Construction Information (Drawing, Detailing, Specification)

This article discusses the uses and types of construction information, bill of quantities, and the role of CAD and BIM in construction. It also covers the information produced by participants in the construction project and the type of information body. The subject is Construction Information and the course code is not mentioned. The college/university is not mentioned.

Construction Information (Drawing, Detailing, Specification) 1
CONSTRUCTION INFORMATION (DRAWING, DETAILING, SPECIFICATION)
By Name
Course
Instructor
Institution
Location
Date

Construction Information (Drawing, Detailing, Specification) 2
TASK 1
a) Uses of construction information.
 To enable the partners and the management of the projects to communicate effectively.
 To grasp information from individuals and their services so that when they can move
together with their services.
 To help in organizing and skilled running of human and physical resources.
 To assist in measuring, computing and tabulating the length, areas, volumes of the objects
found in plans and specifications.
 To allow designers in evaluation of substitute design solution in order to attain optimum
design.
 To allow the contractors to come up with drawings by deploying lines, rectangles, and
circles on the screen (Ballast, 2010).
b) Different types of construction information
Most of the information technologies are used in current construction in order to support most
aspects of a construction project. The various types of information include;
i) Computer-Aided Design and Visualization (CAD)
The design professionals prefer the use of CAD since it has the largest share in the market for
example AutoCAD. Other examples of CAD software includes MiniCAD, Fast CAD, ArchiCAD
and Micro station (Liebing, 2013). The use of CAD tools in the construction industry is simply
permitting the user create drawings through manipulation of rectangles, texts, circles and lines
and the CAD have the ability to permit editing (Hopper, 2012, p. 132).
ii) Building Engineering Applications
The correction of any design defects is very costly after the construction of the building,
therefore, an accurate simulation of the building performance at the design stage is important so
that identification and solving of the problems can be done (Hensey, 2012). Various methods
have been used in predicting the performance of the building in lightning, structural and thermal
aspects.
iii) Computer Aided Cost Estimation

Construction Information (Drawing, Detailing, Specification) 3
During construction, there is the need for controlling the cost of the project and that is the reason
why estimation of cost should be done accurately by the contractors and subcontractors (Hopper,
2012). Examples of software which enables the project managers to make estimation and to keep
track of project spending include FBS-Estimator, PRESTO, and Manifest.
iv) Planning, Scheduling and Site Management
Physical and human resources need a skillful management and planning during construction
works. The on-site managers can be assisted by the computer system to organize in advance,
assess numerous selections and implement the most well-organized construction processes
(Ballast, 2013). These planning packages include Microsoft Project, Power Project, and
Primavera.
v) Business and Information Management
The procedure of construction is a data intensive during which enormous amount of information
produced and expended by all the professionals associated (Chen, 2014).
c) Different types of construction information
Micro station, MiniCAD and Fast CAD allow the user to carry out editing for example copy,
move, delete and rotate.
ATEAN, CALCULUX, COSMOS allows the design to evaluate alternative design solution
for them to reach optimum design (Institute, 2013).
GEST, ICON, Job Master and Presto Control allow tracking of internal processes during the
construction phase.

Construction Information (Drawing, Detailing, Specification) 4
TASK 2
b) Outline Bill of Quantities
Sub-divisions of the bill of quantities
The division of the bill of quantities is done into detached levels of recognition.
Quantities
Quantities are conveyed in whole numbers apart from the units of measurement of tones and
hectares (Hopper, 2012, p. 178).
Units of measurements
The usage of these abbreviation shall take place for the units of measurement; m- meters, mm-
millimeter, ha- hectares, t- tones and kg- kilograms (Hensey, 2012, p. 43).
Preliminary items
Preliminary items are not included in measurement methods as their use is planned to be
constrained and particular to a given contract. These items shall not be used for temporary works
unless the operation is unusual in the relation to the work (Hopper, 2012).
Alternative Types of Pavement
In case there is the provision of the alternative type of pavement in the contract then a provision
of detached Bill of Quantities is needed (Institute, 2013, p. 129).
Alternative Types of Safety Fence
Erections Where a Choice of Design is Offered
A detached Bill of Quantities should be made in a situation where the structure to be constructed
by the contractor is provided in the contract as a substitute to the structure which has been
designed by the engineer (Institute, 2013, p. 342).
Erections planned by the Contractor

Construction Information (Drawing, Detailing, Specification) 5
A Bill of Quantities consisting a solitary item for all works is to be rendered in case the provision
of the contracts relies on the construction designed by the contractor to be constructed.
Prefaces to Bill of Quantities
The highlighted matters under the heading preambles to the bill of quantities are always to be
counted in as a preamble to the bill of quantities.
c. Schedule of work
ID Task Name WORKING DAYS
1 Clearing of vegetation on the site and
digging of trenches.
2 Excavating foundation trench.
3 Shuttering foundation slabs
4 Concreting the foundation slabs
5 Dismantle shuttering of the foundation
slab
6 Shuttering wall and scaffolding
7 Concreting wall
8 Dismantle wall shuttering and
scaffolding
9 Slope excavation
10 Grading before the wall, rendering
slope
11 Embankment building
12 Porous backfill behind the walls
13 Pulling out sheet wall planks
14 Plastered out and decorations of the
building

Construction Information (Drawing, Detailing, Specification) 6
TASK 4
a) Type of information produced by participants in the construction project
The participants to the construction project include the contractor, the client and the consultants
(Institute, 2013).
Client
During the construction phases, the client tells the construction professional specific requirement
needed for a particular project, the starting capital he or she is willing to give out for the project.
Consultant
The consultant gives information based on the design integration and advisory services
concerning the construction
Contractor
The contractor gives a detail information concerning the requirements of the client into a specific
design or scheme. The contractor provides information about the materials needed for the
construction and cost (Chen, 2014, p. 78).
b) Information body
 The information body assists the contractors to come up with various designs before
erecting the project.
 The information body enables the contractors to control human and financial resources in
the project.
 The information body enables the project managers to track down the resources in the
construction project (Ballast, 2010, p. 34)
c) Role of Computer-aided design (CAD) and BIM
Computer-aided design
 Many CAD packages help in creating documentation and that is why it is useful for
complex projects because one has something to refer back to when needed.

Construction Information (Drawing, Detailing, Specification) 7
 CAD plays an important role in spotting the errors thus making it a valuable learning
tools for architects and engineers.
 CAD incorporates a host of features
 CAD assist in the creation of designs related to your projects since designs are brought
together then they are fit into a larger unit (Ballast, 2013, p. 32).
Building Information Management (BIM)
The BIM also plays an important role in construction information
 BIM allows bringing together all designs into a single database and enable the entire team
to visualize the project.
 BIM allows the provision of much more to the client, for example, constant update.
 BIM models allow tracking of resources needed during the design stage thus improving
the efficiency and flow of construction (Ballast, 2010).

Construction Information (Drawing, Detailing, Specification) 8
Bibliography
Ballast, D. K., 2010. Architect's Handbook of Construction Detailing. 2nd ed. Hull: John Wiley & Sons.
Ballast, D. K., 2013. Handbook of Construction Tolerances. 2nd ed. Hawaii: John Wiley & Sons.
Chen, G., 2014. Building Construction: Project Management, Construction Administration, Drawings,
Specs, Detailing Tips, Schedules, Checklists. 3rd ed. Hull: ArchiteG, Inc.
Hensey, P., 2012. Construction Detailing for Landscape and Garden Design: Surfaces, steps, and margins.
3rd ed. Chicago: Routledge.
Hopper, L., 2012. Landscape Architectural Graphic Standards. 2nd ed. Hull: John Wiley & Sons.
Institute, C. S., 2013. The CSI Construction Product Representation Practice Guide. 1st ed. Florida: John
Wiley & Sons.
Kalin, M., 2012. Construction Specifications Writing: Principles and Procedures. 2nd ed. Chicago: John
Wiley & Sons.
Liebing, R., 2013. Architectural Working Drawings. 2011 ed. Manchester: John Wiley & Sons.