Module Title: Introduction to the Built Environment

Module Code: CMA3003

Student ID:
Word Count: 2862
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3

Built environment and different sector investigation relating to built Environment.......................4

Demonstration of a construction project in the UK.........................................................................4

Responsibilities and contribution of professional bodies involved in selected project...................6

Advantages of the construction industry/project from the perspective of UK economy................9

Reflection Report from the experiences of selected project..........................................................11

Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................12

References......................................................................................................................................13
Introduction
This essay has been developed on the built environment topic, which is a fundamental course to
introduce the learners to the built environment, how this industry works, how they keep
contributing to society, why their task is important in the world and why their demand is
increasing gradually in different fields. The built environment is a surrounding of the people,
which is created by the people who have knowledge or professional experience in this field. This
essay has been prepared in some paragraphs explaining different relevant topics on this project.
In the first paragraph, a difference between the public and private sector construction industry
and their types of tasks has been described. To continue the discussion of this essay, a completed
project of the UK has been taken and different insights have been provided regarding the project.
Descriptions of the project, project life cycles, related professional bodies and their
responsibilities and contributions, benefits relating to this construction, and recommendations
from the essay have been provided. The purpose of this essay is to provide fundamental
knowledge of the built environment and how it works for mankind.
Built environment and different sector investigation relating to built
Environment
Built environment refers to the human-made or prepared environment for the betterment of
human activity. The built environment has a range of scales from buildings and parks or spaces
which are surrounded by green, which offers a lively environment to live in the city or busy area
(Meikle and Best, 2022). A built environment is essential for making the lives of people easier.
Under the construction industry, there are different types of sectors. Among all the types of
sectors, the public sector and private sector are the major types in the construction industry.
The main difference between the public sector and the private sector of the built environment is
authority. In the private sector, the former is commissioned or paid by the owner of the building,
businesses or private who are making the project for their necessity. On the other hand, the
public sector is commissioned or paid by the government or authority of the federal system. In
the public sector, the government or state major is responsible for paying and wants to work
done according to the plan or requirements of that person or government (Hampson, Kraatz and
Sanchez, 2014). The task of the public sector is time time-consuming than the private sector's
task. Because, there are many types of rules and regulations, many personnel or departments are
engaged with the project and the responsible project coordinator or manager has to obtain
permission or opinion before doing a task or bringing any change, which is easier in the private
sector. In private sector also has formalities to maintain but these are not as complicated as like
public sector. So, a project of the private sector takes less time to prepare or get ready than the
public sector (Porwal and Hewage, 2013). The bidding system is different in public and private
sectors based on the willingness of the bidder. The public sector is more open than the private
sector in case of bidding but the number of bidders is not restricted.

Demonstration of a construction project in the UK

Crossrail project of London is one of the largest construction projects in the UK. The Crossrail
project is also known as the Elizabeth Line, which is a public project in the UK. This is called a
public project because the financing for this project has come from the funds of the government.
The funds for this project came jointly from the government of the UK and TFL (Crossrail,
2022). The UK government has a 60% contribution for the Crossrail project and TFL has a 40%
contribution and both funds came from the governing body of the country.
Crossrail is an ambitious project or plan of the government to introduce the public to London and
Southeast with a new rail service. This project saved the time of the people, and communications
and transportation became easier and safer for the people. The initial budget for this project was
14.8 billion pounds and it took 18.9 billion pounds to complete the project (Smith et al., 2013).
The bill of this project was approved in 2007 but the operation or production activity of this
project was started in 2009. The Crossrail project which is known as the Elizabeth Line Project
was completed in 2022 and the authority of the project opened the line for the public on 17 th May
2022. That day was the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and this Crossrail project was an
honour for the queen.
This Crossrail project has 10 stations for picking up and dropping out passengers from different
locations and 12 trains per hour run in each direction. So, people from those locations, which
have stations for picking up passengers can easily get a train after 5 minutes. For people, who
have to go to the workplace from a long distance, the Crossrail project is a blessing for them
(Lawrence, Menkiti and Black, 2018). The operating speed of the trains stays at 60 mph and
people can easily reach their destination within a short which was very time-consuming in any
other transport.
This was a 42km long Crossrail project which is connected from west to east. This rail line
started from the west side (Great Western main line at Royal Oak). The stations are located in
Paddington, Tottenham Court Road, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, Bond Street, Farringdon and
so on. An image of this project road has been added below for a better understanding of readers.

Figure 1: Elizabeth Line Image

Source: (Davies et al., 2014)
Canary Wharf Constructors was the main constructor for this project. They took the project in
hand from the government of the UK and TFL. Canary Wharf Constructors is the construction
concern of Canary Wharf Group PLC. Canary Wharf Group PLC is a British property company,
with headquarters located in London, England. This project has been divided into three phases.
In 1st phase, the line has been launched in a new central section with 10 stations. In the second
phase, services from west to east have been connected to the new central section. And finally, in
the third phase, the whole project has been completed and a seamless connection has been
operated from east to west.
When a company plans for a new project, the company or the constructor has to go through a
project life cycle. The basic project life cycle has five phases. The first phase of the project life
cycle is initiation, where the manager of the project defines the scope and objectives of the
project (F Lawrence Bennett, 2013). the objective of the Crossrail project was to create an easier
and time-saving connection between two locations which was a long way in any other transport
and took a lot of time. The objective of this project was betterment and making easier the public's
life. In the second phase, the manager would prepare a plan, where he or she has to mention or
prepare a timeline for the project. according to the plan, the constructor would complete the
project (Pica, 2015). In the next phase, the manager or responsible party would execute the plan
in action and try to use resources including human resources to their full capability. After the
execution phase, the manager has to monitor the work progress and quality of the work. If they
find any issues, which would contradict the project plan or objectives of the project, the manager
would take necessary steps to correct the facts. Because it is necessary to handle the project
according to the given plan and in public sector projects, the constructor has to explain every
step. So, accuracy is mandatory in government projects (Levin, 2013). Finally, the closing phase,
where the project activities are done and the manager or the responsible party hands over the
project and all other details relating to the project to the government. The government has to
close the deal with the conductors officially after getting the project in hand according to their
demands and plans.
Responsibilities and contribution of professional bodies involved in
selected project
The main professional who were involved in the Crossrail Project of the UK have been
mentioned below along with their responsibilities and contributions what they put in this project.
These professional bodies have significant contributions in different stages of the project and to
make the project task easier (Ganesan, 2019). All of them tried their best to perform their
responsibility properly by contributing to the project.
Professiona Full Form Responsibilities Contributions
l
ICE Institution of Institution of Civil Engineers Developing different bridges,
Civil Engineers (ICE) is a reputed and tunnels, and many other
internationally recognised shapes of the Crossrail
organisation. ICE played the
project, it was mandatory to
most crucial role in the
get help from the
Crossrail project in London.
professionals. The engineers
Their responsibility was
of ICE played a major role
shaping the development of
the Crossrail project (Behling
and contributed to the

and Harvey, 2015). ICE has Crossrail project by

many experiences and well- providing advice regarding
known engineers of the the development or
world, who provided advice, production of different parts
and opinions on this project. and visualisations of the
project. Many engineers sat
together and took each
other's opinion on this project
and finally processed with an
exact plan and preparation.
RICS Royal Institution Royal Institution of When, the conductors went to
of Chartered Chartered Surveyors work on the Crossrail project,
Surveyors (RICS) is one of the initially, they had to prepare a
 prominent professional plan for the project. It was
bodies of the Crossrail visual in the plan of which
project. RICS works on locations Crossrail stations will
be made and which lands and
land and properties-related
properties need to be used to
tasks, if anyone faces any
build the Crossrail project
kind of complications on
(Whyte, Stasis and Lindkvist,
lands and properties, RICS
2016). The greatest contribution
is here to help them with of RICS was identifying the
advice and suggestions potential sites for the stations
from their experienced and obtaining permission and
experts. RICS also played a acquisition from the owner to
similar role in the Crossrail proceed with their task.
project, as it was a long
and time-consuming
project and had to work on
many lands and properties.
NAME Institution of It is easier to know that, the The engineers or members of
Mechanical Institution of Mechanical this organisation played an
Engineers Engineers (IME) works for important role in testing and
the connections in different
commissioning the trains by
projects. They ensure the
ensuring the different
electricity, water, gas and
connections, which are
other connections in the
associated with controlling
building project, which is
necessary for a project
the system.

(Stankus, 2019). So,

engineers of IME played
significant roles in this
project by ensuring the
connections in the Crossrail
project.
IOSH Institution of The main responsibility of the In the Crossrail project, there
 Occupational Institution of Occupational were many employees or
Safety and Health Safety and Health (IOSH) workers, who worked for the
was to ensure the safety of the project at risk most of the
workers and those who would
time and people or the public
use this project in future as
of the locations would use
passengers. IOSH is one of
the road or trains for their life
the most important bodies in
betterment and many other
the Crossrail project because
their contribution is
reasons. But all of them

magnificent to the project require safety, while they are

(Fontes, 2014). Their main working on the project or
motive is to ensure the health when they use the Rail Road.
and physical safety of the IOSH is here to ensure the
people who are involved in safety of their lives if
this project. anything happens because of
mechanical errors.
IET Institutions of Here are Institution of Signals and communications are
Engineers and Engineers and Technology very important in a Rail project.
Technology (IET), which is another Because, roadside vehicles or
people from different locations
important professional
have to provide signals before
body of the Elizabeth Line
coming to the trains so that they
project. Their main task
do not have to face any
was integrating technology
difficulties or accidents
and telecommunications (Zucker, Darby and Armstrong,
into a successful project 2022). IET works on this issue
and making the lives of by ensuring safer
people easier. They talk communications and building a
about the signals, signal in the project.
communications, and
efficient and reliable
operations of the project,
which are directly
 connected with the project.

Advantages of the construction industry/project from the

perspective of UK economy
The growth of the construction industry has increased rapidly within the last 20 years. Before
that, the construction industry was in the field but the growth was not that high. After the vast
globalization of business and other fields, the construction industry started to boom in the
market. Industrialisation and urbanisation are the main reasons for expanding this industry very
shortly and the rate of profit-making in this industry is very high (Botham, 2022). The current
economic condition of the UK is not stable and the UK economy faced a recession last year. But
it’s recovering gradually with an expected real GDP growth of 0.3% and expecting it would
accelerate to 0.9% in the next year. All these projects and the construction industry have an
impact on the GDP growth of the country. From the current information or records of the GDP,
6% of the national income comes from the construction industry, which is not that high again
important for the development of the country. In the GDP growth rate, a single point of the
percentage matters.
The Crossrail Project was a government project, where one government organisation and
governing body of the country were connected. In this project, the government has to generate
the funds and they did not construct this project for business purposes. All types of government
projects have been constructed for mankind and social development (Vincent Panganai
Nyambayo et al., 2020). After, preparing this project, many people got a chance to work in
distant locations which was tough before. The communication system between East to West has
been developed and people from different locations easily to their destinations for different
purposes. In the public sector, the government or state authority is in charge of paying and
requests that work be completed according to their plans or specifications. Compared to private
sector tasks, public sector tasks require more time to complete. Due to the several types of laws
and regulations, numerous employees or departments are working on the project, and the
responsible project manager or coordinator must get consent or input before beginning any
activity or making any changes—something that is simpler in the private sector. Before this
project work done, people who had businesses or offices in the East but lived in the West was
tough for them to go to the workplace and monitor their tasks regularly (Mboumoua, 2017).
Most of the time, the authority or owner has to look after their responsibilities online which is
not effective. Now it's becoming easier and contributes to the economy by efficiently
maintaining business tasks.

Reflection Report from the experiences of selected project

This course is one of the most interesting courses for me as I'm learning about many other
courses. There I can visualise the thoughts in my mind especially, and I have a great desire to
work in a different industry like the construction industry (Gibbons, 2015). Learning is fruitful
and effective when learners have an interest in that. This learning is fruitful for me as I have an
interest in this course. There are many other projects in the city, but I have chosen this one
because it was a government project and a long-term one. Many professional bodies were
connected in this project from different professions and how those professionals worked in this
project has been described, which is not this detailed in any other projects, especially on private
projects (Jin et al., 2018). When I worked on a government project, I had to research as
information was not organised and I had to collect information from different sources and links
and had to study a lot. This developed my learning skills, researching skills, how to find data and
organise them etc. I have learned from this project.
Conclusion
This essay has been described based on a prominent and expensive project in London, which is
known as the Crossrail project or Elizabeth Line. This project has been constructed in honour of
Queen Elizabeth II. Learners who are studying in built environment courses, need to know
different insights into a project and how a project works. This project and the details of the
project help the learners to answer all their questions. The built environment is for mankind and
to make their lives easier. When an organisation or constructor work on a project, they have to
go through a project life cycle, which is mandatory to complete all the tasks properly and to find
out the mistakes or errors on the projects. In a project, the conductors have to keep connections
or take help from different professional bodies for different purposes, which is not possible by
one specific professional body. Moreover, a project is a group task and coordination of many
minds to make the project successful.
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