Construction Commonality

For our lab Tuesday, we visited both the Basketball Practice Gym and the New Residence Hall West. Our objective for the site visits was to make comparisons and differences between the two sites. Some of the similarities I found between the two sites was: both sites were in the final phases of construction because they were starting to clean up the area for landscaping and they were doing touch up work on the buildings, both sites used a lot of heavy equipment, both used a lot of pre-cast concrete in their construction, both job sites were dense and compact, both sides were strewn with debris but, it was being collected. The main comparisons that we can draw is that both sites had similar layouts because of their compact nature, both sites used extremely similar materials, and both sites used similar equipment.

The difference I was able to see were: The residence hall and the basketball practice gym serve different purposes, the two buildings were structurally very different, they used different means of transportation around the site to move men & material, and the residence hall site had exposed electrical cable around the site to provide power while the basketball gym had set outlets. The main differences we can draw from this are: both sites are of different scope and size and because of this, they are designed differently, both sites had different ideas of transporting materials & men around their site, both sites had different layout plans for vital utilities like power.

Even though the two sites look different and serve a different purpose, they both had very similar underlying plans of implementing the construction.

Today was Construction Industry Day! What a sight it was! Located in Squires Plaza, there was all sorts of machinery, tools, machine operators, and logistical people. While by far the most popular attracting was driving a real crane, there was a simulator for simulating working on a front bucket loader. With no training at all, I did "adequately" according to American Infrastructure technician. He worked with me to help me load virtual dirt into a dump truck and well as place a virtual trench support to prevent cave-ins within a trench. I learned that operating such equipment does require certain talent for being able to guess distances and weight locations. But, with enough practice, I am confident that anyone would be able to operate that piece of machinery. I also learned that a good communication bases is needed in the field. When working with loud and dangerous equipment, it is essential to be able to communicate clearly and efficiently. Also, the guys who work for Chandler Concrete made that point very valid when they described to me a situation where their brand new cement truck did not have an engine compressor installed and so when they when down a steep grade, they nearly burnt out the breaks! How essential good communication skills are needed with this industry.

This wall assembly picture is an extreme close-up of a hypothetical wall assembly. You can see items such as: steel supports, insulation foam, outside shell, stucco, screws, and paneling. This would be a typical wall section for a any type of building.

Estimating Screen Shots

In my estimates, I found it to be much more difficult in finding the prices and estimates for specific items. Whereas in the assembly pricing, it was more generalized and much easier to find the prices.

Also, the pricing for the assembly unit is much simpler and easier to understand and to take a quick look and be able to know what is being priced out.

In class today

I was in class today but, I did not bring my laptop because the battery does not work on it right now. This was the first opportunity for me to post today.

Welcome to Tool Time

Hello! Welcome to Tool Time Construction blog! I will be taking you on a semester long journey that will show you the exciting world of the Construction Industry. Welcome aboard.