What is Construction Engineering?

Construction engineering is the ability to obtain construction operation through engineering. A Construction engineer’s work involves planning/scheduling, management of structures, and plays a big role on site. This work requires a wide range of knowledge and skills.

Construction Engineering Saves Time, Money and Maintains Deadlines

Planning

The planning and scheduling for a construction engineer is the most crucial to the success of a construction project. It involves understanding and delivering the requests of the client. In order to accomplish these requirements, the construction engineer requires a strong sense of comprehension whether it is verbal, in written form, illustration or documentation. Also, the planning includes budgeting and scheduling so that the project does not exceed the client’s budget, at the same time being able to comply with the client’s pre-requisite.

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Why is Construction Engineering Important?

There are three main reasons a construction engineer is important. The project team can save money, save time, and management can save on stress that may add the needed expense of aspirin.

How a Construction Engineer Benefits You

Saves Money

Construction Engineering Saves Time and Money

All three reasons are linked but should be discussed separately. This is because they may all affect the project in different ways. The most important reason to have a construction engineer is that, in the end, it will save the owner and the general contractor money. Many contractors believe that hiring an engineer will be costly, nothing is further from the truth. Many of the same contractors don’t understand that there are net gains in savings. Examples of this are “typical” temporary structures that do not require engineering are usually over designed. This is done to protect the manufacturer. If a construction engineer is hired many times the excess materials saved will exceed the cost of the engineering.

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Tilt-up Concrete Construction

One of the best ways to assemble a building safely and efficiently

What is Concrete Tilt-up Construction?

Tilt-up Concrete Construction, also known as tiltwall, is a method of constructing concrete buildings where the walls are poured on the slab then lifted into place. Once the slab has been poured and cured, workers create the forms for the walls directly on the slab. Door and window openings are built into the forms. Then workers tie the reinforcing steel grid inside the forms. Inserts and embeds are installed for lifting the panels and connecting them to the footing, roof and other components. Cement is poured into the form.

Once the concrete has cured the formwork is removed. Cables are connected to the inserts and the wall sections are lifted into place using a crane. Temporary braces connect the wall panel to the slab until all walls and the roof have been installed. The process is repeated until all of the wall panels have been installed. A finish is applied to the walls and the joints are caulked.

The Tilt-Up Construction and Engineering Manual – 6th Edition published by the Tilt-up Concrete Association is a great resource for more information.

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What is Value Engineering

Adding Value to each Project with VE

Getting the best value engineering is not always about cost savings. Let’s look at the dictionary meaning of value;

“to consider with respect to worth, excellence, usefulness, or importance.” Source

In construction engineering there are two parts to value;  function and costs. An engineer may suggest alternate methods to complete the task at hand that

A) Add more functionality at little to no extra cost. An example of this may apply to an owner of a building. Typically owners have to pay the cost of heating and power. An engineer can suggest ways to reduce the cost of both by using a more energy efficient design. This benefits the owner of the building and consumers (if owner rents or sells units)

B) Reduces the cost of a project without sacrificing any functions. An example of this is foundation thickness. If soil pressure testing checks out, concrete (foundation) thickness may be reduced. This can save money on the material purchased to pour the foundation.

It is a system of organized procedural decisions designed to deliver more value to the project. The beneficiaries of value engineering services are clients, contractors, owners or end consumers. It has been an accepted engineering review & analysis practice since the 1940’s. In the 40’s the original concept was developed by General Electric Company to cut back on costs in a time of war (World War 2). VE is the acronym for this procedure although VEA (value engineering analysis) is also a recognized term.

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Safe Construction Scaffolding

AJW Scaffolding Design Example

What is Scaffolding?

In the construction business it is a frame to support workers and any material they may need temporarily to complete a construction project. Scaffold workers can repair and build large buildings without being impaired by building height using a scaffold lift system.

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