How to Calculate the Safe Bearing Capacity of Soil

It is extremely important to figure out the safe bearing capacity of the soil at the construction site. If this is not done properly, the structure may settle, and the building may get damaged, or even collapse. For this reason, we perform various tests to find out the safe bearing capacity of the soil. Today, let us see how we can do this.

The safe bearing capacity of soil is defined as the maximum load per unit area that the soil can bear without any displacement or settlement. This is measured in terms of kilograms per square centimeter. If the load exceeds this mark, the soil will start to displace or break. This will lead to structure settlement, which can end up in destructive results.

Formula:
Safe bearing capacity of soil = (ultimate bearing capacity)/(Cross-section area x Factor of safety)

Explanation: The ultimate bearing capacity of the soil is the point at which the soil starts to displace under load.

Any soil can take up to a certain amount of load only, after which it starts to settle or displace.

The cross-section area is the area of soil on site on which the tests are being performed. It can be a square meter in general practice.

The factor of safety indicates how safe the soil capacity results must be before considering a certain type of construction. Naturally, it depends upon the type of building being constructed. It is kept at 2 for general civil constructions and 3 for high-rise or heavy constructions.


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Published By
Rajib Dey
www.constructioncost.co
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Construction Estimator Duties And Responsibilities

Construction estimator is mainly liable for completing any building construction projects successfully. The construction estimator has to create accurate estimation and it depends on various requirements.

As for instance, he/ she should have sound knowledge for regarding drawings properly. The estimator has to set up schedule for pricing as well as understand construction process, gather experience in construction method and various materials.

They estimate work based on the proposals, blueprints, specifications, and concerned documents.

Besides, they estimate labor, material, and time to work out the complete cost of the project.

Good Construction Estimator should possess the following qualities :-

1. Building construction estimator should contain strong knowledge about drawings of works.
2. Assemble precise and properly arranged estimates and proposals in a well-timed manner for stipulated price, design-build and construction/project management formatted projects.
3. The Estimator should have the capability to read drawings accurately.
4. The estimator has to bill the quantities perfectly.
5. Good construction estimator should have the capability to generate a schedule to be priced by tender
6. He should have adequate knowledge about the construction method to be implemented; several items of the works concerned in implementation and different materials applied in the construction.

7. An understanding of a good method of producing an estimate.
8. Investigate documentation for obtaining a thorough understanding of the project requirements.
9. Create and main unit pricing and database for material and labor costing.
1. Prepare cost break down from estimates and for project progress.
11. Arrange sub-contractors quotations, negotiate to ensure the quotes satisfy the contract documents and issue correctly documented purchase orders.
12. Complete Budgeting and Scheduling for projects and track same.
13. Arrange detailed reports or bids for submission to relevant parties.
14. Choose, compute and monitor crucial metrics.

15. Visit sites, warehouses and other venues required to perform the estimate.
16. Carry out complex analysis of collected data and metrics.
17. Arrange suitable and consistent forecasts.
18. Perform complex risk analysis activities.
19. Generate and arrange reports to upper management.
20. Analyze and appraise offers.
21. Create and keep up long-term relationships with the major vendors

Read more

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Published By
Rajib Dey
www.constructioncost.co
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Tips to calculate a stair

This construction video briefly describes how to estimates the stairs by following some easy to follow processes. By watching this construction video, you can learn the basics of making measurements. If you can learn how to estimate each part properly, you will be able to make an efficient stair construction and design. Estimation includes measurements, number of steps, steps sizes, slop ratio, angle of slope as well as length, height, depth of a stair.

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

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Construction Event on Estimation Technology 2016

Estimation Technology For Construction 2016 focuses on first national congress to reveal how estimation and preconstruction departments can leverage models, databases and data to enhance the accuracy and speed of cost estimation.

After detailed research with over 40 construction professionals, the agenda has been designed to meet the challenges of estimation in 2016, such as maximizing the role of model-based quantification, optimizing workflows, integrating 2D and 3D tools, utilizing historical data, managing databases and developing standardized processes for all of the above.

• PRECONSTRUCTION and ESTIMATION DIRECTORS will attend to hear how to redesign workflows and train staff to not only adopt, but fully utilize the benefits of disruptive technology – and learn how to prove the business case for adoption.

• ESTIMATORS will attend to receive practical and interactive training on how to use models, historical data and databases effectively to create accurate and trustworthy quantities and cost estimates

• VDC DIRECTORS & BIM MANAGERS will attend to understand the role of the estimator and determine how to conduct modelling in ways that will further benefit the preconstruction department ad reduce duplication of efforts

Event Date : May 23-25, 2016

Event Location : San Francisco

Download Full Event Guide

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

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Civil Calcs is a useful construction program for Civil Engineers and Land Surveyors

Jamoke Innovations LLC develops Civil Calcs. It is an exclusive construction program compatible with iOS device.

This construction program is ideal for Civil Engineers and Land Surveyors to rapidly estimate as well as verify points on portions of a roadway profile. Besides, it can also be used for area calculations, drainage/flow calculations, traffic counts, etc. It is best suited in the office, when verifying any plans, or in the jobsite if you require some instant effective estimations.

This tool is specifically designed for plan checkers, surveyors, and engineers who accomplish recurrent vertical curve grade estimations as well as for verifying slopes and elevations, and angles. Ideal tool for Civil Engineering Students, and Professionals.

This app complies with Apples advocacy of a universal binary; meaning the purchase consists of both the iPad and iPhone versions for the identical price. So if the users contain an iPod/iPhone they can obtain that version, but if they contain the iPad they will have that version too. The Lite version of this app is not compatible with the iPad.

Link for download Civil Calcs for Civil Engineers

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

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Bill of Quantity for Construction

It is actually an itemized list of materials, parts, and labour (with their costs) required to construct, maintain, or repair a specific structure.

A bill of quantities (BOQ) is a text used in tendering process in the building construction industry. Here the materials, parts, and labour and other things are (and their costs) are listed.

It also (preferably) particulars the terms and conditions of the construction or patch up contract and itemizes all work to enable acontractor to price the work for which he or she is bidding.

It is usually arranged by surveyors and building estimators. The bill quantity generally made by a ‘taking of. The process of estimation is making: Architects, Structural Engineers, and other building consultants drawings.

These have been used to construct a cost estimate such as measuring meters of walls and roofs, the numbers of doors and windows, and systems as heating, plumbing and electrics.

Parallel work is then brought together under one thing, which is a process known as abstracting.

There is a Contingency sum is an item found within a Bill of quantities (BoQ). The item refers to hidden cost likely to be inviting during the contract. A Bill of Quantities considers all costs and is seen-through in relations to all costs.

Download Sample: Bill Of Quantities (BOQ)

Image Courtesy: http://images.1233.tw/

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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Estimating Software – An Aid to the Contractor

Construction cost calculations can be a big place for building estimating errors. These cost calculations can easily take a lot of time and cause errors. Yet, cost estimating is singularly the most important aspect of new home construction!

This is why using construction software is such a great idea that thousands of contractors around the country have started to do construction estimating. No one wants error in time of calculating estimation for the house. As house is the biggest and important financial investment of one’s life, we want to make it very simple and accurate estimation. That’s why you have to opt for estimating software.

First of all you have to know what estimating software is. Software estimation is the process of predicting the effort required to develop a software system. This paper provides a general overview of software cost estimation methods including the recent advances in the field. As a number of these models rely on a software size estimate as input, we first provide an overview of common size metrics. We then highlight the cost estimation models that have been proposed and used successfully. Models may be classified into 2 major categories: algorithmic and non-algorithmic. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. A key factor in selecting a cost estimation model is the accuracy of its estimates. Unfortunately, despite the large body of experience with estimation models, the accuracy of these models is not satisfactory. The paper includes comment on the performance of the estimation models and description of several newer approaches to cost estimation of a construction project.

With the ease of use, accuracy and speed estimating software gives to its users, it is no wonder so many contractors are already using it. Time is money, so the ability to do more estimates in the same time is a big saver. Many users find they can do up to ten estimates in the time it was taking them to do just one by hand, spending 1/10th the time estimating each job. This speed comes without an increase in complexity. Generally the estimating software are designed from the beginning to be easy to use and to allow you keep your current flow for estimating. Whereas the old technique can make you change and do your work the way the estimators think is best, these estimating software’s developers let you set the rules.

This easiness to learn is one of the reasons users have found they can begin doing estimates the first day they have estimating software. The complex works of estimation are made easy with it. Why the estimators would stick on the complex process without choosing the easy but accurate way to get estimation for the dream house. As little as a decade ago the job of cost estimating was a quagmire, even for experienced professional builders. But now every estimator is using the estimating software. Various estimating software are available in the market which can fulfill your requirements of estimation.