Explain the role of the following in construction industry.

a)
I. Architect: a person who designs buildings and, in many cases, also supervises their construction.
II. Quantity Surveyor: a person who estimates the cost of the materials and labor necessary for a
construction job.

a) Define the term contract and explain any 3 in construction.

Contract: an agreement between two or more parties for the doing or not doing of something
specified.

Three (3) types of contracts are;

1. Cost-Plus Contract:
Under a cost-plus contract, contractors are paid for all of their construction-related expenses. That’s
the cost part of the name. The costs can include direct costs such as labor, materials, supplies, etc.
They also include overhead costs such as insurance, mileage, a portion of your office rent.
Additionally, they also receive an agreed-upon amount for the profit. That’s the “plus.” 
Benefits
This type of construction contract is usually looked upon pretty favorably by contractors. There’s
seemingly no risk of losing money on materials. Plus, you know you’ll incur a profit. These types of
contracts are especially useful when you don’t have enough information to provide a thorough
estimate of work or the scope is not well-defined. They also prioritize quality. 
Drawbacks
However, there are a few details about these types of contracts to be aware of. First, you’ll need to
keep track of all of your expenses and be prepared to present them. That can require additional
resources and labor costs on your side. You may also be limited on how much you can spend. Some
cost-plus contracts include clauses with “not to exceed” amounts for costs. 

2. Design-Build Contract:
Traditionally, owners receive completed designs before taking in construction bids. That leads to
two separate contracts and a longer process. But the design-build contract does things differently.
As the name suggests, a design-build contract addresses design and construction costs
simultaneously. Under this type of contract, the construction process actually begins before the final
design is completed. This process saves the owner time and money by combining the design and
construction project delivery into one contract. It also helps to streamline communications and
create repeatable processes. 
Benefits
The design-build contract helps to speed up the process and avoid disputes between the designer
and builder. It’s popular with organizations that want to accelerate project delivery, lean into the
benefits of collaboration, and streamline processes. Designers also have more input in the
construction drawing process, reducing the need for changes. 
Drawbacks
Some of the pros of design-build contracts can also lead to cons. Because there’s no competitive
bidding phase, the final costs may be higher for the owner. It’s also more difficult to estimate costs
 due to the necessary collaboration between designer and builder. 

3. Guaranteed Maximum Price Contract:

Under the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) contract, the maximum amount the owner will have to
pay the contractor is capped. The GMP contract limits the amount the owner will have to pay, and
any additional expenses incurred are covered by the contractor. These agreements limit the cost-
risk for the customer. They clearly define the most the owner will have to pay, which makes
budgeting much easier. 
Benefits
The GMP includes costs for labor, materials, overhead, and a percentage of those costs to generate
a profit. If the final costs come in under the GMP, the customer may receive all of the cost savings or
share them with the contractor. For contractors, it can also help to expedite the lending process.
Drawbacks
Similar to the cost-plus contract, this agreement does require careful review and analysis of
expenses. This can be particularly time-consuming on large, multi-phase projects. It also places the
majority of the risks on the contractor. If the original estimate ends up being below the final costs,
the contractor can lose money on the project. 

b) Describe the different types of tendering procedures.

Main types of tender process;

Each year, federal, state and local governments invite the private sector to submit
competitive bids for the supply of goods and services. Government tender requests
attract small, medium and large businesses across a wide range of sectors - from office
supplies to major construction projects.

Tender processes in the government sector share many common elements. What
follows is an overview of the main steps you should take to prepare a competitive
tender.

Register your interest

Follow the instructions in the tender document to register your interest with the
purchasing agency. This important step will help keep you up to date on any tender
information sessions.

Attend tender information sessions

If you registered through a tender website, monitor the website for updates about the
tender.

Attend any tender information sessions offered. These are valuable opportunities to ask
questions and make contact with the agency. They may also give you a chance to meet
potential subcontractors or make contacts that could participate in a consortium.
Government agencies are also usually under no obligation to otherwise make available
copies of information, presentations, etc., that may be given at an information session.

Develop your tender response strategy

If you are bidding for a high-value tender, plan your tender carefully and consider the
requirements and resources involved. For example, ask yourself:

 How much will it cost to prepare the tender?

 What information do we need to gather?
 What resources will we need to fulfil the contract?
 Who will manage the tender project?
 How will we plan the workload, assign the work required, schedule the meetings?
 Who is our competition and what are our chances of winning?
 What is our plan for marketing our products and services and pitching our business?

Read more about analyzing tender requests.

Review recent awarded contracts

If you are unclear about any requirements in the tender request, contact the tender
coordinator to seek clarification. Also, review previously awarded contracts using
the Queensland Contracts Directory. The details of recent government contracts over
$10,000 that have been awarded are listed on tender websites.

Research your buyer. What type of companies won similar tenders in the past? What
does the contracting agency look for? What can you do to match their expectations?

Write a compelling bid

Prepare your tender proposal. This includes planning, drafting and refining it.

Make sure that you use the response forms provided and answer all questions. Stick to
any word/page limits that there may be, and (as a general rule) do not go altering things
like fonts and font sizes and numbering unless expressly permitted.

Be clear about your structure and propositions. Decide on several key propositions you
can use to set your tender apart from others. Review the evaluation criteria to gain a
better understanding of what things the government agency is particularly looking for
and will be evaluating your offer against. If you are not a strong writer, think about
engaging a professional (a range of businesses offer tender writing services).

Understand the payment terms

When putting together your tender, make sure you are aware of the payment schedule
specified. Government payment schedules will vary from agency to agency and
procurement to procurement.

You may not get paid as soon as the job is finished or goods are delivered. If you require
payment different to that specified, you should detail this in your offer.

Find referees
Find referees who know your business and can attest to your work.

Give your referees clear information about the tender request so they know what points
to emphasize in their reference. If you have previously supplied goods or services to a
government agency, ask them for a reference.

Check and submit your bid

Make sure you check your proposal carefully before submitting it. Use a checklist to
make sure your bid meets all the requirements (some tenders will include a checklist that
you can also use).

Present your bid

Tender panels responsible for high-value contracts may request a formal presentation
from bidders. If you need to present your offer to an evaluation panel, stay focused on
the key messages in your proposal. Most importantly, prepare. Plan your presentation
carefully, rehearse and, if you don't feel you're a strong presenter, get some coaching in
presentation skills.

Request a debriefing
You should always request a debriefing on the tender after the process, especially if your
bid is unsuccessful. Feedback from the evaluation panel can be extremely useful in
understanding how your offering can be improved and can assist you in preparing for
your next tender. Look for ways to improve your next bid.

c) Explain the term pre-contract planning;

The Pre-Contract Planning Model serves as an operational plan for the execution of the
project. This operational plan includes a milestone schedule of operational activities and
interactions. It also serves as a technical plan of key delivery approaches that will be
employed by the contractor.

QUESTION 2.

a) State any 3 functions of external works.

The term ‘external works’ describes any works carried out to the external

environment of a building project. These can be works to functional
or aesthetic features.

BRE describe external works as: ‘All items outside the building footprint but inside

the site boundary, encompassing wastewater and surface
water drains, supply of utilities (e.g. gas, electricity and cabled services), footpaths,
and access for vehicles including car parks and hard standings to be found in the vicinity
of buildings.’ (Ref: BRE building elements: foundations, basements and external works)

Three functions are;

1. Site preparation works.

2. Roads, paths, pavings and surfacings.

3. Soft landscaping, planting and irrigation systems.

b) Sketch a typical site plan layout including items of external works and explain the
area in the sketches.
c) Draw a typical section of and state the function of the following

I Septic tank: The septic tank is a buried, water-tight container usually made of
concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. Its job is to hold the wastewater long
enough to allow solids to settle down to the bottom forming sludge, while the
oil and grease floats to the top as scum.

 Soakaway: The function of a soakaway, when coupled with a Septic Tank,

is to treat the separated waste from the tank and discharge the treated liquid
over a wide area to avoid flooding and effectively a soggy garden.

d) State the function of fencing: A fence acts as a deterrent for trespassers and

intruders and keeps unwanted wild animals off your property as well. Fences are not
just designed to keep people and animals out, but they also keep things in, like
children.
QUESTION 3

a) What do you understand by the term earthworks: Earthworks are engineering works created
through the processing of parts of the earth's surface involving quantities of soil or unformed rock

b) Explain the procedures for carrying out earthworks such as cut and filling.

 The excavation of cutting shall be carried out in accordance with the relevant approved drawings
and to the levels, widths and heights shown thereon.
 Hauling of material from cuttings or the importation of fill material to the embankment or other
areas of fill shall proceed only when sufficient compaction plant is operating at the place of
deposition to ensure compliance with the specification requirements.
 Any excess depth excavated below the formation level exceeding tolerance of 300mm shall be
made good by backfilling with suitable material of similar characteristic of that removed and
compacted in accordance with specifications.
Filling;
 Filling low-level areas shall be to the level of sub grade as designated. After completion of
clearing and grubbing, the Contractor shall carry out the necessary leveling in order to control the
thickness of the layers of fill.
 The existing natural ground shall be scarified in place to a minimum depth of 75mm for the full
width of the embankment. The scarified material shall be leveled and compacted to a minimum of
95% maximum dry density.
 Where an existing embankment is being widened, the existing embankment slope shall be
trimmed and compacted into benches of minimum width 1m and depth 500mm before placing
and compacting each layer of new embankment material unless otherwise directed by the
Engineer to suit particular circumstances.
 The Contractor shall not proceed with filling and compaction any subsequent layer before testing
and securing the approval of the Engineer for the previous layer.
 Each fill thickness shall not exceed 250mm.

c) List down any 5 earthworking machine and their uses;

 Material handling
 Excavating trenches, holes, and foundations
 Brush cutting with hydraulic attachments
 Demolition
Excavators  Rough grading
 Heavy lifting and pipe installation
 Mining
 River dredging
 It's used to dig up hard, compact material, usually earth, or to lift
Backhoe Loaders heavy loads, such as a sewer box. It can lift this material and drop it
in a pile to the side of the hole. The backhoe is a big, extremely
powerful version of your arm or finger.

They are normally used to push piles of earth and for rough or fine
Bulldozers grading, depending on the size of the bulldozer. A bulldozer's
considerable weight helps it crush large boulders, among other
operations.

Motor graders are typically used to fine-grade dirt or gravel roads or

Motor Graders to prepare the road base course before placing asphalt. Graders can
also be used to create sloped surfaces or drainage ditches with
shallow V-shaped cross-sections.

Crawler loaders are also used for excavation on relatively small

Crawler Loaders
projects. For larger-scale work, a hydraulic excavator is often used
instead of a crawler loader.

d) Explain how bush clearing, felling of trees, removal of stumps are carried out.

BUSH CLEARING

Method

- Set out the area to be cleared.

- Place the workers in such a way that they know which area to clear and that they have sufficient working
space.

- Issue the necessary tools and start the work.

- Throw the bushes outside the cleared area or heap them in the middle of the clearing where they can be
burned afterwards.

TREE AND STUMP REMOVAL

Method

- Secure a long, strong rope to the top of the tree to be removed (several ropes securing the tree in
different directions in the case of big trees).
- Remove the soil around the roots first and deepest on the side to where you want the tree to fall; if the
roots are very deep they can be cut after they have been excavated to at least 1 m depth.

- Pull down the tree with the rope.

- Cut the tree in smaller pieces which can be handled and remove them from the roadway; pieces which
are too big to be moved can be burned when all the grass has been removed from around them.
QUESTION 4

a. Explain the use of the following;

I. BEACON: Beacons are a great solution for construction sites that operate outside the reach of
GPS like inside buildings, underground, and even underwater. This is because beacons provide
a high level of accuracy for the needs of construction workers and machinery.

II. FLASH LIGHT: Flashlights are used as a light source outdoors, in places without
permanently installed lighting, during power outages, or when a portable light source is
needed. In addition to the general-purpose, hand-held flashlight, many forms have been
adapted for special us.

III. CONE: The primary use for construction cones is to help divert traffic. These cones are typically
painted fluorescent “safety” orange because it is the easiest color to distinguish from the color of
the sky. They also tend to have reflective striping on them to increase visibility during the night.

IV. INFORMATION SIGN: The Many Uses of Information Signs are;

 Identify all routes that traffic will use.
 Deter unauthorised persons.
 Enforce use of protective equipment.
 Indicate which hazardous materials are used on site.
 Showcase general information.
b. List 5 precations in road construction site.
 Properly Control Traffic. ...
 Create Separate Work Areas. ...
 Wear Proper Safety Equipment. ...
 Be Aware of Your Surroundings. ...
 Avoid Blind Spots.
c. What are the needs for the provision of utility duct during road construction.
The need to provide ducts during the construction phase of schemes so as to avoid further
excavations after completion of site works

d. List and explain three benefits of good road network.

Three (3) benefits are;
 improved journey times.
 improved air quality from reducing air pollution generated by slow-moving traffic.
 reduced delays to public transport.

QUESTION 5
Explain the first step to be consider in route location for highway.

The first phase in any highway location study is the examination of all available data of the area in which
the road is to be constructed. This phase is usually carried out in the office prior to any field or
photogrammetric investigation. All the available data are collected and examined. These data can be
obtained from existing engineering reports, maps, aerial photographs, and charts, which are usually
available at one or more of the state’s departments of transportation, agriculture, geology, hydrology, and
mining. The type and amount of data collected and examined depend on the type of highway being
considered, but in general, data should be obtained on the following characteristics of the area:

 Engineering, including topography, geology, climate, and traffic volumes.

 Social and demographic, including land use and zoning patterns.
 Environmental, including types of wildlife; location of recreational, historic, and archeological
sites; and the possible effects of air, noise, and water pollution.
 Economic, including unit costs for construction and the trend of agricultural, commercial, and
industrial activities.
a. Explain the term;
Bush Clearing: The removal of brush using mechanical means, either by cutting manually or by
using machinery for crushing, rolling, flailing, or chipping it, or by chemical means or a combination of
these.
Hauling: Loaders are hauling equipment machines used in construction to move and load materials.
They load loose materials, such as sand, dirt, or gravel, and take them to another machine, such as a
dump truck or conveyor belt. Oftentimes, loaders are at a higher elevation than the location of the
materials.
Borrow pit: A borrow pit is a term used in construction for a hole, pit or excavation that has been dug
for the purposes of removing gravel, clay and sand used in a construction project such as when
building an overpass or embankment.

b. Explain the use of culverts and bridges

CULVERTS: Culvert is defined as a tunnel structure constructed under roadways or railways to
provide cross drainage or to take electrical or other cables from one side to other. It is totally enclosed
by soil or ground. Pipe culvert, box culvert and arch culvert are the common types used under
roadways and railways.
BRIDGES: The purpose of a bridge is to allow people or cargo easy passage over an obstacle by
providing a route that would otherwise be uneven or impossible.