Site Comparison 4/22 Lab

Our lab activity on Tuesday April 22nd,  was to go observe the new basketball facility and the new dorm near Litton Reeves. My partner was Ginny. We found several similarities and several differences. We were looking at very specific examples.  Then when we got back to lab, we realized that all the similarities and differences should be placed into broader categories that would be consistent on multiple construction sites.

We found many similarities such as the states of completion, the materials used, the site layouts, general housekeeping, and site security. It was easy to see that both sites were nearing completion, in the finalizing stage. Also, both sites were using a couple of the same building materials (hokie stone and precast concrete).  They also both used precast window framing. Both sites were fenced in with fences and green netting, probably for security purposes. Both sites had work and storage trailers on site, along with mock walls in places that they could be easily accessed.

We also found differences in the same categories. While both sites used the same exterior materials, the dorm is primarily hokiestone while the basketball facility is mainly precast concrete. The dorm project had a lot larger visible workforce. There were mainly laborers at the dorm and hardly any visible management. However, at the basketball facility you saw more supervisors and not as many laborers. Overall, it seemed that the basketball facility had more onsite control.  This could be true, or we could have been at the dorm while the management was busy. The dorm had a lot more and larger equipment when it came to machinery.  This is probably because the basketball facility is mainly done with the exterior of the building so not much heavy machinery was still needed. In terms of general housekeeping, both sites were extremely muddy.  The basketball facility seemed to be better organized and more logically laid out. This could be due to the fact that the basketball facility has a lot more site space to utilize than the dorm does, making the dorm site look messier because materials are all jammed into a small area.  However, in general, the materials at the basketball facility were organized and sorted.  At the dorm they were scattered all around and unlike materials were thrown into the same pile.

Industry Day March 17, 2009

The first thing we did at Industry Day was talk to a woman from CMAA.  She told us about a field trip to a BMW factory in South Carolina April 3-4.  We all signed up and plan on attending.  Directly across from her table was a Motor grader.

After we looked at the Motor grader and finished talking to the woman from CMAA, we moved on the the crane.  

Somehow, Ginny, Liz, and I were invited to operate the crane

After we had a few close calls with the crane, we moved on the Permatile display.  There we talked to Bill Canter about the product.  Instead of a traditional basement, built of either poured concrete or blocks, this product is precast wall sections, delivered to the site ready for instillation.  This method provides better insulation for basements which allows them to be more functional in residential, as well as commercial, facilities.  According to Bill, the cost of this precast method is typically less then or equal to the cost of a traditional basement without the practicality.

After thanking Bill for being so helpful we moved on the Young Alumni Committee's booths.  There we talked to Michael Depp about his work with Vertexco.  He explained to us that he is in charge of making sure that all the duct work in the building is able to be installed problem free.  He then showed up a model that the Young Alumni Committee had been working on the demonstrate how crowded the space between the finished ceiling and the roof can get.  Michael said that it took the 3 days to build the model and that it was still a work in progress.  For Industry Day next year, they plan on having a fully structural steel frame and semi-operational electrical outlets and fire alarms.

Michael then brought us over to his other booth where he had set up a television to show us some programs he uses with his work at Vertexco.  When we first went over he had a time lapse set up.

The time lapse is off a medical facility in Northern Virginia.  After we watched the time lapse, Michael showed us one of the programs he uses with Vertexco called Expedition.  The program allows him to access his work anywhere in the country.  It shows him how many submittals he has received and completed among many, many other things.

Next we moved on the the Survey tent.  There we looked at new surveying equipment that allows everyone on a job site to have access to drawings and details about the project that are updated constantly.  As a project is performed on the site, its progress is updated minute by minute to the system, which then allows everyone else to track the progress as well as remain updated on any changes to the job.

The photos above show the surveying equipment, the GPS handheld device, and the base station which allows the GPS to locate down the hundredth of a foot.  After we finished looking at the GPS handheld device, we moved on the the well auger.

Unfortunately, I spent the majority of my time on the beginning of the expo and did not get to try the simulator.

After observing the simulator for a little while, I had to run to my next class.  The expo was educational and a lot of fun.  I did notice, however, that not many other students, besides Building Construction students, were stopping by to learn about the equipment.  It made it easier for us to talk to everyone, but I'm not sure if many other students were able to get out of it what we did.

Sketches

February 26th Field Observations

The following Pictures are from Blackbox Theater construction and the Henderson Hall Renovation currently being conducted behind Squires along College Avenue.

Both of the above pictures show a worker laying rebar and preparing the site for a concrete pour.  He informed me that the pour was tentatively scheduled for Monday (March 2nd), weather permitting.  This was the only worker on site actively working.

The outcome of the concrete pour will most likely reflect the above photo.  The site of the work being done is slightly to the left of this photo.  Both the finished footings above and the footings being prepared are a part of the same footing set.  It appears that eventually they will both connect.

While the lone worker was laying rebar, the rest of the site staff was in a meeting.  Although both of these photos may seem pointless, in the above one you can see a couple workers with their hardhats talking towards the right of the photo.  In the picture on the left you can see workers in the distance gathered around a couple of pickup trucks.  These pictures are the best I could do as I was not allowed on site and could get no closer to the meeting.  The meeting, however, was all about the importance of job safety.  Even though I couldn't get within eyesight of the meeting, I was well within listening distance.

Estimating Review

Above is a screenshot of my Assembly Cost Estimate for the Estimating Assignment. I found the assembly estimate to be easier than the unit estimate because it was more general. The unit estimate required more thought and was more indepth. The estimating process is long and complicated. There were numerous times when I thought I had successfully finished my estimate, only to find out I had overlooked a detail of the building process. My first attempt of the unit estimate did not include the actual concrete. All I had was the cost for the footing placing, including vibrating. I had overlooked the part of the description that said "excludes material." After I had all the concrete material, I realized that I was missing the formwork, vapor barriers, and jointing. So finally after numerous attempts, I was left with what I think is a complete unit estimate.

Wall Assembly

http://www.hazardousmaterialbuildings.com/engine_test_cells.html

This wall assembly is designed to limit sound resonation by including a gypsum board inbetween the metal panels.

Materials Included:

steel plating

unfinished gypsum board

mineral wood board

acoustic panelling

insulation board

structural steel column

steel plating (finished)

2/24/09 Intro to BC Lecture

here

First Post

First post with youtube video....