QTS 102: CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY I

A study of the following:

Site selection and Investigation
Setting out of buildings;
Site Clearance;
Earthworks (excavations, timbering and other types of supports, treatments of excavated
surfaces, fillings etc);
Foundations (Types of foundations and materials used: aggregates, sand, water, cement,
stones, bricks etc; Concrete types/mixes and mixing procedures; ratio of material
components in concrete; choice of foundations types; Walls in foundations (brickwork,
blockwork, concrete and masonry); Simple Strip foundation design with illustrative
examples);
Ground Floors (solid and suspended floors; consideration of various types and materials
used; effectiveness in fire resistance etc);
Other sub-structural works e.g. damp proof courses/membranes, etc.

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Fundamentals of Construction Technology

What is Construction?
The Websters dictionary defines Construction as the process, art, or manner of constructing
(or building) something. The Cambridge dictionary also defined Construction as
the work of building or making something, especially buildings, bridges, etc.
Construction as it relates to the construction industry therefore is defined as a process whereby
designs made on paper and specifications are converted into physical structures and facilities.
It includes a series of coordinated activities requiring the use of land, specified materials,
labour, equipment, tools, etc backed by financial resources and governed by specific rules and
regulations for the purpose of building a structure which meets certain needs and performs
certain functions.

What is Technology?
The Websters dictionary defines Technology as the practical application of knowledge
especially in a particular area such as Construction, Engineering or Medical Technology.
The technology used in construction has evolved through time.

What is Construction Technology?

Therefore a study of Construction Technology can be described as the study of the practical
knowledge used in the process of construction. It also includes the study of construction activities,
methods, elements, components, modern equipment and tools, materials, Quality and safety
management etc.
Construction activities may take place after designs are made and approved by local
authorities. Construction activities may normally include site investigation, site clearance,
setting out, excavations and filling, Demolitions, Earthworks, Concrete works, Scaffolding,
Formworks, Block laying, Plastering, Painting, Electrical works etc.

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Site selection and Investigation

Site Selection
Critical decisions made at the very beginning of every construction project have major
consequences for the overall success of the project. The site selection decision has a dramatic
impact on almost every facet of the design and construction process.
The location, size and condition of the site, as well as the design of the building will have a
significant impact on the costs of construction and operation. These factors also can influence the
level of comfort, marketability and ultimately determining the viability of your project.
Site selection and acquisition is crucial when the client does not own the site to be developed. It
should be undertaken as early as possible, ideally, in parallel with feasibility studies. This work
may be carried out by a specialist consultant.

Factors to Consider when Selecting a Site

Levels and topography of the site Proximity to major landmarks

Daylight and view aspects Wind velocity and direction

Subsoil conditions Nature of use of adjacent sites

Vegetation and Trees Location of schools, colleges and

public buildings
Size
Ease of drainage
Shape
Availability of public utility services
Approach and access roads &
such as water, electricity and sewage
footpaths
disposal
Security
Cost of land etc
Town planning and Environmental
conditions

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Recent trends in the construction industry and in particular the demand for more sustainable
forms of construction now plays an important role on construction projects generally. Therefore,
the choice of a suitable site must also focus on the selection of sites that will:

Have the least negative impact on the environment

Have the fewest possible threats from the environment

Require the least extraction of natural resources for site preparation, construction, and
operation

Incorporate infrastructure and community-managed systems for minimizing and

managing solid and liquid waste

Offer the best quality of life for residents

These considerations are not absolutes. Every site has some impact on the environment, and
often compromise is needed to attain the best reasonable outcomes under competing demands
and pressures to rebuild. Ideally, post-disaster reconstruction efforts, including site selection and
development and on-site reconstruction, should be integrated into the natural characteristics of
the location where the site development is to take place rather than attempt to dramatically alter
the existing physical environment. Realistically, all site development impacts the existing
environment. The challenge is to minimize this impact to the greatest degree possible.

Site selection of a building or structure plays an important role as the value of the structure will
be determined by the location of the site.

Site Investigation

Before foundation design can begin there are a number of preliminary stages. These separate
stages are grouped under the general heading of Site Investigation.
Site investigation normally involves three basic stages:
A desk study which takes into account existing information about the site. This
information will come from a variety of sources and will include such diverse
matters as the history of the site, its topography, geology, vegetation etc

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 A walk-over survey(Site visit) which is a direct inspection of the site giving the
engineer/designer the opportunity to identify the nature of the ground and the
nature of any hazardous features
A physical exploration and inspection of the ground by means of boreholes or
trial pits.
This third stage is sometimes called the ground investigation.

Desk Study
The desk study is the first stage in the site investigation. Essentially, it comprises the collection
and analysis of existing information about the site. The information will come from a variety of
sources and, and, once analysed, will form the basis for the second stage, the walk-over survey.
The desk study has two main objectives:
To determine the nature, past use, and condition of the site
To determine whether this has any implications for the proposed building and its foundations.
A sensible starting point is to consult large scale maps of the proposed site and check site
boundaries, building lines, existing buildings and other man-made, or natural, features which will
affect the future buildings.
A comparison with older maps may give some clues to determine former use and, therefore,
potential hazards. Geological maps, other written records, and local knowledge will help identify
the likely nature of the subsoil and determine the extent of difficult ground conditions. Most
subsoils, including firm and stiff clays, compact sands, gravels and rocks will easily support the
relatively low loads of two and three storey housing using simple strip foundations. However,
soft cohesive soils, peaty soils, and of course, fill, pose problems. A site that has been mined also
needs treating with caution - foundation solutions can be costly. Large scale historical maps,
often held at city and county libraries, may show the extent of former mining. Thousands of old
shafts and tunnels still exist.
Other items which should come to light during the desk study include the likelihood of:
Filled or contaminated ground
Quarrying or mining
Rights of way
Ponds, watercourses, ground water levels and the risk of flooding

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 Utility services (drains, electricity, gas, telephone, optical cables etc)
Previous vegetation (ie large felled trees)
Landslip
Naturally occurring aggressive chemicals (eg sulfates), harmful gases (radon)
and landfill gases (methane and carbon dioxide).

Walk-Over Survey

A walk-over survey is the second stage in the site investigation. It is a detailed site inspection
which:
Enables much of the material discovered in the desk study to be confirmed or
further investigated
Identifies other potential hazards
Enables the surveyor to collect photographic records
Gives the surveyor/engineer the opportunity to make detailed drawings of all
those items (trees, existing buildings, watercourses, etc) which will have
implications for the building design

Trial Pits
A direct ground investigation is the third stage in the site investigation. As far as low rise
housing is concerned its main objective is to determine whether strip foundations will be suitable
and, assuming they are, whether they can be designed in accordance with the simple rule of
thumb approach contained in the Building Regulations. The ground investigation will provide
detailed information on:
Nature and thickness of made up ground/top soil above the subsoil
Nature, thickness and stratum depth of subsoil
An assessment of allowable bearing pressure
Groundwater levels, chemicals in the ground etc
Existing structures or hazards in the ground
For low rise housing, on green-field sites, machine-dug trial pits are probably the most common
method of ground investigation. The pits do not normally need to be deeper than 4-5m unless

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specific problems are encountered. Trial pits should be excavated close to the proposed
foundation, but not so close as to affect its actual construction. The number of pits is usually a
matter for judgement and will depend on the size of the proposed development, the nature of the
site, and the consistency of the soil across the site.

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