Modern(Advanced) Construction Techniques,
Designs of man-made structures are more complex than ever before, and they are getting no-simpler. Requirements are increasing. Human tendency to compare the previous project with the future one is just one of the reasons. Other reasons for pushing the construction engineering off limits, include increasing population, use of newly developed materials together with software developments, which allow us to design these complex structures. The engineering techniques required for the implementation of designs are highly specific in nature and vary from design to design. Look alone at the simple construction of pavement designs. Here, the performance of the pavement is largely dependent on the sub grade and base layers. Durability and stability of the pavement are decided by the ability of the sub base layers to provide strength and modulus in the moist and underground conditions.
Since the top most layer is usually the one facing the largest stress and hence coated with premium materials, the foundation must be uniform and stiff to support them. Engineering constructions have grown to become highly sophisticated and organized in nature. One of the prominent reasons is the concern for the safety of human life. In the simple case of pavement engineering itself, there are various ways to measure the quality of construction. One of them is Ride Quality parameter which measures the ride quality on the pavement. Non-destructive testing techniques include Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Falling Weight Deflectometers (FWD).
We prepared and published this seminar abstract for final year engineering students seminar research. You should do your own research additional to this information before presenting your seminar.
Monday, 15 December 2014
Careers and Courses for Eco Build
Learning about green building techniques, and ways to make construction more environmentally friendly, are becoming much more common and easily available through a series of courses and workshops across the KENYA .
As many people in all walks of life and professions are waking up to the call to be more environmental focused, experts and professionals are encouraging everyone to green both their life, and their business.
In the field of architecture, design and construction, techniques to make a design and the finished building more environmentally friendly have been known for many years, and through research into the history of design, these techniques can be shared and made examples of.
Taking Courses in Green Building
Deciding to take a course in green building and environmentally friendly design is a personal decision. Taking a look at buildings in the area in which you live is a good first step, as is buying a book on green building or sustainable building, or talking to any friends who work as architects.
Getting a basic understanding of what makes a building or the materials it is made from green is the first step. It is a good idea to develop some basic architectural and perhaps some construction knowledge before embarking on a long course of study.
Most architectural degrees in the Kenya are 6 years: most university courses will have a green building component within them. It is usually preferable for individuals to take short sample courses or workshops before committing to a long period of study.
Workshops, both short term and of medium length, in green building design and techniques, are proliferating across the Kenya to meet the rise in interest. These workshops take place in community colleges, community centres, farms, and specialised design practices. Good places to learn about such workshops and courses are in local libraries, in newspapers, or on the Internet.
What Makes Design Environmental ?
A good course for serious students of green and sustainable building will look at all elements of design and construction – from the initial appraisal of a clients needs, to an analysis of the potential building site and its surrounding area, through to sustainable and renewable building materials, right through to the latest green technologies, such as water saving devices and renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar power.
There is much to consider in the process, both at the discussion and design stage, and later at the construction stage, so serious students of this discipline should take time to research the marketplace and their options before committing to a course and a career in this field.
Check that the tutor or team of tutors have qualifications and experience in this field before committing. Ask to see a course prospectus before paying any deposit. Courses in this specialised field that actually take students to visit green buildings are crucial: a hands on approach to green building is needed from the start, and inspecting a so-called green building, or a building that is sustainable, is more valuable that reading about it or seeing an audio-visual presentation.
ECO FRIENDLY CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
There is an urgent need to address the great challenges of our times: climate change, resource depletion, pollution, and peak oil. These issues are all accelerating rapidly, and all have strong links with the building industry.
There is a growing consensus from scientists and the oil industry that we are going to reach peak oil in the next twenty years, and that we might have reached this point already. Global demand is soaring, whilst global production is declining, and oil is set to become increasingly expensive and scarce. The building industry is hugely dependent on cheap oil, from the manufacture and transportation of its materials, to the machinery and tools used in demolition and construction. In the UK, it uses vast quantities of fossil fuels, accounting for over half of total carbon emissions that lead to climate change. The built environment is also responsible for significant amounts of air, soil and water pollution, and millions of tonnes of landfill waste. This is a situation that clearly needs to change.
Reducing Energy Consumption
With the inevitability of declining fossil fuels, and the threat of global climate change, reducing our energy consumption is an essential survival strategy. Choosing to build green saves energy. The low embodied energy of green products ensures that very little energy went into their manufacture and production, with a direct reduction in carbon emissions. Eco friendly design methodology can further reduce energy consumption by minimising energy inputs for heating, cooling and light, and incorporating energy efficient appliances. Saving energy for the occupant also saves money - an issue that will become increasingly important as the cost of fossil fuels inevitably rises in the near future.
Building Healthier Homes
Eco-friendly construction can not only help to create a better outdoor environment, it can also help to build a healthier indoor environment. Conventional building materials and methods have been linked to a wide range of health problems. Chemical pollutants from paints, solvents, plastics and composite timbers, along with biological pollutants such as dust mites and moulds are known to cause symptoms such as asthma, headaches, depression, eczema, palpitations and chronic fatigue syndrome. Green buildings eliminate these problems through good ventilation design, breathable walls, and the use of natural, non-toxic products and materials.
There are many good reasons why we should use eco-friendly construction methods and materials. It can improve the health of our planet, and the health of our own lives. It also supports local business and helps strengthen the local economy, which in turn helps to build our communities into vibrant, prosperous and desirable places to live.
A Necessary Choice
Green building is not only a wise choice for our future; it is also a necessary choice. The construction industry must adopt eco-friendly practices and materials that reduce its impacts, before we reach a point of irreversible damage to our life supporting systems. The UK Government is beginning to recognise this urgency, and is committed to integrating green specifications into building regulations and codes, but the process of developing policy is slow. The industry needs to take its own initiative and find alternative ways to build, using green, renewable energy resources, and adopt non-polluting practises and materials that reduce, recycle and reuse, before it is too late.
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