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 likely to be killed at work as the average worker.
Construction is a high-risk activity, which must be managed from procurement, through the design process and to the end of the construction stage. Everyone involved in a building project must appreciate their role, from client, project supervisor design process, designer, project supervisor construction stage, contractor and employees.
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 the environmental impact of the job, the successful scheduling, budgeting, construction site safety, availability of building materials, logistics, and inconvenience to the public caused by construction delays and bidding, etc.
In general, there are three types of construction:
- Building construction
- Heavy / civil construction
- Industrial construction
Each type of construction project requires a unique team to plan, design, construct and maintain the project.
Technological advances are rolling out almost daily. Most construction projects followed a detailed sequence of work. With a timeline schedule a new building can be up and running in just a couple of months, this depends on the specified time plan of the construction company coupled with the advances of technology.
Inside the building site, construction is in high gear. Ultimately, the process involved with any construction project are the same. A construction manager must know the scope of the project; have decision makers in place and plan early for the future.