E4014 Construction Surveying

Job Organisation and Control

Construction Authorities

• Major differences between construction and other types of production are:– all construction jobs are unique– length of the job is limited– generally more labour intensive– locations vary

Construction Authorities

• Head Office– investigation and design functions– specialised technical support for construction– overall control of plant purchase– financial control– administrative and clerical services– particular services

• computer software expertise• photography• publicity• forward planning

Construction Authorities

• District Office– manage construction in the district– employ technical staff

• engineers• draughtspersons• surveyors• laboratory technicians• construction technicians

– small clerical staff– costing section

Job Supervision

• The transformation of the designer’s plans and specification into the reality of a completed construction project requires some degree of supervision of the work as it progresses

Supervision v Inspection

• SUPERVISION– implies direct control of the execution

of work– consequent responsibility for it

• INSPECTION– checking on completed sections of work– implies a lesser level of responsibility

Supervision v Inspection

• A supervisor can direct the workers to perform work in a certain way

• an inspector can merely say whether, in his/her opinion the work has been done satisfactorily– a foreman in charge of day-labour

forces carries out supervision– an engineer or inspector may inspect

the work done on behalf of the client

Supervision v Inspection

• A site engineer employed by the contractor carries out supervision

• a resident engineer acting on the client’s behalf carries out inspection

Supervisor

• A person who directs the conduct of work– site manager– site engineer– general foreman– sub-foreman– leading hands

• the term ‘supervisor’ is normally reserved for the level of sub-foreman or above but not as senior as the site engineer

Supervisor’s Role

• To direct and control the operations for which he/she is responible

• to ensure the standard of workmanship is sufficiently high

• achieve the required rate of progress and facilitate progress wherever possible

• maintain harmonious relationships between the workers and the workers and their unions

Supervisor’s Role

• Keep an accurate record of progress and report on this to his/her superiors

• to solve any construction problems within his/her capacity and refer others to others for prompt attention

• carry out the orders of his/her supervisors

Supervisor’s Authority

• Supervisor’s authority may be greater than that of the general foreman but less that that of the Site Engineer

• supervisor should always be careful not to undermine in any way the authority of the foreman, sub-foreman and leading hands over their workers and the respect they command

Engineer’s Role

• Depends on:– who they are employed by and what

function they perform in that organisation

– whether they visit the site or is engaged full-time on site

Engineer’s Role

• employed by constructing authority or a firm of consulting engineers engaged by the client – role is to design and/or inspect the works

• employed by the contractor – role is to plan construction and solve

technical problems associated with the work– may even directly supervise some

operations