An evaluation of production output for in situ concrete work

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An integrated system to aid the planning of concrete structures: introducing the system

This paper reports on the development at Loughborough University of a CAD-based integrated model to aid the planning of in-situ concrete structures. The system development started after a review of the planning models  currently available and after a detailed questionnaire survey undertaken amongst the top UK and US contractors on the current status of planning techniques and information technology. The main aim of this system is to automate the planning process of in-situ concrete structures using data generated by CAD systems. So far, the integration of a CAD system (AutoCAD 10) and a computerized scheduling system (Artemis 2000) has been achieved on a typical IBM-PC. This enables the generation of network plans using AutoCAD which are then automatically  transferred to the Artemis system for time and cost analyses. Traditionally, construction planners are faced with many conventional drawings and documents which are used to re-extract information relevant to their planning  processes. Such an approach can be very inefficient as it involves data double-handling and is often error prone. In addition, current computerized construction planning applications are little more than the automation of manual  formulations of plans. For example, data are fed into the planning system and computations are performed using  either CPM (Critical Path Method) or PERT (Programme Evaluation and Review Technique). However, data  relating to the planning process such as activity lists, resources requirements and durations are not automatically  generated within the system. It would thus seem logical to devise a CAD-based integrated planning model which accepts data in its electronic format and involves some integration of the traditional planning approach. This paper introduces the proposed CAD-based integrated planning model and describes its different components. In addition, it discusses the system functional specifications and summarizes the main benefits and limitations of such a model.

Improvement of the Mechanical Properties of Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic Waste Powder Filled Concrete

A comprehensive laboratory experiments were conducted to improve the mechanical properties of glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) waste powder filled concrete using superplasticiser for widening the scope for GRP waste recycling for different applications. It is imperative to note that the 28 days mean compressive strength of concrete specimens developed with 5–15% GRP waste powder using 2% superplasticiser resulted 70.25 ± 1.43–65.21 ± 0.6 N/mm2 which is about 45% higher than that of without the addition of superplasticiser (with GRP waste) and about 11% higher than that of the control concrete (without GRP waste) with 2% superplasticiser. The tensile splitting strength of the concrete showed 4.12 ± 0.05– 4.22 ± 0.03 N/mm2 with 5–15% GRP waste powder which is also higher than that of the control concrete (3.85 ± 0.02 N/mm2). The drying shrinkage, initial surface absorption and density of GRP waste filled concrete were evaluated and found better than the desirable quality for use in structural and non-structural applications

Rethinking healthcare building design quality: an evidence-based strategy

Healthcare buildings play a significant role in delivering healthcare services and outcomes (e.g. quality, suitability, cleanliness, patient experience, value for money and risk mitigation). However, the current diffusion of responsibilities in England between central government and healthcare trusts has created gaps and weaknesses in the evidence base, knowledge, skills and tools for creating and assessing healthcare building design quality. How can a national healthcare building design quality improvement strategy be created? This question is explored in relation to policy, strategy and organizational issues. Four evaluation studies and four action research studies indicate the complexity and responsibilities in defining a design quality improvement strategy. It is found that the interdisciplinary development of national standards and tools requires centralized investment to facilitate nationwide learning and improvements in evidence and outcomes. In addition, the inevitable health policy changes made by successive governments require a sustainable and strategic response. The creation and maintenance of capacity and capabilities will require a dedicated team of professionals and a wide interdisciplinary network of long-term contributors who are motivated by a long-term desire to improve healthcare building design quality

The futures of construction: A critical review of construction future studies

Anticipating the future is increasingly being seen as a useful way to align, direct and improve current organizational strategy. Several such 'future studies' have been produced which envision various construction industry scenarios which result from technological and socio-economic trends and influences. Thirteen construction-related future studies are critically reviewed. Most studies fail to address the complexities and uncertainties of both the present and the future, and fail to explore the connections between global, local, construction-specific and more widespread factors. The methodological approaches used in these studies do not generate any significantly different advice or recommendations for the industry than those emerging from the much larger canon of non-future oriented construction research. As such, these reports are less about the future than the present. If future studies are to make a worthwhile contribution to construction, it is critical that they develop our appreciation of the practical ability of stakeholders to influence some aspects of the future and not others, and an awareness of the competing agendas and the relative benefits and disadvantages of specific futures within the construction sector. Only then can future studies provide insights and help in preparing for the opportunities and threats the future may bring

Planned construction times and labour utilization — a comparison of UK and French contractors

The results of a model based survey of contractors' planning engineers in France and the UK suggest that planned completion times for constructing an identical high-rise in situ concrete framed structure are significantly and dramatically lower in France than in the UK. Average planned construction periods in France were 13 weeks, some 9 weeks faster than the UK average of 22 weeks. Since planned construction periods reflect past experience, French contractors apparently achieve superior levels of production performance whilst at the same time working fewer hours per week, utilizing directly employed workers and employing fewer supervisors. If such planned completion times are truly representative, the findings indicate comparatively poor UK contractor performance, and signify future problems for the British builder in the emerging European marketplace. The causes of such poor performance are complicated, but based on indicative French best practices: production is enhanced when scheduled overtime is avoided, a directly employed and mainly skilled workforce is engaged, and a maximum working time of 40 hours per week is the norm rather than the exception. © 1996, MCB UP Limite