Module 2: Current Trends and Evolution in Civil Engineering
CIV1008 – Basic Engineering Sciences
Module 2 Notes
Module 2: Current Trends and Evolution in Civil Engineering
Syllabus:
Mechanization in Construction, Application of Digital Technologies in Planning, Design, execution,
monitoring and maintenance of Construction. Overview of Smart Cities.
2.1. Mechanization in Construction:
• Mechanization is the process of shifting from
working largely or exclusively by hand to do
that work using machines.
• The construction projects are becoming more
demanding and complicated in construction
and delay of projects would arise if
conventional construction method is used.
• Delays in construction are costly and have
prompted developers to embrace
mechanization.
• Construction machineries are used in order to
achieve larger output, cost-effective, execution
of work that is not feasible by manual efforts,
reduce the amount of heavy manual work
which would cause fatigue, maintaining large
output, and finalize projects on time.
• Mechanization is based on rented construction
equipment is cost effective.
2.2. Advantages of Mechanization of
Construction Industry
1. The work can be done speedily which avoid
time and cost over-runs.
2. Large quantity of materials can be handled,
so the size of the project can be increased
3. Complex projects can be carried out easily.
4. High quality standards can be maintained.
5. Optimum use of material, man power & finance.
6. Shortage of skilled and efficient man power
can be overcome.
7. Easier and safer work for construction workers.
8. Increased sustainability over a building’s
lifetime.
9. Little to no building-site construction waste.
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[COMPREHENSION]
2.3. Disadvantages of Mechanization of
Construction Industry
1. The initial cost of a machine is high. An idle
machine is a waste. This wastage is
greater, if the machine is costly.
2. Adoption of certain machines will lead to
unemployment.
3. If the operator, who works on the machine,
is not an expert, then its result will be
useless.
4. Machines are subject to break-down and lie
idle when electricity fails (if it is
electrically operated).
5. Depreciation charges are high; this will
reduce the profit.
6. Certain types of machines may become
obsolete within a short span of time.
2.4. Factors Affecting Selection of
Construction Equipment:
• Availability of equipment.
• Suitability of job condition with special
reference to climatic & operating condition.
• Size of equipment.
• Unit cost of production – cost of running.
• Availability of spare parts and selection of
manufacturer.
• Availability of local labour for operations.
• Function to be performed.
• Capacity of the equipment.
• Method of operation and its limitations.
Module 2: Current Trends and Evolution in Civil Engineering
2.5. Common Types of Construction Equipment:
1. Earth moving equipment - Excavators,
Tractors, Bulldozers
• Dozers, also known as Bulldozers are
strong machines that are usually used
for tasks like pushing, digging,
excavating, and leveling materials like
soil and debris at various work sites.
• In most cases, bulldozers usually come
with the large, heavy blade in the front
that is used to push material. In some
cases, you would have bulldozers with
certain other modifications like rippers
in the rear that helps to break down the
tough ground.
• An excavator is required to lift heavy
amounts of soil.
• Excavators are popular earthmoving
vehicles that feature a bucket, arm,
rotating cab and movable tracks.
• These components provide superior
digging power and mobility, allowing
this heavy equipment to perform a
variety of functions, from digging
trenches and breaking holes to lifting
away waste and excavating mines.
2. Hoisting Equipment
• Hoisting is the lifting of the material
against gravity and maybe done with a
wide range of equipment from the small
hand-operated simple screw
hydraulic-jack to modern high-powered
cranes and elevators.
• Hoisting is lifting a weight from one
location and moving it to another
location which is at a reasonable
distance. Big projects such as
construction of dams, industrial
buildings, etc. require hoisting
equipment.
• Hoisting equipment includes jacks,
winches, chain hoists, and cranes.
• Crane is the only single machine which,
as a single piece, is capable of providing
three- dimensional movement of the
weight.
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3. Hauling Equipment
4. Conveying equipment
5. Aggregate & concrete production equipment
2.6. Precast concrete
• Precast Concrete is a construction product
produced by casting concrete in a reusable
mould or "form" which is then cured in a
controlled environment, transported to the
construction site and lifted into place.
• In contrast, standard concrete is poured into
site-specific forms and cured on site.
• Precast construction is also known as
"prefabricated”.
• It produced in plants in a location away
from the construction site.
• These components are manufactured by
industrial methods based on mass
production in order to build a large number
of buildings in a short time at low cost.
2.6.1. Advantages
• Precast Construction is Efficient and fast. It
is two times Faster than conventional
construction.
• Concrete is cast off site. Hence, it is
unaffected by weather when casting
• Better quality control and control on curing
• Produces a high standard of workmanship
in factory conditions - reduces potential for
or
accidents, addresses on-site skill shortage.
Hence, more durable.
• Enables faster program times - not affected
by weather or labour shortages. It requires 3
times less labour than conventional
construction.
• Less cost. More economical and eco-
friendly. Up to 25% less consumption of
raw material
• Fire resistant
• No plastering is required. It has a high-
quality finish that can be left exposed.
Module 2: Current Trends and Evolution in Civil Engineering
2.6.2. Disadvantages
• System building is less flexible in its design
concept than purpose-made structures
• Structural connection between the precast
concrete units can present both design &
contractual problems
• It requires a different site for its production
• Costlier for small projects
• Requires skilled workers
2.7. Digital Technologies
• The construction industry is very vital as it
helps provide the necessary buildings and
supporting civil infrastructure.
• However, the problems of productivity,
poor planning and poor coordination has not
allowed it to maximize its full potential.
• Digital technology refers to the systems,
hardware and processes that use digital data
or signals to achieve a particular set of user-
defined results.
• The use of digitalized solutions in
coordinating and planning construction
activities can help resolve these challenges.
• In construction, digital technology has
caused a cultural shift and comprises the set
of tools that use and manipulate digital data
to help improve, deliver and operate the
built environment. These tools include:
➢ Use of drones to facilitate site surveys
➢ Facilitating remote meetings (eg Skype)
➢ Artificial Intelligence & Machine learning
➢ 3D printing
➢ Software such as Computer Aided Design,
Computer Aided manufacturing and
Building Information Modelling.
➢ Internet of things.
➢ Cloud-based computing
➢ Virtual reality
2.7.1. Advantages of using digital technologies
• Improved Productivity
• More Comprehensive Project Planning
• Predict the Overruns
• Improved Safety and Quality
• Better Collaboration and Mobility
• Optimizing Worksite Performance
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2.7.2. Digital Technologies in Construction
Planning
• Planning, scheduling is an important part of
the construction management.
• Inevitably, lack of planning would negatively
affect the project delivery performance.
• Microsoft Project, Primavera and Web-based
Project Management System are the most used
digital technologies in construction planning.
2.7.3. Digital Technologies in Structural Analysis
and Design
• Structural analysis allows designers to make
sure that a structure is safe for use under the
estimated loads that the structure is expected
to withstand.
• Structural analysis is performed prior to the
design stage, and it provides the internal forces
and stresses that will be evaluated during the
design and code checking.
2.7.4. Building Information Modelling (BIM)
• Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a
very broad term that describes the process for
specifying, creating, and managing digital
information about a built asset such as a
building, bridge, highway or tunnel.
• BIM integrates structured, multi-disciplinary
data to produce a digital representation of an
asset across its lifecycle, from planning and
design to construction and operations.
• The process of BIM supports the creation of
intelligent data that can be used throughout the
lifecycle of a building or infrastructure project.
• Benefits of BIM include
➢ Visualize Projects in Preconstruction
➢ Better Coordination and Clash Detection
➢ Cost and resource savings due to Model-
Based Cost Estimation (5D BIM)
➢ Improved communications and
coordination
➢ More opportunities for prefabrication and
modular construction
➢ Higher quality results
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2.8. Construction Automation
Use of mechanical and electrical systems with
computer control for performing construction
activities with minimum manual labour.
Automation in construction leads to productivity
improvement, Quality and reliability, safety as well
as enhancement of working conditions. Automation
will not only help in decreasing the time of
construction and amount of labor required but also
reduce the safety hazards and the risks involved
Areas of automation in Construction
• Roads & Runways construction
• Structures, Buildings construction
• Ports, Tunnels
• Factories and industries
2.8.1. Advantages of automation in construction
• Uniform quality with higher accuracy than
that provided by skilled workers.
• Replacing human operators in tasks that
involve hard physical or monotonous work.
• Replacing humans in tasks performed in
dangerous environments
• Increasing productivity and work efficiency
with reduced costs.
• Economic improvement
• Improving work environment
2.9. Robotics in construction
• Tasks that can be most automated are cheap
for human labor to perform.
• This makes robot economics challenging
(one can use cheap labor as well).
• Therefore, rather than labor replacement,
robot adoption seems to be driven by:
1. Workers Safety (i.e. remote demolition
and remote inspection)
2. Efficiency (i.e. real time surveying,
continuous paving)
3. Pushing the boundaries (i.e. mass tiling)
2.9.1. Application of robots
1. Surveying
Drones for aerial mapping and surveying
construction sites.
Allow for real time surveying, improve logistics and
collaboration across construction team.
This would allow for tremendous time saving.
2. Paving
Robots pave road with bricks or concrete.
Improved efficiency.
Process completion is faster, much more clean, better
finished work and a significant reduction in wastage.
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3. Brick Laying
Works in tandem with construction workers, but lays
three time more bricks than humans.
One of the most meritorious advantages is that it can
lay brick in unconventional patterns to achieve novel
structures. Helps in achieving better efficiency
levels.
4. Mass tiling
Robotic production of tiling work.
Allows for the existence of tiles with fine detail.
Otherwise, these tiles would be economically
unfeasible
5. Concrete Finishing
Automated concrete troweling and paving.
Automates tasks that is repetitive and hard for human
to do as well
A similar set of robots are also used for concrete
compaction.
6. Demolition
Remote controlled demolition robots for concrete
sawing and Demolition, Water based concrete
demolition & recycling
2.10. 3D Printing
Construction 3D printing is a method for
manufacturing construction elements or entire
buildings by means of a 3D printer printing
concrete, polymer, metal, or other materials, layer-
by-layer. The most common type of printer is based
on a robotic arm that moves back and forth while
extruding concrete. It is also known as contour
crafting.
2.10.1. Benefits of 3D Printing
1. Automation
Lower Labour cost, Reduced risk of accidents and
More precision
2. Speed
Faster execution and Faster return
3. Sustainability
Efficient used of Material and Reduced waste
4. Design Freedom
New designs are possible as the 3D printer can
create complex surfaces
2.10.2. Challenges in 3D concrete printing
• High initial investment cost
• Limitations in print size (mostly vertically)
• Limited selection of materials
• Technical expertise required to operate and
maintain printers.