Civil Engineering Technology Report: Earthworks, Safety, Solutions

This report, prepared for a Higher National Certificate/Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment, delves into various aspects of civil engineering technology. It begins by explaining common methods and techniques used in earthworks and substructures, covering excavation, piling, foundations, drainage, culvert construction, and underpasses. The report then presents a site safety plan, risk assessments, and method statements for civil engineering activities, including excavations and work in restricted spaces, temporary works on highways and structures, and discusses relevant health and safety legislation. Finally, the report evaluates a civil engineering problem, proposing solutions and estimating the environmental, geotechnical, quality, and economic frameworks of a civil engineering course of activity, addressing how these problems are tackled in the proposal. The report includes references and is structured to provide a detailed overview of the subject matter.

Higher National Certificate/Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment
CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
Table of Contents
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................2
LO1: Explain the common method and techniques used in civil engineering earthworks and
substructures..........................................................................................................................................2
Task 1a: Earthworks activities, equipment and techniques..................................................................2
Task 1b: Methods and techniques used in the creation of piling works, complex foundations and the
drainage works.....................................................................................................................................3
Task 1c: The techniques and methods used in the construction of culvert, underpass and utilities
provision..............................................................................................................................................3
Task 1d: Techniques and Methods used in large complex earthmoving operations.............................5
Task 1e: Methods and techniques used in dealing with issues of slope stability and ground...............5
LO2: Present a site safety plan, risk assessment and method statement for a given civil
engineering activity...............................................................................................................................6
Task 2a: Hazards, risks and safety arrangements to carry out excavations, working in restricted
spaces, working in temporary works on highways and working on structures.....................................6
Task 2b: Safety plan, risk assessments and method statements for an engineering activity.................7
Task 2c: Health and Safety Legislation and Codes of practice associated with civil engineering
activities..............................................................................................................................................7
Task 2d: Civil engineering activities associated Hazards....................................................................8
LO3: Evaluate a given civil engineering problem and propose a solution........................................8
Task 3a: Estimating the environmental, geotechnical, quality and economic frameworks of a civil
Engineering course of activity.............................................................................................................8
Task 3b: How geotechnical, environmental, quality and economic problems are tackled in the
proposal...............................................................................................................................................9
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................................9
References................................................................................................................................................10

Introduction
In civil engineering, construction actions are usually ones performed in single units in the
process of gaining overall development structures. This paper is based on the understanding of
such dissimilar tasks and information necessary in the growth of a huge construction which has
been proposed to be effected in Lok Wo Sha, Shatin, Hong Kong. This is going to be exposed in
the following sections.
LO1: Explain the common method and techniques used in civil engineering earthworks
and substructures
Task 1a: Earthworks activities, equipment and techniques
Excavation and earthmoving equipment.
They are discussed as follow;
Bulldozer: Used for pushing the soil in the effect of excavation.
Dragline: Used in the progress of the heavy excavation.
Dump Truck: Used in transferring the excavated material.
Excavation
Refers to the process that entirely aid during the process of breaking the rocks and the soil into
smaller parts (Navon, Khoury and Doytsher, 2012).
Excavation and load
The vehicle load comprises of both dynamic and the static loads, administered as a result of the
quarter-truck model support.
Haul and deposit
These processes involve the construction and drilling tasks. The task is carried out using,
bulldozers, cranes, leaders, trucks and tractors.
Task 1b: Methods and techniques used in the creation of piling works, complex foundations and
the drainage works
Some of the stages being taken in the development of the foundation are highlighted below:
 Inspecting the soil in which the development of the foundation ids to effect.
 Finding actual turnings of the foundation over the inspected soil to enable development
of this proposed foundation.

 In increasing the net carrier processing through conducting the entire excavation process.
 Footing installation.
 Sealing footing so as to avoid interaction with moisture (Rezkhikha, 2019).
Task 1c: The techniques and methods used in the construction of culvert, underpass and utilities
provision.
Among the aspects determining development and construction of these features are as stated
Weight angle dropping: n the process of ensuring that the hammer is striking the required head,
a hammer with the estimated pile weight is dropped from an appropriate height carefully guided
and freed to the ground.
Vibration: The hammers used are established and are electrically powered. They comprise
contra-rotating masses that are eccentric embedded in the housing. This housing is attached to
the head of pile.
Jetting: Jetting entirely helps in the process of marinating the pile penetration in the sand to be
used (Chew, 2017).
Culvert Construction
Steps:
•The construction of half culvert is accomplished through excavation carried out as designed
•The bed of the culvert then prepared.
•Screed concrete with the rubble wall are placed (Agarwal, 2017).
• Traffic diversion is then carried out.
Construction of Underpass.
Refers to the development and construction of passageway or tunnel based way running beneath
a railway or road mostly to be used by pedestrians.

Methods:
 Precast concrete Units
 In situ Concrete
 Thrust - bored units (Hehua Zhu et al., 2016).
Laying of the underground utilities and Drains.
The stages and entire process of Laying of the underground utilities and Drains are highlighted
as follows;
Stages/Process.
1. Selecting the desired route that the drainage system is to be laid down or developed.
2. Pipe selection to be used in in the process of the drainage system development looping.
3. Digging the trench where the pipe for drainage is to be developed/ laid..
4. Trench lining process.
5. Installing the selected pipes in the trenches of the drainage system.
6. Trench refilling process.
7. Replace the sob if any after the process.
Task 1d: Techniques and Methods used in large complex earthmoving operations.
Carried out effectively and as required, some of these methods are discussed below.
Loading:
Helps in transporting the earth materials.
Hauling:
Used in cases of varying ground conditions such as changing slopes (Falcao, Ferreira Nobre
Júnior and De Athayde Prata, 2016).

Employment of these deep excavation Techniques and methods is greatly significant in the
process of bringing in improved productivity rate in the growth and construction of earthmoving
processes (MARKIZ and JRADE,2015).
Deep excavation techniques and methods.
To accomplish the processes of deep excavation, are variety of techniques and methods are
essential to be carried out.
• Full open cut method: It depends on the development and construction of the foundation
division into two main cut open slopes.
• Bracing excavation method: This method is dependent on the horizontal struts found in front of
the retaining wall.
• Anchored excavation method: The anchors are installed to the counters which act against the
earthy pressure (Teparaksa, 2017).
Task 1e: Methods and techniques used in dealing with issues of slope stability and ground.
Stabilization of the slope can be achieved through the following stages:
1. Change of geometry of the slope.
2. Controlling the water surface.
3. Controlling the internal seepage.
4. Provision for retention so as to increase the forces of resistance.
LO2: Present a site safety plan, risk assessment and method statement for a given civil
engineering activity.
Task 2
Task 2a: Hazards, risks and safety arrangements to carry out excavations, working in restricted
spaces, working in temporary works on highways and working on structures.
• Falls caused from any work at height. They can be one major risk (s) which might arise during
the construction process.
• Fragile roofs and surfaces might also breakdown. Normally, these roofs are either under
construction or needs renovation.
• There can occur falling of such objects as the use heavy equipment in the process of
construction being conducted.

Hazards and risks
Most of these hazards and risks can be moderated when working and during the process of
construction. They are based on estimated amount of work required to be done by the respective
individuals (Ferrett and Hughes, 2016).
Techniques and methods to conduct safe and productive activities during deep excavation
• Maintaining relevant data of the subsurface soil and the water table location to be used.
• Maintenance of the excavation sides and the protective system based on the amount of
excavation to be conducted with the nature of the soil present. This needs to be known.
• The Underground efficacies needs to be located. They are established on an optical fiber,
electric cables, pipelines.
• Evaluating the potential of chemical risk and hazard likely to occur in the level of oxygen. This
leads to breathing difficulties.
Task 2b: Safety plan, risk assessments and method statements for an engineering activity
Safety plans
An appropriate planning in the process on any civil engineering or construction activities is
essential to be put in place. In any engineering project, it is essential to consider a proper and
controllable work arrangement which has the ability to identify some long-term management
processing and hence provide the operational control processing system caused by these hazard
control processing activities. The civil Safety work planning also completes to establish the
acceptable planning procedure and protocol which engages the long-term work efficiency
planning. Employees are required to project the additional implementation and planning structure
which intern helps to formulate the risk management. This is attained through taking numerous
precautions (Selvik and Signoret, 2017). However, the system direction which is directly
applicable, considering the proper planning can present a formative work engagement.

Risk Assessments
In most civil engineering construction activities, Risk assessment planning structure is required
to access by leading the proposed development and improvement statement and in turn involve
the a number of approaches depending on the long-term work methods. After evaluating the risk
and hazard, it is essential for one to consider some of economical solutions so as to engage the
work claim and planned work appointment. One then is able to estimate the specific period of
time to complete the assigned task.
Method Statements
Five important stage of this process namely; identification, examination, evaluation, comeback
and the approaches for monitoring need to be established in the process.
Task 2c: Health and Safety Legislation and Codes of practice associated with civil engineering
activities.
The Occupational Health and Safety established program include a number of provisions which
are concerned with protection against fire, noise, work environment, machinery, equipment and
some explosives together with material handling activities. These civil engineering sites are also
required to have a productive, operational and effective Safety & Health associated outlook so as
to have a better Work Assessment (Selvik and Signoret, 2017). Occupational Health $ Safety
process also requires one to have a suitable structure to enable the related Work Assessment to
be effected properly. This entirely focus on the effective utility related Association.
Current legislation in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong construction $ Engineering Law of 2018 projected the specific implementation
and planning methods so as to have an effective work dispensation. This is meant to initiate the
future work related viewpoint in any manner that is appropriate. The Hong Kong architecture has
also associated this with the different approaches of utility in order to support the future work
perspective and in the creation of Structured Work proposal (Kog, 2018).

Task 2d: Civil engineering activities associated Hazards.
There occur different hazards in the processes of civil engineering constructions. These hazards
need mitigation so as to guarantee effective construction process.
Some of these hazards arise from;
1. Working at heights.
2. Moving objects and equipment.
3. Slips, trips and falls.
LO3: Evaluate a given civil engineering problem and propose a solution
Task 3
Task 3a: Estimating the environmental, geotechnical, quality and economic frameworks of a civil
Engineering course of activity
The National Science Foundation has resulted in the rise of improved solutions which greatly
affect any engineering difficulties and problems. Otherwise, of the basic difficulties encountered
by the engineering team, one of them is the significant change of climate which is being brought
in the due course of using energy to advance the quality of the environment. As far as the
economic framework, an Environmental Liaison Group has been set to organize in conjunction
with the Environmental Work. However, the influences found in the process are the basic
knowledge breaks and needs. This is greatly affecting the practices of an geo-engineering most
mainly the capability of classifying the subsurface. With such an engineering difficulty, the set
committees are disturbed about the resources most likely to reduce thus leading to unbalanced
research for any given site development and construction.
Task 3b: How geotechnical, environmental, quality and economic problems are tackled in the
proposal.
Control and Monitoring of the proposed construction project/site has over time become a vital
section of any engineering projects in Hong Kong. Employment environmental, economic and

the social management in these construction project/site is seen to have a direct influence on the
environmental features. It includes a number of practices which can be prepared so as there is
little or no harm to the environment. Nevertheless, Hong Kong is seen to accept the methods of
the various plans and projects.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the civil engineering activities are seen to have effect and impact on both
environmental, social and economic aspects. This raises need for professional knowhow and
ethical responsibility among all parties involved as has been discussed 9in this paper and as seen
from the case study. It therefore is important for the engineers to embrace the material laboratory
tests in order to obtain the material durability various products such as bridge construction and
road construction. This can help reduce heavy traffic in given countries in question. Proper
research should therefore be encouraged before any activity of bridge and/ or road construction.
This will enable prevent possible collapse of the structures and hence lead to improvement in the
civil engineering segment. This also will have an impact on the economic consideration in the
design, planning and implementation of the proposed construction.
References
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