You are required to write a report summarising the dynamic changes of the construction site as if you are writing a site tour report after numerous visits to the site over an extensive period.

ASSESSMENT 1

PROJECT

This assessment activity contributes 50% of the total course grade.

RATIONALE

This assessment involves using a virtual tour of a construction site, which presents rich visual data which you will explore and use to complete the assessment.

There are two parts to this assessment. The first part requires you to use the virtual tour itself to report on the site organisation and operations aspects of this project. This requires fewer concrete data and more general observation of the virtual tour. However, you are required to discuss the changes in the site layout and the facilities and plants observed on site as the project progresses and explain them in relation to the construction works involved in each phase of the project.

Then, the second part provides you with a scenario relating to site management and productivity of this project (please note that this scenario is hypothetical and does not exactly match the conditions of the project). You will be required to write a plan to discuss approaches to improve construction productivity for the given scenario. It is important for students to be able to apply the theories and practices discussed in the course in the context of a real construction site.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

It is beneficial to familiarise yourself with the relationship between the assessment and the course objectives.

• Demonstrate a broad understanding of how to plan, set up and manage an efficient and safe construction site.
• Evaluate resources and facilities required for construction site operations.
• Integrate knowledge of work health and safety laws applicable to construction sites.
• Generate and evaluate safe work conditions at construction sites.

ASSESSMENT SUMMARY

ASSESSMENT DESCRIPTION

PART A: SITE ORGANISATION AND OPERATIONS (30%)

Go to: http://4dconstruction.uqcloud.net/VirtualTour/action/splash/index to view the construction of the Advanced Engineering Building (AEB) at the University of Queensland. This website allows users to explore fully interactive panoramic views of the dynamic changes observed on the AEB construction site. If you click the ‘visit the site’ tab, you can start exploring the construction site.

This website allows users to explore fully interactive panoramic views of the dynamic changes observed on the AEB construction site. If you click the ‘visit the site’ tab, you can start exploring the construction site. It is recommended that you spend some time familiarising yourself with the site and the tool’s controls and visualisations before attempting to complete the assessment. On these web pages, you can “look around” the AEB construction site by dragging your mouse cursor or pushing arrow keys and zoom in or out by mouse scrolling up or down. This website also allows users to move to a different point in time and location by clicking a point in the “time bar” or the “level bar” (as shown in the above image).

If you enlarge the map located at the bottom left corner of the screen, as shown above, you can also choose different spots on the same level from which you can view the site. If you click the menu button located at the top left corner of the screen, you can find a detailed construction schedule (under Document Library>Programme), which will help you understand the construction activities undertaken at each point in time. You can also find the construction drawings of the building under Document Library => WholeOfBuilding, which will further your understanding of the building design as well as construction components.

REQUIREMENTS

You are required to write a report summarising the dynamic changes of the construction site as if you are writing a site tour report after numerous visits to the site over an extensive period. You should include the following aspects of the site in the report:

• Site layout and how the spaces of the construction site are used at each construction stage
• Types of construction operations involved in each construction stage
• Plants and equipment utilised for different construction operations Also, consider the following tips:
• You will need to integrate information from the images, drawings, schedules, and other construction documents available on the website to explain the above aspects of the construction site as comprehensively as possible.
• You are strongly encouraged to use screenshots from the virtual construction site for explaining the three site aspects mentioned above.
• Suppose you use this report to explain the construction site and the operations to your friend who did not attend the site
• We also suggest that you refer to books, journals, trade literature, and the internet to provide as much detail as possible about the construction activities and operations observed in the virtual tour.

Your task is to write a 1500-word (+/-10%) site tour/observation report that will include the following sections:

• Introduction
• Observation

• Explain what you observed in a detailed manner utilising your background
• Use subsections appropriately for each construction stage and/or for different locations of the
• Demonstrate that you understood the important features of the site regarding site layout, facilities, plants, and the types of construction operations undertaken. (Use pictures and images appropriately to show your understanding)

·         Evaluation

• Evaluate what you have observed in terms of the site regarding site layout, facilities, plants, and the types of construction operations undertaken.
• Try to relate what you have observed with your professional experience, wider reading, and the theories and best practices discussed in the

·         References

• In general, this assessment requires mostly observations of the virtual site tour and is not necessarily a research-based activity. However, you may find that you need to refer to online resources or readings about the specific aspects of the site and operations in the assessment. If you do use any references, you should indicate the sources using APA-7.

PART B: SITE MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY (20%) REQUIREMENTS

You are required to develop a plan to improve construction productivity. Imagine you are the construction site manager of the AEB project. As you can see in the construction program of the project (available on the 4D Construction website: search: program) of the project, the number of construction works being undertaken simultaneously from February 2012 to May 2012 was at its peak.

After a careful review of the work progresses and investigation of the inputs and outputs, you realised that the overall construction productivity was lower than estimated mainly due to several factors such as congestion/overcrowding, poor housing keeping, and use of constructed areas for material storage. The disorderly site management practices on the interior especially affected the duct installation in several ways from framing, masonry partitions, and piping being done out of sequence. Current site practices are so ad hoc that there is nothing written to guide contractors through this process. As this was a university building project and had a non-negotiable deadline, it was an urgent issue to improve productivity to deliver the project on time and within budget. In this background, you are developing a report that includes a plan for improving productivity.

Your task is to write a 1000-word (+/-10%) report that evaluates the site management practices and how you would address the issues identified. Your arguments should be supported by the evidence from site observations and the theories and practices discussed over the course. This report does not require you to follow a specific format. However, you should consider demonstrating your understanding across the following aspects in tailoring your report which includes a plan for improving productivity:

• The plan for effective subcontractor
• The plan for effective waste removal.
• The plan for effective material distribution and

Use subsections appropriately for each issue and use different locations of the site (Use images appropriately to support your evaluation).