Construction and Infrastructure Management.

ASSIGNMENT 1

Question 1
a) From the references below, outline your understanding of the following terms:

• Project Governance
• Gate keeping
• Stage Gate Approval
• Front End Loading.

b) Design-Build (Design and Construct), Design-Bid-Build (Design - Tender - Bid), EPCM are engineering project delivery methods (or contracting approaches).

By defining each of these ‘project delivery' methods, and by examination of the Table in the reference by Aschman below, at what stage in the project would construction contractors become involved in the project process?

c) Merrow EW on page 253 of his book (refer below) states that:

‘We tend to exaggerate the importance of the contracting approach to project success or failure. No contracting approach guarantees success, most contracting approaches can succeed. Contracting is a second-order concern'.

Discuss the meaning of this statement. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

ASSIGNMENT 2

Question 1

a) What is a ‘Linear Project'? Outline examples of the various types of Linear Projects.

b) A section of a new High Speed Railway (HSR) route will cross a large estuary on a twin track viaduct. The total length of the viaducts required to achieve this together with the approach sections on land are as follows:

Chainage (km):

0-4: Tracks on grade with access roads available beside tracks
4-7: Tracks on viaduct over land (access roads at ground level)
7-10: Tracks built on viaduct over the estuary
10-14: As for the 4-7km section above
14-20: As for the 0-4km section above

An example of a recently completed similar project on a new high-speed railway from Erfurt to Leipzig/Halle in Germany is the ‘Saale-Elster Viaduct which is 6.5km in length (see article under ‘Assessment' on BB.

Following the completion of the viaduct section under a separate construction contract, a contract will be let for the installation of the actual twin track rail components.

It is proposed to use prefabricated/precast concrete slab track sections (PCSTS) that need to be erected in sections for each of the twin tracks. For the purpose of analysis, the FFB Slab Track ‘Bogl' system that has been used successfully in Germany and China will be utilised.

It will be necessary to construct one (or more) PCSTS fabrication plant/s that are located at strategic point/s along the length of the viaduct section of the route. Fabrication plant/s of modular construction will take an estimated 3-4 months to construct and commission and be ready to produce the PCSTS sections.

Each modular plant should be capable of producing an estimated 75 off, PCSTS sections per day of operation. The PCSTS sections should be stockpiled at the fabrication plant after manufacture for 2 months prior to the track laying operation on the viaduct commencing.

Work on the above activity will need to start at contract commencement following a 1-month period of mobilization by the contractor.

Sections of 60kg/m rail will arrive at the start of the viaduct section (3km point) on special flat wagon trains, to complete the track laying operation, and once installed will need to be site welded to ensure that there is continuous welded rail installed over the whole length of the route.

On each side of the proposed viaduct it will be possible to construct vehicular access tracks except for the estuary section that will be over water i.e. no roads can be built.

b1. Prepare a step-by-step, detailed methodology for how you would propose to install the twin track work for the length of the viaduct. Include a list of construction plant and equipment that will be needed for the operation. (6 marks)

b2. Prepare a construction schedule for the track installation contract on the viaduct using Time-Chainage Diagram (TCD) format in XL or AutoCAD showing all activities that need to undertaken for the construction of the twin railway track including site establishment, and equipment set up. Include all assumptions and calculations for estimating construction duration.

b3. Prepare a second TCD, assuming that installation work will start at the 0km and the 20km chainages at the same time. Include all assumptions and calculations for estimating construction durations. What is the difference in total construction time between b2 above and b3?

b4. Prepare a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) or JSA for the track installation work on the viaduct.

Question 2

Schedule driven projects have not been regarded highly by some project performance analysts (see references below). However, a large Design and Construct contractor in Australia recently expressed the view that the key ‘driver' for successful projects is that they be schedule driven and appropriately coordinated rather than be cost-driven. However, the references below infer that schedule driven projects may not be the way to go. Do you agree or disagree?

ASSIGNMENT 3

Question 1

Part of the electrical power requirements for the HSR will be met from ‘renewable energy' sources. It is proposed to design and install a solar electric generating system (SEGS) - similar to what has recently being proposed for installation at Port Augusta in South Australia.

Solar Electric Generating System - ‘Power Tower'

A key component of a SEGS is the ‘Power Tower' (as shown above), usually constructed in reinforced concrete that will incorporate a solar receiver system (SRS) that will be installed at the top of the reinforced concrete power tower.

A typical SRS can be seen in the papers referenced below. The reinforced concrete power tower and the SRS are likely to be on the critical path for the project

(a) Considerable research has been undertaken on the influence of ‘learning curves' on multi-storey building construction and their impact on floor cycle times. Outline your understanding of what is meant by ‘floor cycle times' as related to the construction of the ‘power tower'. Study the section on ‘Learning Curves' in Module 8, read the references (note there are also other references on the subject) and understand the Assumptions in Appendix 2 below.

From your reading and subsequent understanding, do you consider that there would be opportunities for saving construction time as construction of the power tower proceeds upwards?

(b) Craneage will play an important part in the construction of the power tower and SRS. Outline the type and capacity of the crane/s that would be required for construction of the tower and lifting the SRS into position on top of the tower (Refer Appendix below for details). Prepare a site analysis showing crane positions in plan and elevation for the construction of the power tower and for lifting the SRS into position.

c) Define what is meant by the phrase ‘long lead items'? How can a delay in delivery of ‘long lead items' to the site impact construction schedule and what steps can be taken to try and ensure on program delivery of ‘long lead items'.

(d) Estimate the construction time duration to build the reinforced concrete ‘power tower' assuming that the structural foundations for the tower have already been completed (i.e. the area below ground level).

(e) What do you perceive as the key risks and hazards involved in the construction of the power tower (from the ground upwards)?

Question 2

As part of the development of a regional city, a developer will be appointed to undertake the building of key civic infrastructure as follows:

Stage 1- Retail shopping/Office complex/Hotel with an estimated construction cost of $115 million.

Stage 2 - A regional hospital with an estimated construction costs of $100 million.

Stage 3 -A Leisure centre consisting of two 18-hole golf courses, swimming pools, gymnasiums and squash courts with an estimated construction cost of $30 million.

The development time frame for design and construction is:

• Stage 1: 0-18 months
• Stage 2: 6-24 months
• Stage 3: 0-14 months.

a) Estimate the Client's monthly payments to Contractors' from the start to finish of the contract period (i.e. end of Stage 3) noting that intending contracting companies will require a 20% advanced payment on Stage 1 and 2 works and a 10% advanced payment on Stage 3. (HINT: READ THE MODULE ON ADVANCED PAYMENTS).

Contractors' will accept a 10% Retention on progress payments up to 5% maximum on all three stages.

An S-curve for progress payments for projects with an 18-month and 14 month construction period can be used as a basis for payments in this exercise, the actual figures from this S-curve are reproduced below in Figure 1

b) Plot a graph of total monthly payments ($) vs. time.

Note: For part a) of the question your spreadsheet answer should have the following format: