Objective

o To let understand the important of safety on site, follow the rules and safety precaution to avoid and prevent any accident happen in construction site. Safety and prevention first.

o Experience and discover the actual working environment on construction site, to face the hot weather during working under the hot sun, muddy ground and the environmental sanitation on site.

o To increase our knowledge about construction that we did not observe in class but observed and explore on site.

o To communicate with the construction team on site, anything that we do not understand we can ask and they will explain to let us get more information.

o Explore and identify various types of building materials and technology on site, such like metal, timber, concrete cover, formwork, pile caps.

o Recognize the items measurable for sub-structure and reinforced concrete frame works.o Observe how the worker on construction site use the equipment including mechanical

plants.o To understand the construction process.

Introduction of the site

On the 26th Jun 2015, we had a site to visit to a construction site which located at the Jalan Puchong and also near to a few of secondary school, university, hospital and shopping centre. The site that we visit is going to build 2 block condominium which are block A has 25 floors with 137 unit and block B has 26 floors with 216 unit. The site have zone 1, and 3. Block A will be complete on August while block B will be complete on October.

Technical observations

The project manager which name James Siow and his colleagues welcomed us when we reached the site at 9.15a.m., before visiting the site they brought us to the tent and give a slight briefing and information about the site and remind us to be careful on site. After that we had separated into group and brought into the site and walk a big round the site.

Before they bring us to see the column I saw there have many links on the ground, the workers were using bar bending and bar cutting machine to get the shape of the links. First, they brought us to a place to show us how the workers built the column, they are construct the formwork for column, a form for pouring concrete by using the timber. Some was construct the main bars and links of column. There have some column have been finished construct filled with concrete which we can see the starter bar. Miss Ang had also showed us that the column ties with concrete cover, it is the one that we have to deduct when we doing exercise in class to get the length and width of the links.

On the way they brought us to see the pile caps, I saw there are many reinforcement bar on the ground with different type and diameter and we saw 2 workers was producing some concrete cover. The concrete was pour into a formwork which is then put some wire and draw some line then cut into the desire size. After that we had reached the place where the pile caps is, it is very big, they had told us that is the biggest pile caps they have done and also done on time and successfully. They had also told us there are no column stump, that remind me Miss had gave us do an exercise that is also no column stump.

After that we saw a place is pumping the water out because the of the high water level, Miss Ang told us it is counted as item for removing water from site. At last we also saw piles and sheet piles, they had told us that the pile is very deep below ground. On the way, I saw there are some unwanted of pile which is the part that had cutting away.

Here is the pile caps plan and progress report for the site that we get from the project manager, James which have many information inside.

Pilling which is very deep below the ground.

Pumping the water out because the of the high water level.

This is how they construct the concrete cover.

This is the biggest pile caos that they had construct successfully and on time.

There are many type and different diameter of steel bars.

The workers were constructing a formwork with timber, a form for pouring concrete.

The workers were constructing the main bars and links of the column

The worker were using bar bending machine to get desire shape of links or bent.

This is the information of construction project signboard.

The red strip is use to remind people of beware of the place that have been fence up.There are also blue fencing to prevent people to entry the site.

This is the part of the pill which is cut off and throw to the side.

This is the temporary rest place for the worker.

This is concrete cover tie on the steel bar.

The bars are ties together.

There is 24(d), this links is use to tie the main bars of column.

This crane can move heavy and big thing form a place to another place.

a) Identify and explain the type of foundation involved in the particular site together with its advantages and disadvantages.

The type of foundation we visit on site is piled foundation. First they mobilization of piling machines and start site clearance and earthwork. Then start of piling work. Works starts by set up the location of bored piles. After boring machine is positioned over the pile location, the drill is positioned in the exact location of the pile center line. Insert of steel cage then concrete is pump into the drilled hole while the auger is being withdrawn. After sheet piles works is done then pile caps work start. When pile caps of fromwork and rebar is done concrete is pour inside. Next, basement beam start then turn to basement slab.

Piled foundation is the strongest foundation, a group of piles that supports a superstructure. Piled foundation used with multi storey buildings to transmit load through weak and unstable soil conditions. It is suitable for the site that we visited which have 25 storey high condominium.

Bored cast-in-situ pile is a bore is made the soil is removed and the pile is casted at the site in the bore.The advantages of bored pile is low initial cost. Length can be readily varied to suit variation level. Can be install in very long lengths and no problem with noise or vibration. Can be installed in conditions of low headroom.

The disadvantages of bore pile, concrete cannot be inspected after installation. Cannot be extend above ground level without special adaption. Enlarged base cannot be formed in non-cohesion soils

a) Different building elements may use different type of reinforced concrete grade. Identify the grade of reinforced concrete used for the construction of the following building elements: (i) column, (ii) beam; (iii) slab and (iv) foundation. Students need to explain on the advantages and disadvantages of the identified reinforced concrete.

The foundation of reinforced concrete on site visit is grade 35, the group of concrete for standard concrete include M35. Characteristics compressive strength in N/mm2 for M35 is 35The reinforced concrete for column is grade 45, the group of concrete for grade 45 considered standard concrete The reinforced concrete for slab is grade 35The reinforced concrete for beam is grade 35

Learning outcomes

After the site visit, I had gain a lot of knowledge and experience from the real working environment on the site. Working at construction site is not an easy job especially under the hot sun, stale air and muddy ground. I was very tired after the site visit is done, I am sweaty and hot. This is what I need to face it as a future quantity surveyor. Through this site visit I had seen and learn many things in real rather than searching from the text books and computer. Not only that I also can recognise various type of building material and how to construct concrete cover, links and formwork. The most important is safety, we have to follow the rules to prevent any accident occurred in construction site. Before entering the site we have to wear helmet, beware of step and surrounding of the site. They were very nice and welcomed us, we communicate well, they told us all the information we want to know and also treat us drinks and foods after the site visit had done. Lastly I am very happy to have this opportunity to visit, I have learn a lot of things and from this site visit I will understand more how to take off quantities on drawing, why to deduct or add. I hope that I have more chance to visit again which is constructed in more element so I can explore more.