Posted by
mashrabiya
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Posted in
my stories
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Posted on
11:41 PM
I never even have any interest in building construction during my study years in architecture. Do not even realize how important they are as important as a claw to a tiger or a rifle to a soldier. Till I work in a firm with lack of technical knowledge and detailings. If I were to build a chicken shed, I bet I couldn’t deliver the job even I graduated as an architecture student, shame on me. It dragged me quite for sometime designing with less confident especially in the detail aspects. Designing with less consideration on how its going to be build and how is the components are joined together. I feel something wrong and missing but do ot know how to fill in that empty gap. I remember during my study years, it is so hard for me to grasp the essence of studying building construction even my conscience told me that this is what I must know to survive.
Until I was sent to site with the supervision of someone. Someone that have inspired me and woke me up from my long lost dreaming. From that day I started to view things in different way than I did before. I mean I started to query on how things been built, how’s the jointing, how they connect this and that. When I designing with this in mind, its like I was given a revelation on how it would look and at the same time how the builder are going to built it. Is it constructable? Of course some may say everything can be constructed with nowadays technology. However, the challenge is on how to make it simple to construct and yet economical. Well, money is always a constrains and I think as a designer besides been able to tackle the aesthetic issue, it would be a greater advantages if they could provide a few solutions with different range of cost. But not to compromise the aesthetic as well.
A message from me too the students of architecture, its not to late to love building construction as it will bring the best out of you as a master builder, aren’t we the ‘arkhitekton’. During my 2nd year of my studies we went to Thailand for a study visit. If I remember it right, we went to Silpakorn University, visiting our archi mates there. I was impressed looking at the scale model of various staircases they constructed using ‘balsa’ wood. It triggered me at that time that this is how we should learn about details and construction. Build it. Now it’s like a déjà vu when I entered construction site looking at how the building was constructed just that the different is the scale.
Being in this project has been a great experience and exposure for me. I really learnt a lot especially from this someone. May Allah reward him for the knowledge that he shares. For that I aim to share with anybody what I’ve learnt and write a book regarding details someday. There’s a long journey ahead however that long journey will start with one step today and hopefully that step could turn into a leap.
Thank you Allah and thank you to that someone.
Balsa wood - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balsa_wood
Posted by
mashrabiya
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Posted in
project management
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Posted on
5:46 AM
Scanner is a device that optically scans images, printed text, handwriting, or an object, and converts it to a digital image. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_scanner)
And when we talk about wide format scanner, it is a scanner which can scan large documents as large as A0 paper size (841mm × 1189mm / 33.1inch X 46.8inch). In my opinion this is one of important equipment to be made available in the construction project besides wide format printer. Stepping into digital age, the documentation wise should be recorded digitally besides hard copies. I will elaborate in the aspect of effectiveness and cost saving.
Effectiveness
Construction is always about how to achieve completion within the period time given and budget allocation. Using digital information, it can be stored safely in a server and may be distributed effectively through email or local area network(LAN). It is also easy and faster to search provided that the document controller(DC) has set it up with proper filing and naming. The digital copy could then be printed in any sizes be it A4,A3 and so forth.
Cost saving
In the aspects of cost saving, certain amount of money could be save from paper and printer cartridge / ink from frequent printing. Saving time which is a part of cost saving from the process of searching the hard copy or original copy for reference. It may took a little longer if the organization is bigger which sometimes require certain procedures and clearance just to have the drawing in your hand.
From what I have gone through, there is a problem of circulating the information from the design department team to operation team on site. The approved shop drawing sometimes just stuck either with the document controller or the design dept team. Then, the ‘engineers under pressure’ will just go directly to the architect or sometimes even to the draughtsman and request for the drawing to be printed from the soft copy. It is problematic since some of the comments by the consultant was written on the approved drawing hence the soft copy is not valid to be used on site. This happens due to nature of the project which is fast track and lack of coordination by the contractor from the beginning. So, by having the documents in digital format, the engineer could obtain the copy printed directly from the main server with all the comments by consultant. However the system of filing and documentation by the document controller is the key to the effectiveness of it above all.
Here are some wide format scanner manufacturer available in the market :
http://www.xerox.com/digital-printing/large-format-printers/large-format-scanners/xerox-scan-system/enae.html
http://www.contex.com/english/scanners/sd_scanners_series/technical_specifications.aspx
Posted by
mashrabiya
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Posted in
project management
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Posted on
1:58 AM
It is vital is construction that you have the accurate information received and delivered. The circulation of information the target group also should be clear, precise and comprehensible. In other words, straight to the point. Construction doesn’t require flowery or extravagant explanation / instruction. The person who receives the information should be able to understand the instruction and commence the work accordingly.
Looking at the project management triangle, the effectiveness of information flow does affect the project or we may say it’s a part of project constraint.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Management_Triangle)
Here’s the example of one situation :
Zahari is a graduate engineer cum site supervisor on contractor’s side for the project. He is in charge on all ceiling works for the project. One day he encounter one problem which are there is one area he is not quite sure o the detail as there are no approved shop drawings indicated for that area. So, he assumes that the detail is typical and commences the work as it is. During the inspection with the consultant, it is found out that the work is incorrect and was rejected.
Zahari’s mistake :
1. Make assumption on the information
2. Does not relay the information to the architect to resolve the detailing issue
3. Instruct the workers to complete the incorrect work
What he should have done :
In this case, he should have inquired from design department to provide details to be submitted to the consultant for approval. It may delay the work a bit however the more important thing is to get it right. It may delay ½ day work but it may save a few days work if it were to be rectified later after everything have been done. If we take a look into cost aspect, it certainly will cost more due to demolish and redo work, cost of material and labour. Request for information (RFI) should be sent to the consultant immediately and followed by updating the shop drawing.
Means of information
- shop drawing / construction drawing (must be approved by consultant)
- Request for information (RFI)
- Specifications
- Bill of quantities
- Method statement
- Material submission
