Social Media and Construction Company
Every industry has its rules and way of operating. In this dynamic world trends keep changing and it is very essential to be updated with the latest to have a handle over the industry. There is an upsurge and emergence of the social media. The internet statistics displays maximum web crawling happening in the social networks in the recent years. Construction business and the likes of serious nature earlier believed that it is not a place for promotion and interaction. But a case study of Cheshire Oaks Marks and Spencer store it is analyzed that the project ran better because of the good communication via social media. It is the demand of the present times and has to be utilized for best results. Let’s take a peek into the need.
The earlier mentioned case study did a campaign through the two year construction project duration and at the end of it they saw 32,000 Facebook hits whereas the traditional website was visited and used by only 200 unique monthly users. It is of course a small duration of curiosity when visitors are keen on a project and vanish when it is done with. A new visitor base has to be rebuilt for a next purpose.
Of course information has to pass through all sources as there are communities still which are not social media savvy. But to get the young generation informed and ignited it is the right place. It is also necessary to hold space with other competitors and making status updates challenging and competitive. Similar projects may be a challenge to handle…but that is the fun of direct interaction and response.
Considering the above reasons the construction industry has made a paradigm shift in the last 3 years. They are still exploring the maximum potential of the social media and some are definitely using them very effectively. Sharing success stories can be a great way of communicating directly with customers. Answering their doubts and queries and informing how you are different and better than the band wagon in there. New projects must be talked about and pictures displayed to keep them as reminders for customers.
There is still some reluctance in top management of some companies to take this up as a very primary tool. But times are changing and noticing successful case studies they are feeling encouraged to step into the forum now.
The most amazing constructions of the world
The construction industry is at its peak at the moment and since the ancient times too it always has been. People have been able to create fabulous pieces of architecture and construction wonders which at a glance appeared to be impossible to be created for just anyone but ultimately was able to prove that the construction industry can do almost anything if it wishes to. Many of the amazing buildings and constructions created all throughout the world by various talented designers and constructors bear witness to what this marvellous construction industry is capable of. Sure that is not a single handed job, many of the experts of different sub fields in the construction industry, namely the designers, the architects, the engineers, technicians and many more have joined hands together putting their immense effort and experienced knowledge together with the artistic and creative minds to create the most amazing constructions which have managed to get “WOWs and Oh My Gods” from almost anybody who get a chance to take a look at them. And here is a list of the most amazing and popular construction wonders around the world.
Venice, Italy- The Venice Tide Barrier Project will be the largest flood prevention project in the world. The project has been debated in one form or another for over 40 years as a way to protect this historical city-on-the-water for future generations. With Venice slowly sinking, and the water around it slowly rising, and floods always a fear, Italians have known for a long time that something needs to be done. Finally, the Prime Minister of Italy approved the second phase of the plan, including 80 hinged barriers, each approximately 6,500 square feet.
Zhangjiajie, China- The Bailong Elevator is the world’s largest exterior elevator. At over 1,000 feet tall, this elevator looms high midway up a cliff overlooking a valley far below. Moreover, the elevator is mostly glass, affording passengers a dizzying view to the depths below.
Millau, France-The Millau Viaduct is the highest bridge in the world. At almost 1,000 feet high (taller than the even the Eiffel Tower) and over 8,000 feet long it sometimes sits above the cloud line, as shown in the beautiful photographs above. The engineered wonder of the bridge itself is nearly as amazing as the view of the valley below.
Norway to Easington, Britain-The Langeled Pipeline is slated to be the longest underwater gas pipeline in the world. It will ultimately supply 20% of Britain’s gas needs, connecting England to the largest gas field in Europe via 750 miles of complex underwater terrain. Engineers have had to account for subzero temperatures and stormy waters in addition to developing techniques for installing the pipeline in the first place. They are able to lay an amazing 8 miles of pipe per day.
Yangtze, China- The Three Gorges Dam has drawn fire from people around the world for its role in raising water levels and displacing millions of Chinese residents in the area. As a work of engineering, however, it is unparalleled. It will be the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, 600 feet high and holding 1.4 trillion cubic feet of water behind 100 million cubic feet of concrete. This engineering wonder will also eventually provide as much as 10% of China’s vast power needs.
Boston, Massachusetts- The so-called Big Dig is a massive tunnelling project in the heart of Boston, and is the most massive and expensive construction project in the history of the United States (at 15 billion dollars). Disaster and scandal have haunted this endeavour from the beginning, including accidents, deaths and even arrests for criminal negligence. Engineers were forced to navigate a maze of subways, pipes and utility lines in the course of the project, all with minimum disturbance to the bustling streets of Boston above.
Mubarak, Egypt-The Toshka Project is an amazing attempt to convert a half million acres of desert landscape into arable land. The Mubarak Pumping Station is at the centre of this effort, and will channel millions of cubic feet of water per hour. It will ultimately redirect 10% of the country’s water from the Nile and will increase the inhabitable land in Egypt by as much as 25%.
Why Not Use Substandard Materials?
A Public school in one province collapsed from the fifth storey down to the ground. Many students and member of faculty died while hundreds were injured. It was two buildings adjacent to each other with five floors each. Each floor contains minimum of twenty (20) classrooms added are the offices of the faculties and staff. The whole structure was donated by a billionaire celebrity who happens to be a friend of one of the higher official in the province.
As the incident happened many turned their blame to the person who donated the buildings. Very few realized that it was the company who was in-charge of the building projects who was supposed to be held responsible. Substandard Materials.
Why does many construction firms are using substandard materials instead of the first rate counterpart? The basic reason why these companies are using these below par materials is COST, MONEY. Compared to the ideal ones, using substandard stuff, they will be able to save on their pocket more than a half of the total cost. If the building ideally is worth a billion with the first class materials or at least the necessary materials ideal for the need and the purpose of the building, using a second rate
The industry of construction in a nutshell
Construction Industry involves in its environs a diverse labor force, contributing towards the long and enduring process of creation. The managers in this Industry are often heard saying our people are our most important asset.
It covers public and private housing, public buildings such as hospitals and schools, commercial and industrial buildings, and infrastructure such as roads, bridges and power plants. The industry repairs, maintains and refurbishes existing buildings and installs services such as power and ventilation in new and existing buildings.
Companies rely in sub contracting in most of the construction phase. As such it includes large number of small and medium sized enterprises which carries on its operational activity for large main contractors. It is one of the largest sectors employing large number of people, providing work to significant proportion of the labor market and providing significant share of the world Gross Domestic Product.
Any construction project involves skilled manual labor which gets support from management. It is a duty of the management to coordinate many professional, construction and supplier organizations whose involvement can change through the course of the project. The dynamism that involves in the process and the need to integrate a wide range of occupational cultures, gives the construction one of the most complex project related Industry.
The main feature of Construction Industry is its inherent ability to adhere to the outside forces that exerts a powerful force on its everyday growth. Despite a prolonged downturn, an industry report anticipates output growth between 2013 and 2015, reaching 6.2% above 2011 levels by 2015. The annual recruitment forecast for 2015 is around 43,000 workers at all levels. Still it is one of the growing industries despite the economic whirlwind.
Construction Engineer
AnEngineer inside the construction site performs work that crosses the boundaries between engineering and project management, leading the technical workers who contribute to the building of structures or products.
Construction Engineers are unique such that they cross between civil engineers and construction managers. They learn the designing aspect. In some cases, the engineer is the same as a project manager but in most cases these two professionals have joint responsibility for leading a project.
The primary difference between a construction engineer and a construction manager is that the construction engineer has the ability to sit for the Professional Engineer license (PE) whereas a construction manager cannot.
At the educational level, construction managers are not as focused on design work as they are on construction procedures, methods, and people management. Their primary concern is to deliver a project on time, with-in budget, and of the desired quality.
On the other side Construction engineers are problem solvers, they help create infrastructure that best meets the unique demands of its environment. They must be able to understand infrastructure life cycles and have the perspective to solve technical challenges with clarity and imagination.
The terms construction engineer and project engineer normally relate to the same person or job function. Construction engineering is the application of engineering, management, and business sciences to the processes of construction, through which designers’ plans and specifications are converted into physical structures and facilities.
Depending upon the size and complexity of a project, the construction engineer may be responsible for one to several jobs. This means that, part of their job is to travel to many different work sites.
As a summary they have a unique role inside the construction site. Their presence is a requisite in the overall construction project.
The hard hat
Prevention of head injuries is an important factor in every construction site. This is one of the safety measures that every site should practice. Since, a single injury can handicap an employee for life, or it can be fatal.
A hard hat is a type of protective helmet predominantly used in workplace environments, such as construction sites. Protective helmets should be worn in any work environment that presents a significant risk of head injury.
Hard hat shells can be manufactured in a variety of materials. Most are made with some form of thermoplastic; either polyethylene (HDPE) or polycarbonate. They use these materials because they are lightweight, strong, and easily molded. They can, however, be made with other materials such as fiberglass, resin-impregnated textiles, or aluminum.
Inside the helmet is a suspension that spreads the helmet’s weight over the top of the head. It also provides a space of approximately 30 mm (1.2 inch) between the helmet’s shell and the wearer’s head so that if an object strikes the shell, the impact is less likely to be transmitted directly to the skull. Sometimes the helmet shell has a midline reinforcement ridge, which strengthens it against impact.
A survey on accidents and injuries noted that most workers who suffered impact injuries to the head were not wearing head protection. The majority of workers were injured while performing their normal jobs at their regular worksites.
The survey showed that head injuries occurred because employers had not required their employees to wear head protection. It was found that the vast majority of those who wore hard hats all or most of the time at work believed that hard hats were practical for their jobs.
Hard hats might seem to get in the way at times, but they are truly essential in preventing serious and potentially life threatening head injuries. By ensuring you are equipped with a hard hat at all times, you can protect your head against the dangers that surround you, whilst also helping to add to the overall safety culture which can be of critical importance in dangerous industries like construction.
Remember that your head is a very delicate part of your body. Injuries to the head are very serious so use your head and wear your hard hat. It might just save your life today.
Green construction is the newest trend
Green construction or sustainable building refers to a structure and the process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle. The process starts from sitting the design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and until demolition. This practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.
Sustainable or green building design and construction is the opportunity to use our resources more efficiently, while creating healthier and more energy-efficient homes. Although there is no magic formula, success comes in the form of leaving a lighter footprint on the environment through conservation of resources, while at the same time balancing energy-efficient, cost-effective, low-maintenance products for our construction needs. In other words, green building design involves finding the delicate balance between construction building and the sustainable environment.
The built environment has a vast impact on the natural environment, human health, and the economy. By adopting green building strategies, we can maximize both economic and environmental performance. Green construction methods can be integrated into buildings at any stage, from design and construction, to renovation and deconstruction. However, the most significant benefits can be obtained if the design and construction team takes an integrated approach from the earliest stages of a building project.
Although new technologies are constantly being developed to complement current practices in creating greener structures, the common objective is that green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment. Listed below are the benefits of green building.
Environmental benefits
- Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems
- Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
- Improve air and water quality
- Reduce waste streams, pollution and environmental degradation
- Conserve and restore natural resources
Economic benefits
- Reduce operating costs
- Create, expand, and shape markets for green product and services
- Improve occupant productivity
- Optimize life-cycle economic performance
Social benefits
- Enhance occupant comfort, health and improving employee productivity
- Heighten aesthetic qualities
- Minimize strain on local infrastructure
- Improve overall quality of life
Many people do not know rigid and blown foamed insulation is made of plastics or that the use of plastics in building and construction often uses less energy and creates less greenhouse gas per application than traditional materials. A similar concept of this is natural building, which is usually on a smaller scale and tends to focus on the use of natural materials that are available locally.
Other related topics on this include sustainable design and green architecture. Sustainability may be defined as meeting the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Green building does not specifically address the issue of the retrofitting existing homes but also helps in reducing global warming.
Individual lifeQuality Control and Safety Concerns in Construction
Quality assurance is an essential mechanism for ensuring that the construction process takes place within the framework of a quality management system. Quality control and Construction Safety represent increasingly important concerns for project managers.
This suggests that quality assurance defines the organization structure, tasks and duties for implementing quality management. On the other hand safety during the construction project is also influenced in large part by decisions made during the planning and design process. Some designs or construction plans are inherently difficult and dangerous to implement, whereas other, comparable plans may considerably reduce the possibility of accidents.
Quality control and safety instructions should be planned at the design and planning stages of the project. Contractors, architects and engineers must work together, called conformance, to come to agreement on what’s possible on paper versus the real world. Quality expectations and requirements should be noted in the contract documents, all approved plan specs and shop drawings.
Weak quality control leads to defects or failures in constructed facilities thus result in very large costs. Even with minor defects, re-construction may be required and facility operations impaired. Increased costs and delays are the result. In the worst case, failures may cause personal injuries or fatalities.
Accidents during the construction process can similarly result in personal injuries and large costs. Indirect costs of insurance, inspection and regulation are increasing rapidly due to these increased direct costs. Good project managers try to ensure that the job is done right the first time and that no major accidents occur on the project.
Any defects in a construction project are a loss of revenue for the construction contractor. Defects must be corrected before you can move on to the next phase of the project. Injuries are more than just a loss of revenue. Injuries can derail an entire project and cause the company to miss deadlines when your best workers can’t work.
Therefore as a conclusion Quality Control and Safety is one of the essential things that need to take in to consideration in a construction site. Safety issues should be covered and instructions should be conveyed to everyone in the construction site before the project gets underway.
The Industry of Construction
Construction is the most unsafe land-based work sector. In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Outlying it from being a single activity, large scale construction is a deed of human multitasking. Normally, the job is managed by a project manager, and supervised by a construction manager, design engineer, construction engineer or project architect.
This industry’s activities include the building of new structures, including site preparation, as well as additions and modifications to existing ones. It also includes maintenance, repair, and improvements on these structures.
Construction usually is done or coordinated by general contractors, who specialize in one type of construction such as residential or commercial building. They take full responsibility for the complete job, except for specified portions of the work that may be omitted from the general contract. Although general contractors may do a portion of the work with their own crews, they often subcontract most of the work to heavy construction or specialty trade contractors.
Based on research the construction industry employed 936,000 people in 2006-07, representing 9% of the Australian workforce. Construction sites have particular hazards that create risks not only for the construction worker, but also for members of the public. People working in the construction industry are more than twice as
