Construction

Construction is the process of constructing a building or infrastructure. Construction differs from manufacturing in that manufacturing typically involves mass production of similar items without a designated purchaser, while construction typically takes place on location for a known client. Construction as an industry comprises six to nine percent of the gross domestic product of developed countries. Construction starts with planning, design, and financing; it continues until the project is built and ready for use.

Overview

Large-scale construction requires collaboration across multiple disciplines. An architect normally manages the job, and a construction manager, design engineer, construction engineer or project manager supervises it. For the successful execution of a project, effective planning is essential. Those involved with the design and execution of the infrastructure in question must consider zoning requirements, the environmental impact of the job, the successful scheduling, budgeting, construction-site safety, availability and transportation of building materials, logistics, inconvenience to the public caused by construction delays and bidding, etc.

Design team

In the industrialized world, construction usually involves the translation of designs into reality. A formal design team may be assembled to plan the physical proceedings, and to integrate those proceedings with the other parts. The design team is most commonly employed by (i.e. in contract with) the property owner. Under this system, once the design is completed by the design team, a number of construction companies or construction management companies may then be asked to make a bid for the work, either based directly on the design, or on the basis of drawings and a bill of quantities provided by a quantity surveyor. Following evaluation of bids, the owner typically awards a contract to the most cost efficient bidder.

Construction as an industry

The construction industry is a major contributor to the gross domestic product (GDP) in the industrialized world. In the European Union, the construction industry accounts for 5-6% of the GDP. A quarter of the construction output is repair and maintenance, and three quarters is new build. However, after the collapse of the property bubble, construction work has decreased substantially in many countries, leading to a feeling of overcapacity and a shift towards renovation work.

See also

• Architecture
• Civil engineering
• Construction management
• Project management
• Quantity surveyor
• Building services engineering
• Environmental impact assessment
• Scantling
• Structural engineering

References

Construction Resources
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