Analysis of Civil Engineering Construction Methods and Safety

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CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
LO1 Explain the common methods and techniques used in civil engineering for earthworks and
substructures....................................................................................................................................4
P1. Discuss earthworks activities, equipment, and techniques....................................................4
P2. Describe the methods and techniques used to create complex foundations, piling works,
and drainage works......................................................................................................................5
P3. Describe methods and techniques used in culvert construction, underpass construction and
provision for utilities....................................................................................................................6
M1. Analyse methods and techniques used in large complex earth moving operations and deep
excavations..................................................................................................................................7
LO2 Present a site safety plan, risk assessment and method statement for a given civil
engineering activity..........................................................................................................................7
P4. Identify the hazards, risks and safety arrangements for excavations, working in confined
spaces, working on structures and for working within any temporary works on highways........7
P5. Develop and present a site safety plan, risk assessments and method statements for a given
civil engineering activity..............................................................................................................8
M2. Discuss health & safety legislation and codes of practice related to civil engineering sites.
.....................................................................................................................................................8
LO3 Evaluate a given civil engineering problem and propose a solution.......................................9
P6. Evaluate the environmental, quality, geotechnical and economic contexts of a civil
engineering problem....................................................................................................................9
P7. Propose a solution to a given civil engineering problem......................................................9
M3. Illustrate how the environmental, geotechnical, quality, and economic contexts of a
problem are addressed through a proposal................................................................................10
LO4 Prepare a design proposal for a new infrastructure project...................................................10

P8. Describe methods and techniques used in highway design.................................................10
P9. Develop a civil engineering proposal for a new infrastructure project...............................11
M4. Analyze methods and techniques used to create bridge foundations, flexible highway
construction foundations criteria and related geotechnical parameters.....................................11
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................13
Reference.......................................................................................................................................13

Introduction
This report describes the various methods and techniques used in the construction process of
infrastructure development. In this, the common risks and issues are stated with their possible
solution. This report also describes the environmental, quality, geotechnical and economic
problems found in the construction process.

LO1 Explain the common methods and techniques used in civil engineering
for earthworks and substructures.
P1. Discuss earthworks activities, equipment, and techniques.
Earthworks can be defined as an initial construction process in which excavation, transportation
and compaction of earth materials at a different location is performed. It includes a process such
as-
 Clearing of the project site in which the topsoil, trees, and shrubs are removed from the
construction site.
 Excavation of foundations and trenches. This process is generally performed in bulk but can
also be performed on a small scale when bulk excavation plant cannot be set-up in the
construction site.
Equipment that is used in the earthwork activities includes the use heavy vehicles for the digging
of the foundation of the construction project, trucks, and tractors for removal of landmass from
the project site, and various other large machinery that helps in the processing of the earthwork
activities.
The techniques involved in the earthwork activities include the various processes which
determine and implements control over the works performed in a project such as the moving or
removal of soil, rock, trees and other debris from the construction site by controlling and
measuring the ecological effects. Some of the common techniques used in earthwork activities
include
 Slotting technique- This technique helps in the determination of the volumes of soil that will
be excavated. In this technique, the project area is divided into slots and measured for slopes
using tapes and other measuring equipment.
 Excavation technique- In this technique, the soil in the project site is loosened, removed,
and relocated according to the structure and alignment of the construction area. It includes
various methods such as leveling in which the high and low area of the construction site is
adjusted (Poulos, 2016).

P2. Describe the methods and techniques used to create complex foundations, piling
works, and drainage works.
Foundations are the base of any construction that provides support to the structures by sharing
the load to the ground beneath. Foundation is of two types, i.e. deep foundation and shallow
foundation. Complex foundation is generally a type of shallow foundation in which the project
building does not impose much load to the soil beneath. Commonly used complex foundation
include-
 Raft foundation- It is a complex foundation in which the whole area of the construction
building or mat is covered with a layer of cemented R.C.C slab. In this technique,
 The whole area of the construction building is dug to a specific width and depth.
 The dug area is then compacted by sprinkling water.
 A layer of lean concrete is then laid in the site in which the reinforcement made of
bars is placed.
 Cement concrete is then poured over the reinforcement bars and is left covered until
properly cured.
 After full curing of the cement, construction of the building can be started.
Piling is a type of deep foundation technique in which piles are embedded in the ground to
provide support to the building. Pile foundation is generally used when the soil of the
construction site is not suitable for mat foundation. In this process, the piles are installed using
the hammer method or boring method. In the hammering method, the piles are hammered
using heavy machinery. In the drilling method, the construction site is first drilled to the desired
depth using the hollow auger. After the reaching of the desired depth, cement concrete is pumped
through the hollow part of the auger till the hole gets filled (Randolph, 2003).
Drainage works include the methods that are used to measure the route of water flow during the
construction process to reduce the issues it imposes. Various techniques are used in the
construction process to manage the drainage works such as slope drainage method in which the
construction site is excavated with a slope. This slope will enhance the natural flow of water to
the lower side which in this scenario is the river near the construction site. Other techniques

include the making of counterfort drains, rock ribs, deep-trench drains, sand drains, and the
drainage blanket method.
P3. Describe methods and techniques used in culvert construction, underpass
construction and provision for utilities.
Culvert can be defined as a tunnel that helps in the flowing of water under a road. It is basically a
bridge with no extra embankment cost and is generally used in streams and small rivers. Culverts
are constructed of various materials which are determined by the cost, durability, strength,
efficiency, and availability. The culverts are generally made of aluminum pipes, steel, HDPE
(High-density polyethylene), and concrete. Aluminum culverts Steel culverts are made of SSP
(Structural Steel Plate) and CSP (Corrugated Steel Pipe) in which the SSP is used in
manufacturing box and arch culverts, and the CSP is used in manufacturing pipe culverts.
Concrete culverts are the most commonly used culvert type due to its low cost and less
environmental impacting property (Sawamura, et al., 2018).
Underpass can be defined as the tunneled road or passageway that is going underneath another
road. Underpass is constructed using various techniques such as-
 Precast concrete unit- in this method of underpass construction, the underpass is prebuilt in
sections which are transferred to the construction location for direct installation.
 In-situ concrete underpasses, unlike the other processes, are constructed in the site location.
In this method, the underpass is first dug out which is then fitted with a premade box or pipe-
shaped concrete or steel walls to provide support to the road above.
Utilities required in the construction process include the water, electricity, gas, and other services
that are required in the process of construction. The provision of the required utilities can be
obtained from various private suppliers that have the authorized permission of the government to
provide the utility needs Shan, Zhou, and Shu, 2018).

M1. Analyse methods and techniques used in large complex earth moving
operations and deep excavations.
Large and complex earthworks are as same as the normal earthworks. The main difference arises
due to the machinery and components used in the earthwork process. General earth moving can
be done using manual trailers, wheelbarrows, and stretchers, but in large complex processes
vehicles such as dumpers are used in the processing. Small scale excavation is performed using
tools such as hoe, pick-axe, forked hoe, and mattocks which help in the process of excavation.
However, in large complex excavation projects, large construction vehicles such as bulldozers,
excavators, and other large machinery are used for the completion of the works.

LO2 Present a site safety plan, risk assessment and method statement for a
given civil engineering activity.
P4. Identify the hazards, risks and safety arrangements for excavations, working in
confined spaces, working on structures and for working within any temporary
works on highways.
In the construction process various hazards and risks can be seen which includes risks such as
materials falling over workers and the excavated area, collapsing and breaking down of sides in
the excavation area, entry of water in the excavation area hence causing flood, deficiency of
oxygen, toxic atmosphere, excessive heat, fire and explosions, objects falling from above,
mishandling of equipment leading to injury, and electrocution.
Risks and hazards are managed by following various precautions and procedures to ensure a risk-
free working environment such as to avoid collapsing of sides in the excavated area, the sides
can be supported by sheets or other supporting systems to reduce reworking cost and time. To
mitigate the risks of materials falling on the excavation area, the excavated materials should be
stored away from the area of excavation. Using pump and motors, the flooded water can be
extracted and redirected to natural water source. Confined space issues can be mitigated by
providing proper training to the workers designated for confined space works, to eliminate
deficiency of oxygen, ventilation can be provided in the confined spaces. This will also remove
the toxic gases present in the work area and also reduce heat in the confined area. Fire and
explosions risks in the confined area can be mitigated by properly determining the composition,
content, and other factors of the construction area. Other management of risks involves including
proper safety equipment, tools, and essentials to the workers working in structures and in
highway works. Mishandling issue can be reduced by providing knowledge and training of any
new equipment. Electrocution issues can be managed by properly checking all the wires of
electrical equipment to ensure no leakage of current (Ding, et al., 2016).

P5. Develop and present a site safety plan, risk assessments and method statements
for a given civil engineering activity.
Table 1: Site Safety Plan
Risks and Issues Assessments Method statement
Object falling from above High Using nets in high working
locations to avoid object
falling over workers
Materials falling on the
excavated area
High Removal of excavated
materials away from the
excavation area
Sides collapsing in the
excavated area
Moderate Using net or sheet barriers
around the edges
Seeping of water/flood in
excavated area
Moderate Pumps placed in respective
areas
Toxic atmosphere in confined
space
Low Ventilation provided to allow
air circulation
(Ding, et al., 2016).
M2. Discuss health & safety legislation and codes of practice related to civil
engineering sites.
Health and safety legislation in civil engineering sites include various orders and set plans so as
to mitigate and control the problems and risks associated in a construction process. This
legislation is applied in all construction projects. It includes regulations such as ensuring safety
of construction premises, the official workers, and other staffs. This Act is mandatory and failure
in complying may result in criminal offense, hence imprisonment of the individual. Code of
practice is the set of procedures and standards which must be followed by all the workers,
engineers, contractors, and developers so that the issues and works of the project are managed
accordingly (Ganah, and John, 2015).

LO3 Evaluate a given civil engineering problem and propose a solution.
P6. Evaluate the environmental, quality, geotechnical and economic contexts of a
civil engineering problem.
Environmental problems in civil engineering include various aspects such as pollution (soil,
air, and water), resource and energy wastage, and so on. Pollution in civil engineering occurs due
to the hazardous materials used in the process of construction. These materials can float in the air
causing contamination. Such materials can also go deep in the soil along with water and other
sources thus causing pollution in the soil as well as in the water. Quality problems in civil
engineering can arise in the built structures in which the building can be unstable, contains
cracks and leaks in the structure, electrical system faults, and so on.
Geotechnical problems in civil engineering can arise due to various conditions of the surfaces
and the materials present in the construction site. The soil quality, composition, surrounding
materials are not always as desired. Thus these elements in the construction process cause
problems in mot took measures. Economic problems include financial, political, and legal
issues. In this, the issues include such as over-budgeting, improper planning of resources and
materials required in construction, improper knowledge of local law and process, legal
permission issues, and so on.
P7. Propose a solution to a given civil engineering problem.
To mitigate the environmental problems in civil engineering such as pollution issue can be
reduced by use of good quality materials having a low environmental impact. This will reduce
the problems arising from the civil engineering problem.
To ensure minimizing of quality issues in the construction process, use of good quality materials
in building the structure can resolve the issue of unstable structures. Proper checking of the build
quality during the construction process will mitigate the post-construction quality issues in civil
engineering.

To mitigate geotechnical issues, proper checking of the construction site should be performed
before the initiation of the project. This will provide information on the site and provide proper
selections of materials and processes to be implemented in the construction process.
To mitigate political and legal issues, the construction team should first take proper permission
for processing the construction. Financial issues can be managed by properly planning the
requirements and other factors in construction process so as to eliminate the issue (Chang, Im,
and Cho, 2016).
M3. Illustrate how the environmental, geotechnical, quality, and economic contexts
of a problem are addressed through a proposal.
The environmental, quality, geotechnical, and economic problems arising in the civil engineering
projects can be depicted in the proposal by describing risks, their assessments, along with the
possible solution of the issues. All these aspects will be clearly depicted in the proposal to
eliminate the probability of rejection of the proposal. These problems will be depicted in brief,
only describing the main key aspects.