CONST RU CT IO N M ET H O D S

AND O P ER A T I ON S
CONSTRUCTION
• CONSTRUCTION IS THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING OR INFRASTRUCTURE.
CONSTRUCTION DIFFERS FROM MANUFACTURING IN THAT MANUFACTURING TYPICALLY
INVOLVES MASS PRODUCTION OF SIMILAR ITEMS WITHOUT A DESIGNATED PURCHASER,
WHILE CONSTRUCTION TYPICALLY TAKES PLACE ON LOCATION FOR A KNOWN CLIENT.
CONSTRUCTION AS AN INDUSTRY COMPRISES SIX TO NINE PERCENT OF THE 
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.
• LARGE-SCALE CONSTRUCTION REQUIRES COLLABORATION ACROSS MULTIPLE
DISCIPLINES. AN ARCHITECT NORMALLY MANAGES THE JOB, AND A 
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER, DESIGN ENGINEER, CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER OR 
PROJECT MANAGER SUPERVISES IT. FOR THE SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION OF A PROJECT,
EFFECTIVE PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL. THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE DESIGN AND
EXECUTION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN QUESTION MUST CONSIDER ZONING
REQUIREMENTS, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE JOB, THE SUCCESSFUL 
SCHEDULING, BUDGETING, CONSTRUCTION-SITE SAFETY, AVAILABILITY AND
TRANSPORTATION OF BUILDING MATERIALS,LOGISTICS, INCONVENIENCE TO THE 
PUBLIC CAUSED BY CONSTRUCTION DELAYS AND BIDDING, ETC. THE LARGEST
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE REFERRED TO AS MEGAPROJECTS.
CONSTRUCTION METHODS
1. SURVEYING 1. WALL
2. CLEARING 2. ELECTRICAL/ MECHANICAL
3. FRAMING 3. PLUMBING
4. SIGNAGES 4. FINISHING/PARTISIONS
5. MOBILIZATION 5. TAPPING OFF/ROOF DECK
6. LAYOUT 6. PAINTING
7. EXCAVATION 7. POWER SUPPLY
8. FOOTING 8. TESTING
9. COLUMNS 9. DEMOBILIZATION
10. BEAMS 10. HANDOVER
11. SLABS
TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION

1. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
2.INFRASTRUCTURE
3.INDUSTRIAL
 • BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION IS USUALLY FURTHER DIVIDED INTO RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL
(COMMERCIAL/INSTITUTIONAL). BUILDING CONSTRUCTION IS THE PROCESS OF ADDING
STRUCTURE TO REAL PROPERTY OR CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS. THE MAJORITY OF BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION JOBS ARE SMALL RENOVATIONS, SUCH AS ADDITION OF A ROOM, OR RENOVATION
OF A BATHROOM. OFTEN, THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY ACTS AS LABORER, PAYMASTER, AND DESIGN
TEAM FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT. ALTHOUGH BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TYPICALLY
INCLUDE VARIOUS COMMON ELEMENTS, SUCH AS DESIGN, FINANCIAL, ESTIMATING AND LEGAL
CONSIDERATIONS, MANY PROJECTS OF VARYING SIZES REACH UNDESIRABLE END RESULTS, SUCH AS
STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE, COST OVERRUNS, AND/OR LITIGATION. 
COMMERCIAL
RESIDENTIAL
• INFRASTRUCTURE

INFRASTRUCTURE IS OFTEN CALLED HEAVY/HIGHWAY, HEAVY

CIVIL OR HEAVY ENGINEERING. IT INCLUDES LARGE PUBLIC
WORKS, DAMS, BRIDGES, HIGHWAYS, WATER/WASTEWATER AND
UTILITY DISTRIBUTION.
INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CIVIL
• INDUSTRIAL
INDUSTRIAL INCLUDES REFINERIES, PROCESS CHEMICAL, POWER
GENERATION, MILLS AND MANUFACTURING PLANTS. THERE ARE
OTHER WAYS TO BREAK THE INDUSTRY INTO SECTORS OR
MARKETS.
INDUSTRIAL
 U CT IO N P R O C E SSE S
CONSTR
•DESIGN TEAM
IN THE MODERN INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD, CONSTRUCTION USUALLY INVOLVES THE TRANSLATION OF
DESIGNS INTO REALITY. A FORMAL DESIGN TEAM MAY BE ASSEMBLED TO PLAN THE PHYSICAL
PROCEEDINGS, AND TO INTEGRATE THOSE PROCEEDINGS WITH THE OTHER PARTS. THE DESIGN USUALLY
CONSISTS OF DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS, USUALLY PREPARED BY A DESIGN TEAM INCLUDING 
ARCHITECT, CIVIL ENGINEERS, MECHANICAL ENGINEERS, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
, FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERS, PLANNING CONSULTANTS, ARCHITECTURAL CONSULTANTS, AND
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTANTS. THE DESIGN TEAM IS MOST COMMONLY EMPLOYED BY (I.E. IN CONTRACT
WITH) THE PROPERTY OWNER. UNDER THIS SYSTEM, ONCE THE DESIGN IS COMPLETED BY THE DESIGN
TEAM, A NUMBER OF CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES OR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT COMPANIES MAY
THEN BE ASKED TO MAKE A BID FOR THE WORK, EITHER BASED DIRECTLY ON THE DESIGN, OR ON THE BASIS
OF DRAWINGS AND A BILL OF QUANTITIES PROVIDED BY A QUANTITY SURVEYOR.
• FINANCIAL ADVISORS
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS CAN SUFFER FROM PREVENTABLE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. UNDERBIDS HAPPEN
WHEN BUILDERS ASK FOR TOO LITTLE MONEY TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. CASH FLOW PROBLEMS EXIST
WHEN THE PRESENT AMOUNT OF FUNDING CANNOT COVER THE CURRENT COSTS FOR LABOUR AND
MATERIALS, AND BECAUSE THEY ARE A MATTER OF HAVING SUFFICIENT FUNDS AT A SPECIFIC TIME, CAN
ARISE EVEN WHEN THE OVERALL TOTAL IS ENOUGH. FRAUD IS A PROBLEM IN MANY FIELDS, BUT IS
NOTORIOUSLY PREVALENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD.  FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR THE PROJECT IS
INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT A SOLID PLAN WITH ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS AND CONTINGENCY PLANS ARE IN
PLACE BEFORE THE PROJECT IS STARTED AND IS REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT THE PLAN IS PROPERLY
EXECUTED OVER THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT.MORTGAGE BANKERS, ACCOUNTANTS, AND COST ENGINEERS ARE
LIKELY PARTICIPANTS IN CREATING AN OVERALL PLAN FOR THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF THE BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
• LEGAL ASPECTS
A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MUST FIT INTO THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK GOVERNING THE PROPERTY. THESE
INCLUDE GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS ON THE USE OF PROPERTY, AND OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE CREATED
IN THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION.THE PROJECT MUST ADHERE TO ZONING AND BUILDING CODE
 REQUIREMENTS. CONSTRUCTING A PROJECT THAT FAILS TO ADHERE TO CODES DOES NOT BENEFIT THE
OWNER. SOME LEGAL REQUIREMENTS COME FROM MALUM IN SE CONSIDERATIONS, OR THE DESIRE TO
PREVENT THINGS THAT ARE INDISPUTABLY BAD – BRIDGE COLLAPSES OR EXPLOSIONS. OTHER LEGAL
REQUIREMENTS COME FROM MALUM PROHIBITUM CONSIDERATIONS, OR THINGS THAT ARE A MATTER OF
CUSTOM OR EXPECTATION, SUCH AS ISOLATING BUSINESSES TO A BUSINESS DISTRICT AND RESIDENCES
TO A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
·INTERACTION OF EXPERTISE
DESIGN, FINANCE, AND LEGAL ASPECTS OVERLAP AND INTERRELATE. THE DESIGN MUST BE
NOT ONLY STRUCTURALLY SOUND AND APPROPRIATE FOR THE USE AND LOCATION, BUT
MUST ALSO BE FINANCIALLY POSSIBLE TO BUILD, AND LEGAL TO USE. THE FINANCIAL
STRUCTURE MUST ACCOMMODATE THE NEED FOR BUILDING THE DESIGN PROVIDED, AND
MUST PAY AMOUNTS THAT ARE LEGALLY OWED. THE LEGAL STRUCTURE MUST INTEGRATE
THE DESIGN INTO THE SURROUNDING LEGAL FRAMEWORK, AND ENFORCE THE FINANCIAL
CONSEQUENCES OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
·PROCUREMENT
PROCUREMENT DESCRIBES THE MERGING OF ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE CLIENT TO OBTAIN
A BUILDING. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION PROCUREMENT;
HOWEVER THE THREE MOST COMMON TYPES OF PROCUREMENT ARE TRADITIONAL (DESIGN-BID-
BUILD), DESIGN-BUILD AND MANAGEMENT CONTRACTING. THERE IS ALSO A GROWING NUMBER
OF NEW FORMS OF PROCUREMENT THAT INVOLVE RELATIONSHIP CONTRACTING WHERE THE
EMPHASIS IS ON A CO-OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PRINCIPAL AND CONTRACTOR
AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. NEW FORMS INCLUDE
PARTNERING SUCH AS PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERING (PPPS) AKA PRIVATE FINANCE INITIATIVES
 (PFIS) AND ALLIANCES SUCH AS "PURE" OR "PROJECT" ALLIANCES AND "IMPURE" OR
"STRATEGIC" ALLIANCES. 
CONS T R UC T ION P HA S E S
CONSTRUCTION PHASES
• VISION/FANTASY/IDEA - A CONCEPT NEVER INTENDED TO BE BUILT, MAY BE AN AESTHETIC OR STRUCTURAL
DESIGN EXERCISE

• PROPOSED - A BUILDING CONCEPT THAT IS UNDER REVIEW BY THE BUILDING OWNER AND BY GOVERNMENT
• APPROVED - A BUILDING CONCEPT THAT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IF THE PROPOSED
BUILDING IS NOT APPROVED THEN THE PROPOSAL MAY BE AMENDED AND RESUBMITTED, OR IT MAY BE
DEFERRED OR CANCELLED.

• DESIGN - THE SPECIFICATION OF WHAT IS TO BE BUILT IN SUFFICIENT DETAIL TO BE USED AS THE BASIS AS
A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE OWNER AND A CONTRACTOR.
• PROCUREMENT - THE SELECTION OF THE CONTRACTOR OR CONTRACTORS TO CARRY OUT THE CONSTRUCTION.
THIS MAY BE BY COMPETITIVE TENDERING.

• DIVERSIONS - BEFORE CONSTRUCTION CAN START ANY SERVICES ON THE SITE WHICH MUST BE KEPT
OPERATIONAL TO SERVE OTHER ADJACENT SITES MUST BE DIVERTED SO THEY RUN OUTSIDE THE FOOTPRINT OF
THE NEW BUILDING. THIS CAN INCLUDE DRAINAGE, WATER AND GAS PIPED SERVICES AND POWER AND
COMMUNICATION CABLES.

• UNDER-CONSTRUCTION - A FULLY DESIGNED BUILDING CURRENTLY BEING BUILT

• GROUND WORKS - CONSTRUCTION WORK BELOW GROUND LEVEL INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF BASEMENTS
AND FOUNDATIONS

• TOPPED-OUT - A FULLY DESIGNED BUILDING WHERE CONSTRUCTION HAS REACHED THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE
BUILDING

• FITTING OUT - INSTALLATION OF THE DECORATIVE, NON-STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS ONCE THE BUILDING MAIN
STRUCTURE IS COMPLETE. THIS INCLUDES PAINTING, CEILINGS, LIGHT FITTINGS ETC.

•`
• COMMISSIONING OR SETTING TO WORK - ONCE THE BUILDING MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING,
COMMUNICATIONS, AND BUILDING CONTROL SYSTEMS ARE INSTALLED THEY THEN NEED TO BE TESTED
AND ADJUSTED SO THEY DELIVER THE REQUIRED PERFORMANCE. IN MODERN BUILDINGS THIS CAN TAKE
SOME TIME DURING WHICH LITTLE SEEMS TO BE GOING ON BUT IF THIS IS NOT DONE PROPERLY THEN
THESE SYSTEMS WILL NOT DELIVER THEIR DESIGN PERFORMANCE LEADING TO HOT AND COLD SPOTS,
SPURIOUS ALARMS, HIGHER ENERGY BILLS, AND SYSTEMS FAILING DURING EMERGENCIES

• SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION / BENEFICIAL OCCUPANCY - A POINT WHEN THE WORK IS SUFFICIENTLY

COMPLETE SO THAT THE OWNER CAN OCCUPY (ITEMS NOTED DURING INSPECTION 'PUNCH LIST' OR
'SNAG LIST' MAY STILL BE CORRECTED)

• COMPLETE/BUILT - A FULLY DESIGNED BUILDING THAT HAS BEEN FULLY BUILT, EXCLUDING FUTURE
EXPANSIONS (PUNCH LIST ITEMS ALL COMPLETED)
• BUILDING OPERATION - ALL THOSE DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES NEED TO ENSURE THE BUILDING CAN BE USED. IN
SIMPLE BUILDINGS THIS MEANS LITTLE MORE THAN CLEANING BUT IN MORE COMPLICATED BUILDINGS THIS IS
A LARGE SCALE OPERATION EMPLOYING A LARGE TEAM OF STAFF. IF THEY DO THEIR JOB RIGHT THEN YOU
HARDLY NOTICE THEM.

• MAINTENANCE - WORKS TO ENSURE THE BUILDING CONTINUES TO OPERATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS DESIGN,
INCLUDING REPLACING ELEMENTS WHICH ARE APPROACHING THE END OF THEIR USEFUL LIFE

• REPAIR - REPLACING BUILDING ELEMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN DAMAGED OR WHICH HAVE FAILED TO RESTORE
THE BUILDING TO ITS AS-BUILT STATE

• RENOVATION - MODIFICATION TO THE BUILDING. THIS CAN BE MINOR MODIFICATIONS THAT ARE CARRIED OUT
WHILE THE BUILDING IS OCCUPIED OR MAJOR WORKS WHERE ONLY THE STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS ARE KEPT AND
THE BUILDING IS OUT OF USE FOR YEARS

• DEMOLITION - DESTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING WHICH MAY INCLUDE THE SALVAGE OF SOME ELEMENTS FOR
REUSE ELSEWHERE.
 M OD E R N M E T HO D S O F
CON S T R U C TI O N (M M C )
MODERN METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION (MMC)

THE CONCRETE INDUSTRY EMBRACES INNOVATION AND MODERN METHODS OF

CONSTRUCTION (MMC)  BY OFFERING CONCRETE SOLUTIONS WHICH CAN BE
USED TO REDUCE CONSTRUCTION TIME AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS OFFERING COST SAVINGS.
• PRECAST FLAT PANEL SYSTEM
FLOOR AND WALL UNITS ARE PRODUCED OFF-SITE IN A FACTORY AND ERECTED ON-SITE
TO FORM ROBUST STRUCTURES, IDEAL FOR ALL REPETITIVE CELLULAR PROJECTS. PANELS
CAN INCLUDE SERVICES, WINDOWS, DOORS AND FINISHES. BUILDING ENVELOPE PANELS
WITH FACTORY FITTED INSULATION AND DECORATIVE CLADDING CAN ALSO BE USED AS
LOAD-BEARING ELEMENTS. THIS OFFERS FACTORY QUALITY AND ACCURACY, TOGETHER
WITH SPEED OF ERECTION ON-SITE.
PRECAST FLAT PANEL SYSTEM
• 3D VOLUMETRIC CONSTRUCTION
• 3D VOLUMETRIC CONSTRUCTION (ALSO KNOWN AS MODULAR CONSTRUCTION) INVOLVES THE PRODUCTION
OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL UNITS IN CONTROLLED FACTORY CONDITIONS PRIOR TO TRANSPORTATION TO SITE.

• MODULES CAN BE BROUGHT TO SITE IN A VARIETY OF FORMS, RANGING FROM A BASIC STRUCTURE TO ONE
WITH ALL INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL FINISHES AND SERVICES INSTALLED, ALL READY FOR ASSEMBLY. THE
CASTING OF MODULES USES THE BENEFITS OF FACTORY CONDITIONS TO CREATE SERVICE-INTENSIVE UNITS
WHERE A HIGH DEGREE OF REPETITION AND A NEED FOR RAPID ASSEMBLY ON-SITE MAKE ITS USE HIGHLY
DESIRABLE.

• THIS MODERN METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION OFFERS THE INHERENT BENEFITS OF CONCRETE, SUCH ASTHERMAL
MASS, SOUND AND FIRE RESISTANCE, AS WELL AS OFFERING FACTORY QUALITY AND ACCURACY, TOGETHER
WITH SPEED OF ERECTION ON-SITE.
3D VOLUMETRIC CONSTRUCTION
• TUNNEL FORM
• TUNNEL FORM IS A FORMWORK SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS THE CONTRACTOR TO BUILD MONOLITHIC WALLS
AND SLABS IN ONE OPERATION ON A DAILY CYCLE. IT COMBINES THE SPEED, QUALITY AND ACCURACY OF
FACTORY/OFFSITE PRODUCED READY-MIX CONCRETE AND FORMWORK WITH THE FLEXIBILITY AND
ECONOMY OF CAST IN-SITU CONSTRUCTION.

• THIS FAST-TRACK METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION IS SUITABLE FOR REPETITIVE CELLULAR PROJECTS, SUCH
AS HOTELS, APARTMENT BLOCKS AND STUDENT ACCOMMODATION. IT OFFERS ECONOMY, SPEED,
QUALITY AND ACCURACY, AS WELL AS UTILISING THE INHERENT BENEFITS OF CONCRETE, SUCH AS FIRE
AND SOUND RESISTANCE.
TUNNEL FORM
• HYBRID CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION

• HYBRID CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION (HCC) COMBINES ALL THE BENEFITS OF PRECASTING WITH THE
ADVANTAGES OF CAST IN-SITU CONSTRUCTION. COMBINING THE TWO, AS A HYBRID FRAME, RESULTS IN
EVEN GREATER CONSTRUCTION SPEED, QUALITY AND OVERALL ECONOMY. HCC CAN ANSWER CLIENT
DEMANDS FOR LOWER COSTS AND HIGHER QUALITY BY PROVIDING SIMPLE, BUILDABLE AND
COMPETITIVE STRUCTURES THAT OFFER CONSISTENT PERFORMANCE AND QUALITY.
HYBRID CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION
• THIN JOINT MASONRY
• THIN JOINT MASONRY ALLOWS THE DEPTH OF THE MORTAR TO BE REDUCED FROM 10MM TO JUST 3MM
OR LESS, RESULTING IN FASTER LAYING AND IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY, PARTICULARLY ON LONG RUNS
OF WALLING. CONSTRUCTION SPEED CAN BE FURTHER INCREASED BY SOME 13.5 PER CENT USING
LARGE-FORMAT CONCRETE BLOCKS, WHICH HAVE A FACE SIZE EQUIVALENT TO TWO TRADITIONAL
CONCRETE BLOCKS. THE MORTAR CURES RAPIDLY, ACHIEVING FULL BOND STRENGTH WITHIN ONE TO
TWO HOURS, ELIMINATING THE PROBLEM OF 'FLOATING' THEREFORE ENABLING MORE COURSES TO BE
LAID PER DAY.
THIN JOINT MASONRY
• INSULATING CONCRETE FORMWORK
• INSULATING CONCRETE FORMWORK (ICF) SYSTEMS CONSIST OF TWIN-WALLED, EXPANDED
POLYSTYRENE PANELS OR BLOCKS THAT ARE QUICKLY BUILT UP TO CREATE FORMWORK FOR THE WALLS
OF A BUILDING. THIS FORMWORK IS THEN FILLED WITH FACTORY PRODUCED, QUALITY ASSURED, READY-
MIXED CONCRETE TO CREATE A ROBUST STRUCTURE. THE EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE BLOCKS REMAIN TO
PROVIDE HIGH LEVELS OF THERMAL INSULATION AND THE CONCRETE CORE PROVIDES ROBUSTNESS AND
GOOD LEVELS OF SOUND INSULATION.
INSULATING CONCRETE FORMWORK
• PRECAST FOUNDATIONS
• PRECAST CONCRETE SYSTEMS CAN BE USED TO RAPIDLY CONSTRUCT FOUNDATIONS. THE ELEMENTS ARE
USUALLY TO A BESPOKE DESIGN AND CAST IN A FACTORY ENVIRONMENT, GIVING ASSURED QUALITY FOR
THE FINISHED PRODUCT. THE FOUNDATIONS ARE OFTEN SUPPORTED BY CONCRETE PILES AND
CONNECTED TOGETHER.

• THESESYSTEMS IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY, ESPECIALLY IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND

REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF EXCAVATION REQUIRED - PARTICULARLY ADVANTAGEOUS WHEN DEALING
WITH CONTAMINATED GROUND.
PRECAST FOUNDATIONS
CONS T R U C T IO N
OPE R A T I O N S
CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS
CURRENTLY 3D-MODELLING IS THE TREND IN THE SIMULATION AREA. HOWEVER, DEVELOPING 3D MODELS
OF CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS IS VERY COMPLEX AND TIME CONSUMING. IN GENERAL, THE STUDY OF
CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS REQUIRES A TOOL THAT PROVIDES SOLUTIONS WITHOUT REQUIRING THE
INPUT OF COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF DATA. IN ORDER FOR A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY TO USE A SIMULATION
TOOL, THE METHODOLOGY HAS TO BE PRESENTED IN A VERY SIMPLE AND GRAPHICAL CONTEXT. PICTORIAL
AND SCHEMATIC TOOLS ARE EASILY ACCEPTED.
PROSIDYC
PROSIDYC IS A SYSTEM FOR SIMULATING CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS JOINTLY DEVELOPED BY THE
PLANNING AND METHODS UNIT OF DRAGADOS Y CONSTRUCTION, MADRID, SPAIN AND THE DIVISION OF
CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING & MANAGEMENT AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY. IT IS A COMPUTER-BASED SYSTEM
ANALYZING CONSTRUCTION JOB SITE PRODUCTION PROCESSES. IT IS USED TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY IN
THE FIELD BY STUDYING RESOURCE UTILIZATION AND CYCLE TIMES IDENTIFYING OPPURTUNITIES FOR
PRODUCTION IMPROVEMENT.
PROSIDYC
ORGANIZATIONAL

PROJECT

ACTIVITY

OPERATION

PROCESS

WORK TASK

HIERARCHICAL LEVELS IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

ORGANIZATIONAL- COMPANY STRUCTURE AND BUSINESS FOCUS, HEAD OFFICE AND FIELD FUNCTIONS,
PORTFOLIO OF PROJECTS, GROSS PROJECT ATTRIBUTES.
PROJECT- PROJECT DEFINITION, CONTRACT, DRAWINGS, SPECIFICATIONS, COST, TIME, BREAKDOWN INTO
PROJECT ACTIVITIES.
ACTIVITY- ATTAINMENT OF PHYSICAL SEGMENT OF PROJECT EQUATED TO TIME AND COST CONTROL.
OPERATION- CONSTRUCTION METHOD FOCUS. MEANS OF ACHIEVING CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE.
PROCESS- BASIC TECHNOLOGICAL SEQUENCE FOCUS, LOGICAL COLLECTION OF WORK TASKS AND
RECOGNIZABLE POTION OF CONSTRUCTION OPERATION.
WORK TASK- FUNDAMENTAL FIELD ACTION AND WORK UNIT FOCUS, SKILL AT CREW MEMBER LEVEL AND
BASIS OF WORK ASSIGNMENT TO LABOR.
BUILDING PROCESS MODELS
THE RELATIVE SEQUENCE AND LOGIC OF THE WORK TASKS AND PROCESSES THAT MAKE UP
CONSTRUCTION OPERATION CONSTITUTE THE TECHNOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF THE OPERATION. THE
MODELING ELEMENTS CAN BE USED IN A VARIETY OF PATTERNS TO MODEL CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS.
AS AN EXAMPLE, CONSIDER THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL FOR AN EARTH-MODELING OPERATION
THAT INVOLVES THE LOADING OF TRUCKS WITH EARTH TRANSPORT TO A DUMP AREA.
IN ORDER TO DEVELOP THE FRAMEWORK OF THE EARTH-MOVING OPERATION, IT IS NECESSARY TO IDENTIFY
THE MAJOR RESOURCES INVOLVED (TRUCKS, FRONT-END LOADER AND SOIL) AND ESTABLISH THE VARIOUS
STATES THAT THE RESOURCES ARE TRAVERSE IN THEIR WORK ASSIGNMENT PATH CYCLES. FINALLY, THE
INTEGRATION OF THE RESOURCE PATHS AND CYCLES ESTABLISHES THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE
OPERATIONS.