| Author: | Li, Zhaoxia |
| Title: | Evaluating the efficiency of the use of space on construction sites |
| Degree: | M.Phil. |
| Year: | 2000 |
| Subject: | Building sites Building sites -- Planning Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Department of Civil and Structural Engineering |
| Pages: | xvi, [235] leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Space is needed by the various resources required to complete construction activities. The aim of space planning is to optimise the efficiency of construction operations, specifically to minimise time spent in moving materials and avoiding interference between construction trades. Space planning typically results in a layout that indicates major storage areas, access locations, and the positions of temporary facilities and key plant in relation to the locations of the permanent facilities under construction. Practice suggests that a good site layout design influences construction productivity and hence project cost, and a smoothly running tidy and organised site is likely to lead to higher quality and safety. Much computer-aided software is available to assist construction managers to better lay out and visualise a construction site and to better communicate layout intentions to all concerned. But, at present the lack of an accepted layout evaluation technique obstructs further applications especially the ability to use the computer's power to search for an 'optimum' solution or at least to generate good viable alternatives. The research explores a potential method embedded within an operational procedure intended to help improve this situation. Past research indicates that direct work time on the actual construction of permanent work is not where most of the effort is consumed, and shows also that about one third of work time is occupied by marshalling materials Thus, a site layout design which reduces material travel time, will allow more time for productive work and enhance construction productivity. Estimation of the time needed for moving materials is therefore, one appropriate measure for evaluating the efficiency of a site layout. A quantitative model, MFT (for Material Flow Time), is proposed based on this principle, intended to help in minimising total material flow time. MFT calculations are made as part of a proposed operational evaluation procedure for using the model and testing alternatives. Site trials of this operational procedure have been carried out. Results proved that for a large site the MFT model highlights differences among alternatives. The work of this thesis relates to superstructure construction on multistorey buildings. Further site studies are also desirable, related to different phases of the construction process and different types of construction site e.g. road construction. The potential for integrating the model with appropriate computer processing tools especially with a computer graphics site visualisation system, has been explored. It is suggested that the MFT model can form the basis of a computer assisted procedure linked with 3-D graphics to satisfy the actual demand on construction sites for convenient tools to enable site layout decisions to be both evaluated and tested in a short time. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | open access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b1520795x.pdf | For All Users | 10.96 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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