that
both owner and designer are public entities. Heavy construction projects are also typically funded
by public or quasi-public agencies and include sewage plants, flood protection projects, dams,
transportation projects (other than highways), pipelines, and waterways. The owner and design
firm can be either public or private depending on the situation. In the United States, for instance,
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (public agency) has in the past used its in-house design force
to engineer public flood protection structures (i.e., dams, dikes) and waterway navigational
structures (i.e., river dams, locks, etc.). Due to the trend toward downsizing government agencies,
more design work is now being subcontracted to private design engineering firms. Public electrical
power companies use private engineering firms to design their power plants. Public mass-transit
authorities also call on private design firms for assistance in the engineering of rapid-transit
projects.
Industrial construction usually involves highly technical projects in manufacturing and
processing of products. Private clients retain engineering firms to design such facilities. In some
cases, specialty firms perform both design and construction under a single contract for the
owner/client.

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