FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING THE APPROPRIATE CONSTRUCTION METHOD

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING THE APPROPRIATE CONSTRUCTION METHOD

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The Construction Industry is considered as one of the most conservative industries in the world.

BELOW are some of the factors to consider when selecting the appropriate Construction Method include;

1. Project Design;
specific designs may be inclined towards a particular construction methods; for example high-rise building may favor the use of heavy equipment while alternative labor-based methods can be adopted for the low-rise buildings.

2. Technical Feasibility and Quality;
Specific project technical requirements may be evaluated such that the proposed construction methods utilizes available resources; for example deep pile driving is highly capital intensive while masonry walling is highly labor intensive.

3. Project Costs;
Specific costs associated with material, labor, equipment etc. may influence the choice of alternative construction method depending on cost analysis and the available resources; selection is often inclined towards the most cost-effective construction method.

4. Project Timelines;
Project timelines with tight schedules minimize opportunities for assessment and comparison for merits of alternative construction methods; selection is often skewed towards known and tested construction method.

5. Project Size;
Project size may dictate the choice of alternative construction methods; selection of the appropriate construction methods are often strategic and tactical for the best sequencing of operations.

6. Project Location;
Project location may influence the choice of the alternative construction methods since it directly affects availability of labor and serviceability equipment etc.

7. Industry Traditional Tendencies;
Conventional and proven construction methods may create extreme reluctance to trying new alternative methods.

8. Available Resources;
availability of resources in terms of labor, material, equipment, management and supervisory skills significantly affects the choice of construction methods.

9. Lack of Information;
Inadequate information to make a cost and time comparison may influence the choice of the alternative construction methods; such information are not always readily available.

10. Bidding Methods;
Bidding that allows foreign contractors who may submit lower bids that appear more attractive; leading to opting for their particular construction methods.

11. Government Policies;
Policy decisions and regulations that may influence the qualifications of the project contractors and define the required construction methods.

12. Foreign Aid;
Foreign funded projects may come with rigid conditions; may outline requirements for particular construction methods.

Considering these factors will allow for quick assessment of the merits of the available alternative construction methods based on cost analysis and the construction timelines thus creating an opportunity for the Engineers and other professionals to select the appropriate construction method.

Published by Geostruct (January 28, 2024)