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Introduction to Construction Technology

This document provides an introduction to Construction Technology II by James Kazungu. It discusses the history of construction including different types of construction works. It also outlines the construction process from inception to completion. The document details site visits, setting out processes, foundations, water exclusion, temporary works, floors, walls and piers. Civil engineering is defined and its sub-disciplines are listed. The document traces the origins and developments of civil engineering throughout history.

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Lego Edrisa
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1K views20 pages

Introduction to Construction Technology

This document provides an introduction to Construction Technology II by James Kazungu. It discusses the history of construction including different types of construction works. It also outlines the construction process from inception to completion. The document details site visits, setting out processes, foundations, water exclusion, temporary works, floors, walls and piers. Civil engineering is defined and its sub-disciplines are listed. The document traces the origins and developments of civil engineering throughout history.

Uploaded by

Lego Edrisa
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Introduction to Construction Technology II
  • Objective of the Course
  • History of Civil Engineering
  • The First Self-Proclaimed Civil Engineer
  • Formation of Institution of Civil Engineers
  • First Private College of Civil Engineering
  • Archimedes
  • Wonders of the World
  • Conclusion

INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION

TECHNOLOGY II

BY

JAMES KAZUNGU.A (ENG)

(Msc Geology in Prog, PGD PPM, [Link] CBE,


ODC)
Email: amkazungu@[Link]

Mobile:0772670685
1. History of Construction, forms of Construction:
Buildings, Heavy/Civil Construction
and industrial construction works
2. The process of construction: Building team;
Inception, Design, submission of plans for
approval, tendering, construction, supervision and
inspection. The Construction Site.
Drawings and Documentation. Site Layout.
Sequence of Work. Site Clearance.
3. Site Visits and industrial tours.
4. Setting out: Buildings, Drainage and Roads
Using Tapes Only.
 Foundations: Site Selection and investigation;
Preliminaries: Hoarding, Services e.g
 water, electricity, toilet, kitchen, staff accommodation,
storage, security etc. Types of
 foundations: Strip, Pad, Pile and Raft foundation
 6. Exclusion and Removal of Water. Importance and
methods of dewatering
 7. Temporary Works: Formwork, scaffolding and
timbering
 8. Floors. Walls and Piers: Ground and suspended timber
and concrete floors, types of
 wall: Load bearing walls, framed walls, retaining walls
 Civil engineering is a professional engineering
discipline that deals with the design, construction
and maintenance of the physical and naturally built
environment, including works such as bridges, roads,
canals, dams and buildings. Civil engineering is the
oldest engineering discipline in the world after
military engineering, and it was defined to
distinguish non-military (civilian) engineering from
military engineering.
 It is traditionally broken into several sub-disciplines
including environmental
 engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering,
transportation engineering, municipal or urban engineering,
water resources engineering, materials engineering, coastal
engineering, surveying, and construction engineering. Civil
engineers have saved more lives than all the doctors
 in history through development of clean and safe water and
sanitation systems.
 Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of
human existence. The earliest practices of Civil engineering may
have commenced between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt
and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq) when humans started to
abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need for the
construction of shelter. During this time, transportation became
increasingly important leading to the development of the wheel
and sailing.
 Until modern times there was no clear
distinction between civil engineering and
architecture, and the term engineer and
architect were mainly geographical
variations referring to the same person,
often used interchangeably. The
construction of Pyramids in Egypt (2700-
2500 BC) might be considered the first
instances of large structure constructions.
 In the 18th century, the term civil engineering
was coined to incorporate all things civilian as
opposed to from military engineering. The first
self-proclaimed civil engineer was John Smeaton
who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In
1771 Smeaton and some of his colleagues
formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil
Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession
who met informally over dinner. Though there
was evidence of some technical meetings, it was
little more than a social
society.
 In 1818 the Institution of Civil Engineers was founded
in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas
Telford became its first president. The institution
received a Royal Charter in 1828 formally recognizing
civil engineering as a profession.
 Its charter defined civil engineering as the art of
directing the great sources of power in nature for the
use and convenience of man, as the means of
production and of traffic in states, both for external
and internal trade, as applied in the construction of
roads, bridges, aqueducts, canals, river navigation and
docks for internal intercourse and exchange, and in
the construction of ports, harbours, breakwaters and
lighthouses, and in the art of navigation by artificial
power for the purposes of commerce, and in the
construction and application of machinery, and in the
drainage of cities and towns.
 Civil Engineering is defined as the art that includes
the design and construction of all structures other
than simple buildings, and the investigation, design,
and construction of all systems of transportation,
natural power development, water supply and sewage
disposal, as well as the direction of natural forces for
the use and convenience of man.
 Every branch of civil engineering has some contact
with the surface of the earth. For instance, the works
designed by the civil engineer being supported by or
located in some part of the earth’s crust. The practice
of civil engineering includes the design of these works
and the control and direction of their construction.
 The first private college to teach Civil
Engineering in the United States was Norwich
University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden
Partridge
 In a nut shell, Civil engineering is the application
of physical and scientific principles, and its
history is intricately linked to advances in
understanding of physics and mathematics
throughout history. Because civil engineering is a
wide ranging profession, including several
separate specialized sub-disciplines, its history
is linked to knowledge of structures, materials
science, geography, geology, soils, hydrology,
environment, mechanics and other fields
 One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to
physical and mathematical problems applicable to civil
engineering is the work of Archimedes in the 3rd
century BC, including Archimedes Principle, which
underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and
practical solutions such as Archimedes' screw.
 Ever since the dawn of civilization, man has
indulged in some form of construction activity.
Even in ancient times, man created architectural
marvels which came to be regarded as the
wonders of the world, for example the Pyramids
of Egypt, the Great Wall of China, the Angkor
temples of Cambodia and the Tower of Babel.
The pyramid of Giza in Egypt contains more
than 2,000,000 blocks with an average weight
of about 2.3tons each. About 100,000 persons
worked on the pyramids for three to four
months a year to build it in about 20 years
As told
in Genesis 11:1-9 is
an origin myth meant
to explain why the
world's peoples speak
different languages

Common questions

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The term 'civil engineering' was coined in the 18th century to differentiate non-military engineering tasks from military engineering, marking a formal acknowledgment of the discipline. It evolved from broader engineering practices where the same individuals often carried out both architectural and engineering tasks. This period signified a recognition of the specific skills and techniques related to infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and harbors . The establishment of civil engineering as a distinct profession was further solidified with the formation of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1818, with its chartered definition focusing on directing natural power sources for human use .

The construction of the Egyptian Pyramids is considered one of the earliest examples of civil engineering due to the advanced planning, resource management, and technical skill required to complete such large-scale projects. The pyramids involved massive mobilization of labor and materials, precise geometric calculations, and innovative architectural techniques that are core to civil engineering practice . These projects demonstrated an early understanding of fundamental engineering principles long before the discipline was formally recognized .

Archimedes' contributions, such as his principle of buoyancy and the invention of the Archimedes' screw, laid the groundwork for significant advancements in civil engineering. His work on hydrostatics and mechanics provided fundamental insights that influenced the design of water management systems and structures that interact with fluid dynamics . These principles are still integral to modern civil engineering, shaping the methods used in constructing dams, aqueducts, and other water infrastructure projects .

The definition of civil engineering expanded to encompass not just the construction of structures, but the strategic direction of natural forces for societal benefit. This includes the development of transportation systems, urban planning, water supply, and sanitation systems, essential for societal development . This broadened scope is reflective of civil engineering's impact on public health and the urban environment, illustrating its importance in shaping modern civilization .

With the formal recognition of civil engineering as a profession in the 19th century, exemplified by the Royal Charter given to the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1828, the role of civil engineers expanded to include a broad array of responsibilities. These included the design and construction of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and water supply systems, as well as the application of scientific methods to ensure safety and efficiency . The formalization of the profession elevated the status of engineers, distinguishing their expertise from that of architects, and fostering specialization within the field .

Historically, civil engineers have had a significant impact on public health by developing infrastructure that ensures access to clean water and efficient sanitation systems. This contribution has been crucial in preventing disease outbreaks and promoting hygiene, saving more lives than medical advancements alone . The design and construction of water supply, treatment facilities, and sewage systems highlight the critical role civil engineers play in protecting communities from waterborne diseases, demonstrating how engineering innovations contribute to societal wellbeing .

Over time, the roles of engineers and architects diverged from shared origins where both professions involved in the creation of built environments. Initially, the terms were used interchangeably due to significant overlaps in responsibilities involving structural design and construction. However, as the complexity of building projects increased, a need for specialization became apparent; architects began to focus more on aesthetic and functional design, while engineers took on tasks involving technical and structural systems, emphasizing efficiency, safety, and functionality . The 18th-century formalization of civil engineering further defined these roles, emphasizing the technical and scientific aspects of construction .

Ancient civilizations such as those in Egypt and Mesopotamia contributed significantly to the development of civil engineering through the construction of monumental structures like the Pyramids, which required advanced knowledge of geometry and resource management. Additionally, innovations such as the wheel and sailing facilitated transportation and construction, laying foundational concepts for modern civil engineering practices . These early practices demonstrated the application of scientific and physical principles critical to civil engineering, leading to sophisticated structural designs that influenced future engineering advances .

Civil engineering encapsulates both the art and science of construction by combining aesthetic design with scientific principles to create functional and sustainable structures. It involves the application of mathematics and physics to solve complex problems while also considering the aesthetic and cultural aspects of construction . The discipline requires creativity in design as well as precision in the execution of projects, ensuring that structures not only serve practical purposes but also enhance the environment .

What distinguishes civil engineering as a discipline is its direct interaction with the earth's surface, given that all projects are either built on, within, or above it. This interaction involves understanding geological and environmental conditions to ensure structural stability and sustainability . Civil engineering projects like roads, bridges, and buildings utilize insights from geotechnical and materials engineering to ensure longevity and performance under various natural conditions, further highlighting the importance of the discipline's specialized knowledge in manipulating and managing earth-based resources .

INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY II BY JAMES KAZUNGU.A (ENG) (Msc Geology in Prog, PGD PPM, B.Eng CBE, ODC) Email:
1. History of Construction, forms of Construction: Buildings, Heavy/Civil Construction and industrial construction works 2. T
Foundations: Site Selection and investigation; Preliminaries: Hoarding, Services e.g water, electricity, toilet, kitchen, s
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction and maintenance of the p
engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, municipal or urban engineering, w
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engineering and architecture, and the term engineer and arch
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to incorporate all things civilian as opposed to from military en
In 1818 the Institution of Civil Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas Telford became its

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