History and Evolution of Construction
– Huts and shelters constructed by hand or simple tools
– Emergence of professional craftsmen during the Bronze Age
– Organization of artisan craftsmen into guilds during the Middle Ages
– Introduction of steam-powered machinery in the 19th century
– Rise of fast-track construction in the 21st century
Construction Industry Sectors
– Buildings, infrastructure, and industrial sectors
– Building construction further divided into residential and non-residential
– Infrastructure includes public works like dams, bridges, and highways
– Industrial construction includes offshore installations, mining, and refineries
– Classification of the industry into different sectors or markets
Building Construction
– Process of adding structures to land
– Residential construction undertaken by individuals, housebuilders, or property developers
– Mixed-use developments combining residential and non-residential construction
– Adherence to local building regulations and codes
– Variation in construction costs based on site conditions and availability of skilled tradespeople
Non-Residential Construction
– Procured by private and public organizations
– Involvement of general contractors in non-residential building projects
– Different types of buildings falling under non-residential construction
– Wide range of organizations involved in the procurement of non-residential construction
– Examples of organizations include private companies, educational bodies, and financial institutions
Infrastructure Construction
– Civil engineering covering design, construction, and maintenance of the built environment
– Public works such as roads, bridges, and airports falling under infrastructure construction
– Specialization of some general contractors in civil engineering projects
– Infrastructure construction including projects like dams, tunnels, and pipelines
– Dedicated civil engineering contractors working in the infrastructure sector
Planning and Finance
– Compliance with local land-use planning policies
– Assessment of potential impacts on neighboring properties and existing infrastructure
– Gathering of data through site analysis, surveys, and investigations
– Involvement of mortgage bankers, accountants, and cost engineers in construction finance
– Creation of a financial management plan and monitoring of monetary flow
Legal and Procurement
– Complex net of construction contracts and legal obligations
– Importance of well-drafted contracts to manage issues and prevent disputes
– Identification of ambiguities and resolution of conflicts during the project
– Different procurement strategies such as design-bid-build or design-build
– Emphasis on collaborative relationships and minimizing adversarial industry practices
Live Environment Considerations
– Special care, planning, and communication required for construction in a live environment
– Mitigation of potential disruptions and inconvenience to residents or businesses
– Ensuring safety and minimizing risks to occupants and workers
– Coordination with relevant stakeholders to minimize negative impacts
Project Coordination and Construction Methods
– Designing works and preparing specifications
– Administering contracts and tendering the works
– Managing the works from inception to completion
– Design-build method involving a single entity for design and construction
– Construction management method with separate contracts for designer, construction manager, and trade contractors
Design, On-Site Construction, and Handover
– Design team coordination and use of computer-aided design (CAD) and building information modeling (BIM) technologies
– Construction site setup and commencement of on-site work
– Commissioning and handover process to ensure project requirements are achieved
– Defects liability period for identifying and correcting defects
– Maintenance, repair, and improvement activities to ensure functionality of facilities
Demolition
– Safe and efficient tearing down of buildings
– Deconstruction for preserving valuable elements for reuse
– Contribution to recycling and circular economy
– Expertise and specialized techniques required in demolition
Industry Scale and Characteristics
– Global construction industry worth $10.8 trillion in 2017
– Forecasted growth to $12.9 trillion by 2022 and $14.8 trillion in 2030
– Construction accounting for over 10% of global GDP
– Employment of around 7% of the total global workforce in construction
– China as the world’s largest construction market since 2010
Construction Industry Statistics
– Employment in the US construction sector and architectural/engineering services
– Representation of women in the US and UK construction workforce
– Construction Gross Value Added (GVA) by country, including China, the US, Japan, India, and Germany
– Involvement of laborers and skilled tradespeople in the construction industry Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction
Construction is a general term meaning the art and science of forming objects, systems, or organizations. It comes from the Latin word constructio (from com- "together" and struere "to pile up") and Old French construction. To 'construct' is a verb: the act of building, and the noun is construction: how something is built or the nature of its structure.
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In its most widely used context, construction covers the processes involved in delivering buildings, infrastructure, industrial facilities, and associated activities through to the end of their life. It typically starts with planning, financing, and design that continues until the asset is built and ready for use. Construction also covers repairs and maintenance work, any works to expand, extend and improve the asset, and its eventual demolition, dismantling or decommissioning.
The construction industry contributes significantly to many countries' gross domestic products (GDP). Global expenditure on construction activities was about $4 trillion in 2012. In 2022, expenditure on the construction industry exceeded $11 trillion a year, equivalent to about 13 percent of global GDP. This spending was forecasted to rise to around $14.8 trillion in 2030.
Although the construction industry promotes economic development and brings many non-monetary benefits to many countries, it is one of the most hazardous industries. For example, about 20% (1,061) of US industry fatalities in 2019 happened in construction.
