ISEC: Third International Structural

Engineering and Construction

Conference
SEPTEMBER 20-23, 2005,

Tokuyama College of Technology, Shunan,

JAPAN,
Title of Paper/Presentation

Consideration between Site Layout Facilities,

Provision of Work Equipments and
Construction Planning for Extremely Large
and Complicated Construction Projects

Raymond W M Wong
Jonathan S C Siu
Dr.Christabel Ho
ABSTRACT:
The effectiveness in site layout and construction planning for
extremely large-scale and complicated construction projects not only
affects productivity and cost, it also controls whether a project can be
handled and completed in a practical, safe, orderly, efficient and
engineering feasible manner.
Projects qualified to be extremely large and complicated can be in
a variety of forms. Take for examples in HK situation. Construction
cost of projects sometimes exceeds billions of dollars. Site covers
more than a few hectares of land with building areas in term of
hundred thousands square meters. Or, projects sometimes involve the
construction of super high-rise buildings with more that 60 or 70
storeys in height. This kind of building development projects, very
often, consists of a number of annexed facilities such as a very deep
basement, or a podium with very large interior space and long-span
elements. Special structures like buildings constructed in structural
steel or in composite manner. Some projects are located within very
congested urban environment, or located in close proximity to steep
slope, or adjacent to sensitive facilities like underground tunnels. In
case of civil engineering projects, sometimes they also involve special
provisions, diversion and interfacing arrangement to very busy
servicing traffic and other urban facilities.
This paper will identify various types of construction cases
qualified to be of extremely large and complicated nature under
the built environment of Hong Kong. The paper will also
illustrate how builders solve such problems using innovative
methods. Relevant brief case examples from civil engineering
works in particular for transportation facilities will also be
referred in order to substantiate the explanation of the subject
matter.

The following are a summary of this paper for simple reference

only.
 Site layout facilities and
construction planning
a) Facilities that are essential and required for the
carrying out of the construction works
b) Facilities that are required for the well being,
convenience or safety of workers
c) Facilities that are required for the overall site
logistics, operation and management
d) Items that are statutory required for the carrying
of the construction works
Site layout facilities
A. Provision of site layout facilities according to stages
of construction
a) At the commencement of the construction project
b) At the peak period of the construction project when the
permanent structural works are to be carried out
c) At the final stage of the project when the touching up,
finishing works or other handing over arrangement are to
be carried out
B. Provision of major site layout facilities according to
types of construction
 Photo 1 – Tower crane used in high-rise building
construction projects can be mounted in a number of
ways. This photo shows a climbing crane used in the
construction of a steel frame building.
Photo 2 – Storage of material can be very difficult
for single tower type high-rise building. This photo
shows the temporary storing of semi-prefabricated
steel components on partially completed steel floor
beams.
 Photo 3 – Delivery and storage of precast
components for congested site can be very difficult in
particular when the sequence of installation is taken
into consideration.
 Photo 4 – Super-sized building site
(the International Finance Centre) with major
excavation for basement construction and other
associated work activities in various locations
carried out at the same time.
Photo 5 – Another super-sized project example located
on sloping site with site formation, cut-off walling and
foundation works carried out at the same time. Site
access is a primary problem in the project.
Photo 6 – A commercial development located in
congested built-up area with the basement work in the
peak period. Complicated shoring and ground supporting
works can idle a congested site for months unless
stringent site layout planning arrangement is introduced.
Photo 7 – Special layout and equipments provision for
the construction of large-size basement is required
such as the use of a spoil removal hoist in this 5-level
basement constructed in top-down method.
Photo 8 – The construction of a 1.2 km-long temporary
ramp above sea surface to facilitate the construction of
the bridge piers for an elevated expressway..
Photo 9 – Provision of a steel ramp from the portal
area down into a tunnel constructed using drill-and-
blast method.
Photo 10 – Typical falsework arrangement erected for the
support of a pier head for the construction of a section of
viaduct. Note that part of the system is erected over a
section of water channel.
Photo 11 – The use of large-sized foundation
machine such as the Reverse Circulation Drill to
form large diameter bored pile occupies a large
operation space including areas for the working of
the associated equipment.
Photo 12 – Large-scale site formation project often
involved a number of heavy equipments such as
dumper trucks, excavating, drilling or crushing
machines. It may take years to complete and a realistic
site layout planning is important for this kind of project.
Photo 13 – Erection of a launching gantry in a
highway project which took 2 months and a 3000 m2
work area for the completion of the works.
Photo 14 – Installation of a medium-sized tunnel
boring machine at the portal of a tunnel. The portal
at a later stage will serve also as an depot and
materials handling area, as well as an important
transport route to support the tunneling works.
Photo 15 – Construction of a section of elevated
bridge using precast box-girder within a busy
highway network in which complicated traffic
diversion arranged in various phases were required.
Photo 16 – An extremely complication diversion
arrangement for a large storm water discharge in newly
reclaimed area. Tunnel tube for a new railway line will be
constructed under the new discharge culvert system.
Concerns and relationship of site layout,
construction facilities and construction planning
A. Require additional time in the setting up,
maintenance, relocating and dismantling the
facilities
B. Require additional resources and handling
arrangement in the setting up of the site layout
facilities, equipments or other associated works
C. Require additional working space for the
smooth operation of the installed facilities
D. The provisions of many of the site layout
facilities are having complicated cost
implication
Photo 17 – Erection of an 8.5m diameter tunnel boring
machine inside a 60m x 200m x 25m deep tunnel portal.
The tunnel machine will be dismantled after the
completion of the tunnel drilling at an access shaft which is
about 1.8 km away from the portal.
Photo 18 – A temporary service shaft formed in the mid-
way of a 3.5km-long tunnel as emergency access as well
as for the transportation of working plants and materials.
Concerns and relationship of site layout,
construction facilities and construction planning
E. Very expensive equipments may be involved that very
careful resource planning should be introduced
F. Construction works are carried out in various phases
according to the construction planning or other
constraints of site
G. Sometimes the construction plan may require part of the
structures to be completed in an advanced or deferred
manner for various purposes
H. Sometimes a site may be handed over to contractor to
commence work in separated stages or required to
complete the works in various phases for handing back
to the client
Photo 19 – Immersed tubes for a harbor crossing tunnel
were constructed in a dry-dock which takes 4 months to
complete. The process repeated 3 times to provide 12
tubes for the final tunnel alignment. .The completed
tubes would then be towed to the tunnel position for
sinking into the pre-dredged seabed. Contingency plan
to cater for any accident happen during the entire work
process was an impression issue for the project.
Photo 20 – A commercial development project located in
congested built-up area with a 4-level basement. To make the
construction more time-effective, the basement was sub-
divided into 2 phases with the first phase on the office tower
side. The remaining phase will be done at the same time with
the construction of the 42-storey office tower.
Photo 21 – Owing to the locating of
shallow rock-head on one side of site,
the construction of this semi-basement
for a commercial complex introduced
an additional phase in the master
planning program (left portion in photo)
to avoid interruption to the progress of
the main structure.
Photo 22 –An 15m slot on the main structure of the Hong
Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre was cast in a
delayed stage to allow for the moving in of a series of
80m-long prefabricated roof truss sections. Note also the
temporary loading pier on the seawall for the delivery of
the truss sections.
Concerns and relationship of site layout,
construction facilities and construction planning

I. Possible occurrence of unforeseeable risks

J. Encountering of significant technical or
engineering difficulties
 Solutions to ensure the effective
running of a project
„ Some factors that leading to successful
site practice
A. Master planning
B. Provide adequate provisions
C. Ensure detail understanding
D. Develop closer communication
E. Input sufficient manpower
F. Develop an effective and high quality management
system
G. Careful monitoring of all the significant works