Major economic resource required to complete atypical construction project

Construction industry

 Construction industry plays a vital role in the economy of any nation. It employs largest
number of labour, materials and financial resources. Hence the necessity for the optimum use
of these scarce resources. In addition, the construction activity precedes any social, business
recreational activities. These construction economics has developed into a separate field
distinct from design and construction.  This has led to the genesis of modern concept of
quantity surveying functions. The quantity surveyor is called upon to render advice to the
employer on various aspects of economy in construction from the stage of conception to
completion of the project and even during the life cycle period. The employer will look for
the value for the money spent by him. The Engineer/Quantity surveyor  therefore need to
possess a thorough knowledge of the project, market conditions, availability of vendors and
contractors to render his timely and independent advice to the employer.
 Construction Economics

 Economics  is derived from the Greek word ‘Oikonomia’ (Oikos = house + Nomos = laws)
meaning managing the home. The definition of economics is the “Social science that studies
the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services”. The modern definition
according to Lionel Robbins in 1932 states economics as a  “science which studies human
behavior as a relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternate uses”.
 Construction economics is a branch of general economics. It consists of application of
techniques and expertise of economics to the particular area of construction industry.
Construction economics is concerned with man’s needs for shelter and the suitable and
appropriate conditions in which to work and live. It seeks to ensure the efficient use of
available resources and to increase the rate of growth of construction in the most efficient
manner.
 Resource

 Resource refers to all the materials available in our environment which help us to satisfy our
needs and wants. Resources can broadly be classified upon their availability — they are
classified into renewable and non-renewable resources. They can also be classified as actual
 and potential on the basis of the level of development and use, on the basis of origin they can
be classified as biotic and abiotic, and on the basis of their distribution, as ubiquitous and
localised (private, community-owned, national and international resources). An item
becomes a resource with time and developing technology.
 Resource which we use to complete construction project

 Building products

Products are processed, finished items that are offered for sale. That is, they
re manufactured combinations of materials and perhaps other products, processed to create items
such as doors, windows, light fittings, and so on.

They are generally distinguished from ‘materials’ which are raw, unprocessed substances such
as sand, salt, and so on, and from ‘services’ which are activities such
as consultation, maintenance, installation, or sometimes the provision of accommodation.

The Construction Products Regulation defines a ‘construction product’ as; ‘…any product or kit

which is produced and placed on the market for incorporation in a permanent manner
in construction works or parts thereof and the performance of which has an effect on
the performance of the construction works with respect to the basic requirements for construction
works.'

 Materials
Construction materials
Narrower definitions of materials such as 'physical substances that things can be made from'
would seem to exclude manufactured products such as components, fittings, items
of equipment and systems. For example, steel is a material, whereas a steel beam is a product.

Primary materials are the materials tha tmake up the majority of

the structural components, foundation and envelope of construction projects.

Some of the more commonly used construction materials that might be considered to fall within
this narrower definition are listed below.

 Adhesives
 Acrylic.
 Aggregate
 Aluminium.
 Architectural fabrics
 Asphalt
 Brick
 Bulk filling materials
 Cast iron
 Cavity wall insulation
 Cement
 Ceramics
 Chert
 Clay
 Coal ash
 Concrete
 Concrete fibre
 Fibre cement
 Glass for buildings
 Glass reinforced concrete
 Gravel
 Gravel v hardcore v aggregates.
 Gypsum.
 Hempcrete
 Limecrete
 Masonry
 Mastic sealant
 Metal
 Mortar
 Mycelium
 Nylon
 Oil - a global perspective
 Paint
 Paints and coatings
 Pebbledash
 Phase change materials
 Phenolic foam insulation
 Plastic
 Plywood
 Polyamide intermediates
 Polyethylene.
 Polystyrene
 Polyurethane spray foam in structurally insulated panels and composite structures
 Polyvinyl chloride PVC
 Precast concrete
 Prestressed concrete
 Products v goods v materials.
 R22 phase out
 Recyclable construction materials
 Refrigerants in buildings
 Reinforced concrete
 Render
 Renewable chemicals
 Sand.
 Solid wall insulation
 Stainless steel in construction
 Steel
 Stone.
 Straw bale construction
 Structural steelwork
 Stucco
 Sundry items.
 Sustainable materials
 Terracotta.
 Thermoplastic materials in buildings
 Timber
 Topmix Permeable
 Tradical Hemcrete
 Transparent insulation
 Types of steel
 Wattle and daub
 Wrought iron

Project inforamtion materials

drawings, calculations, specifications and/or other documents, including any

geometrical model and any Information Model in any physical or electronic medium (and
any designs and/or materials contained in the same) prepared and provided by the Appointed
Party, the Appointor, the Appointee and any Lead Appointed Party and any appointed party in
relation to the Works including any information and/or documentation obtained by any Party
based upon which any Information Model was developed, whether in whole or in part.’

 Construction plant

The term ‘plant’ refers to machinery, equipment and apparatus used for an industrial activity.

Typically, in construction, ‘plant’ refers to heavy machinery and equipment used
during construction works

At the smaller scale, there may be some overlap between what is considered plant,

small plant, tools, small tools or equipment. Very broadly, ‘tools’ might be considered to be
instruments that are used by hand, whereas ‘equipment’ might refer to a set of tools used for a
single purpose. Construction plant is generally re-useable, and so as well as being purchased
new, it may be purchased second hand or hired.