Highway Construction and Engineering

Highway construction is a major process which includes many steps and tricks. These steps include planning, designing and building. Good roads lead to the path of growth.

The highway joins different cities and places, the highway network are most important for the economy of any country.

This article by Tarun Goel, published in www.brighthubengineering.com brings the guideline that how various aspects of the highway construction works.

Once upon a time human beings only trail the animal’s footprint to go at a distance. But thousands of thousands year have gone past.

For constructing any highway, planning is the most significant part. Then comes design portion of the road. It is followed by the execution process. Proper planning helps the proper estimation, capacity management and given opportunity to the engineers to modify it in the future too. Hit this links to get more knowledge of it.

• Geometric Design of Highways and Roadways
• How are Roads Built Over Swamps?
• Role of the Manager in Highway Road Projects
• Bridge Construction - Design Considerations and Materials
• Pavement Maintenance: Pounds of Prevention vs. Tons of Cure
• Connecting The Dots In Bridge Construction
• How to Repair Concrete Cracks

The selection of the materials is very important. It depends on the type of the highway and the density of the traffic pressure.

The common materials are:

• Bitumen (asphalt): Asphalt or Bitumen is blackish thick liquid or it may be semi-liquid as well used for road construction.
• Concrete: Concrete is a compound material making mix of things in the likes of water, cement, stone-chips, additive and reinforcement.

Now days, the engineers are concentrating on the eco-friendly construction of roads andbridges. Some cast-off wastes are handy in this respect. Hit these links to get more knowledge.

• Concrete Roads vs Asphalt Roads
• Bright Hub does not have a page with this exact URL
• Benefits of Air-entrained Concrete

Highway Safety Guidelines: Safety is the most significant aspect of the highway construction. The traffic, pedestrians and other vehicle drivers should feel safe along with morning or evening walkers.

These things should be in the line properly:-

• Bott's dots.
• traffic lights
• Walker’s marking
• zebra crossings
• traffic circle
• GPS-based road traffic monitoring systems

References:- European Commission, New Road Construction Concepts (pdf), 

www.ec.europa.eu

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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Preparing for Design-Build Projects: A Primer for Owners, Engineers, and Contractors

In the public and private construction project design-build (DB) contracting gained much popularity. Many designers andconstructors are using DB for last two decade successfully and they have lauded about it. Some of the designers must slightly change their practice; they are now accustomed with the outcome.

Preparing for Design-Build Projects – this book is handy, not only for the engineers, but owners andcontractors.

ASCE Press have published thisbook, promoted by www.civilax.com is an excellent copy to be gathered by the people involving into theengineering sector.

The authors of the book are:

• Douglas D Grandsberg, Ph. D and PE
• James E Koch, Ph. D and PE
• Keith R Molenaar, Ph. D.

The book is forwarded by Michel C Loulakis.

The core concentration of the authors was on the learning module. This could be a decision making ground braking process of ‘design-build (DB) contracting’. From constructor and engineers to owner everybody has different point of view on this.

This is a timely guide book on DB. The reader could assess the series of suggestions here too.

Download Preparing for Design-Build Projects

Image Courtesy: civilax.com

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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Elaborate Cost of Concrete Pad

Concrete is best construction material and it is structurally perfect by each and every square foot. It can be done by own or a professional contractor can be appointed.

The concrete pad which is already made can be put up for sale by the cubic yard. Here size of the pad is also very significant. The rate can be measured on the size of the pad. But if you are not expert, then it is advisable to hire a professionalcontractor. Author Glenda Taylor of budgeting.thenest.com came up with this article in which we are presenting an excerpt.

Excavation: For making a concrete pad, you need to dig the passage to pour the concrete martial. If you want to hire an excavator, the daily wage would be around $150 to $300.

Forming the Pour: The dimensional lumber is cost $3 per 8-foot board, the price sometime may fluctuate. Two-by-fours are normally accepted. Purchase sufficient concrete to frame it around the perimeter. 4-inch thick concrete pad needed for steel strengthening. 1/2 –inch rebar bars gapped into 2 feet apart in crosswise pattern.

Fill Sand: To stabilize the base, sand filling and spreading up to 1 inch is suggested. The price of the sand may diverge here.

Concrete Costs: 4 inches thick and one yard of concrete is necessary for 9-by-9-foot pad. Some may take help of online calculator.

Tools and Supplies: You can rent those concrete tools in the likes of hand trowels, stinger vibrator, and bull float. It can generate good revenue.

Labour Cost: It is an important factor. It can be calculated per hour or day.

Image Courtesy: asc.llnl.gov

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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10 biggest upcoming construction projects in U.S. started in November 2014

Go through the following lists which enlist the 10 biggest upcomingconstruction projects in U.S. started in November 2014.

The construction professionals can locate these types of projects geographically as well as get clear ideas regarding the commencement of the jobsite works.

The biggest projects categorized by their nature, can provide a great impact on total dollar and square footage volumes.

Besides, the time period and size of these projects also affect market forecasts.

• New Jersey: Engineering/Civil - Hackensack River Wittpenn Bridge, New Jersey Department of Transportation - $200

• New York: Engineering/Civil - Hugh L Carey Tunnel & Brooklyn Plaza, MTA Bridges & Tunnels - $283

• New York: Commercial - South Ferry Terminal Complex Electical & HVAC, Whitehall St NTA New York City Transit - $194

• Florida: Engineering/Civil - Tampa International Airport Automated People Mover, 4160 George J Bean Pkwy, Hillsborough Co Aviation Authority - $197

• Kentucky: Jefferson County - Institutional, USACE Great Lakes District Building Facility, US Army Corps of Engineers District - $240

• Louisville: Institutional - Louisville District Mission Boundaries Building, US Army Corps of Engineers Louisville - $200

• Louisiana: Shreveport - Industrial, Benteler Steel Tube Manufacturing Plant, (1 structure; 1 story) 11650 Highway 1 Benteler Company, - $975

• North Dakota: Engineering/Civil - Fargo Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Membrane, (1 structure) City of Fargo - $236

• California: Commercial - Sacramento Kings Arena, (1 structure; 7 stories) L Street, Fulcrum Group - $448

• San Francisco: Residential - Transbay Block 9 Apartments Design Build, (1 structure; 42 stories) 1st & Folsom Sts(Northwest Corner), BRIDGE Housing Corp - $250

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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Make your material control system superior with Jovix

Birmingham based Atlas RFID Solutions introduced a newconstruction product called Jovix™.

This newest construction technology helps construction professionals to trace materials quickly as well as productivity of direct labor and minimize the usage of material recorders.

The construction professionals will get a clear idea that their construction project gets the proper materials at the right time and in the right condition. So Jovix will facilitate the construction professionals to combat with the supplementary material control issues on the industrial construction projects.

Jovix is compatible with mobile inspections and precautionary maintenance. Besides, it can deal with and resolve oversupply, shortfall, and damage issues, as well as foresee the accessibility of materials in future through supply and demand calculation.

The latest version of Jovix (2014.2) comes with some advanced features like importing drawing data fromengineering tools and inserting and controlling attachments inside the application. Besides, the mobile tablet interface is upgraded to make it more reliable and accessible by expanding material control powers to the jobsite and keeping aside the labor-intensive, paper-based practices from the jobsite.

With Jovix, the users can undertake anticipatory maintenance activities through the tablet to get incessant clarity and control all through the whole material lifecycle ranging from fabrication through installation.

Jovix enhances project efficiencies on the whole with the positive material by providing unprecedented access to executable, up-to-date toward the accessibility, status, and location of materials in the global supply chain.

In order to get the product, visit http://atlasrfid.com

Ref: atlasrfid.com

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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CostX Estimating Software - Subcontractor Comparison Training

This video is the on-screenestimating software. It can be two dimension or three dimension in nature.

The video will show how sub-contractors comparison can be inserted. Exactal has brought up this video in Youtube.

The main window consists of home, drawing, dimension, revision and Sub-contractors.

In the middle of the window, there are descriptions, quantity, rate, sub-total and factors columns are segregated.

The estimators can lock the estimate 

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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Concrete Pad Sheet

This is specially required forconcrete slab. Here length of the pad, description, pad length, width, volume, frame work and size separately can be put in. Rebar size , volume and length are also there.

Download

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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Drywall Quantity Takeoff Worksheet

Here the clear value can be deducted from the calculation. There are descriptions, thickness, length and width, height and wall area have been distinctly segretaed for putting the measurement in.

Drywall take off quantities should be got hold of following:-

1. Measure the Square Footage, 2. Estimate Drywall Boards, 3. Estimate Drywall Tape, 4. Estimate Joint Compound, 5. Estimate Drywall Screws, 6. Estimate Corner Beads, 7. Estimate Drywall Miscellaneous, 8. Estimate Drywall Additional.

Download

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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Comprehensive estimate

This is an estimating sheet which is separated into: labour, material, non-material, sub contractor, sub total, burden, sales tax, margin, grand total and cost/sq ft.

General contractors, sub contractors, developers and architects will be helpful by this estimation sheet.

At the extreme left of the sheet, there is ITEM under which General Requirment, site work, Concrete, Masonry, Steel, Carpentary-framing, Tharmal Moisture Protection, doors and finishing.

Rows for mechanical and electrical are separately segregated.

At the bottom, there are overhear and profit, builders risk, contingency and permit are to be put. And last but not the least is grand total.

Download

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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Analysis of rates for building works

This is how the rate analyses are done for the construction (viz. Labor,materials, machinery, transport, overheads and profit).

Rate Analysis:

• There tender has to be introduced with item rates.
• Then make sure the tender rates and its viability.
• Judging different labour, materials, machinery and money and resource optimization.
• The rates for deviation would have to be computed. If to work on the extra items or not.
• Comparing cost for amount to be approved.
• Preparing budget and cash shift.

But if the under following elements are tagged in:

• Material cost without considering the squanders.
• Labour cost
• Charges of using water
• Taxes
• Risk and insurance coverages
• Profit and overheads

Some other important points:

• Percentage of profit is 5-10 per cent. But the overhead is normally 3 - 7.5 per cent.
• The cement constant includes waste product of 2.5 per cent.
• The material constants are loading-unloading, supply price, empty bags and others.
• Labour constants are generally covered by government schemes as well as IS – 7272, NBO, CPWD and MES.
• Building material specifications are here
• Basic cost is the cost of materials and labours.
• Indirect cost is those of consulting charge or out source changes.

There are also some rates like standard schedule or derivative rates.

Ref: click here

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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Some important tips for Civil Site Engineering

Engineers are always looking for excellence in construction. But they have to follow some basics before starting the mega project.

The site engineers generally concentrate much on those issues:

• Bars which have the diameter more than 36 mm should avoid lapping.
• The maximum chair spacing is 1.00 m (or) 1 No per 1m2.
• Minimum 12 mm diameter needed for dowel rod.
• 12 mm diameter bar should be used in chair.
• The longitudinal reinforcement should follow the range between 0.8 – 6 per cent of gross CS.
• For circular column, bars would be 4 Nos and 6 Nos.
• Slabs are important in any construction. The main bar slab (8 mm HYSD) or 10mm (plane bar), distributor should not be less than 8 mm and more than 1/8th of slab’s thickness.
• 125 mm is minimum slab thickness.
• Concrete free fall maximum maximum 1.50 m.
• Remember lap slice should not be used in the bar larger than 36 mm.
• Brick water absorption should not be 15 per cent.
• PH value of water has to be 6.
• Brick compressive strength 3.5 N / mm2.
• 8 kg per MT is the measurement of steel reinforcement binding wire.
• Samples for ore cutting test in the soils filling for every 100m2.

Density of Materials:

Bricks: 1600 – 1920 kg/m3

Concrete block: 1920 kg/ m3

Reinforced concrete: 2310 – 2700 kg/ m3

Cube samples required for different quantity of concrete:

Quantity of Concrete	No. of cubes required
1 – 5 m3	1 No’s
6 0 15 m3	2 No’s
16 – 30 m3	3 No’s
31 – 50 m3	4 No’s
Above 50 m3	4 + 1 No’s of addition of each 50 m3

Curing time of RCC Members for different types of cement - Super Sulphate cement: 7 days, Ordinary Portland cement OPC: 10 days and Minerals & Admixture added cement: 14 days.

Read More: theconstructor.org/tips

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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Sema v12 Timber Construction Software

This is construction software. More importantly it is timber construction software.

It is a ground breaking concept of launching this kind of software; it is a great a programme which keep updating it constantly.

This is one of the pioneering software for world’s largest timberproduction. It applies in various timber construction programmes such as many big houses, offices and shops. It has the joining and staircase construction software. SEMA is one of the best software for timber construction across the globe.

SEMA is prepared by a modular configuration. It is mostly popular among the small traders and carpenters. The volume of user is great. Many people use it in a large scale.

The major woodworks are also done by the SEMA. The pre-fabricated houses are now being built. There are wide ranges of collection of variety of language. There are 11 languages.

SEMA Timber Construction Software, the best know answer in the field of timber construction.

SIMA 009 Dachgeschao is open with windows. There are also file, edit, view and extras which the users can click for other uses. At the right hand side of the window, there are option for programme selctions under which ground plan, terrain, walls and stairs.

Profile/dormers, roof design, Rafter system and roof coverings are the other options there for the wood artists. But there are more options in there in wall outline, wall members and wall coverings.

The http://www.civilax.com/ has published this news taken from http://www.sema-soft.com/en/start.htm

Image courtesy: civilax.com

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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Interpreting blueprint and floor plan

This is actually a learning process about how to interpret floor plans. A floor plan in the architecture and building engineering is a diagram which is used for scalling rooms, vacant spaces and features at the structures.

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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The Spreadsheet of Bridge Construction

In any estimation of construction, the role of spreadsheet is very important. It brings the estimation of construction in the fingertip of the developers. This Composite bridge construction design sheet, presented by civilax.com is not the exception though.

The spreadsheet is a reciprocal application programme for the computer. It helps to organize, examine, analyse and keep store the data. The formation is somewhat tabular. The spreadsheet brings computerized replication of paper made accounting. The datas are standing in rows and columns.

The construction cost estimation of a bridge on the sheet, needs lot of expertise. It includes programme, projects and operations. It is process which brings out the cost estimation of the bridge. It has the single total value, but if any developers or estimator seeks for component value, they can also get from there.

Sometime there is a problem of cost infestation. The professional estimator can manage it using a best believable cost estimating composite bridge design sheet.

Composite bridge construction design sheet helps the bridge designers and estimators to calculate the cost or its overrun whatever the cost related datas it needs for construction.

Like the Microsoft Excel, at the top of the table, leaning the extreme left end, there are some columns such as: File, home, insert, Page layouts, Formulas, Data, Review, View and add-ins. But in the extreme top in the left, there is a save-sign to save the sheet.

The third row is very important. It denotes how the page lay out would be. It is called workbook view. In this composite spreadsheet of bridge construction, there are normal view, page break preview, page layouts and custom view.

The next show-box brings us the options of rulers, formula bar, gridlines and heading. The next box is zoom box. It brings option of 100 zooming and zoom selection. The windows come next. There are new windows that can be arranged in accordance with the preference. There are also freezing panes, split, hide and unhide. There is an option to view it sidewise, scrolling and synchronization and rearrange window. Then there is switch window and macro option.

There are axis in the middle in which information were put in. The calculators are embedded there. But at the bottom of the table, there are three options of sheet 1, 2 and 3.

Reference and Image courtesy: http://www.civilax.com

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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