INSTITUTO POLITCNICO NACIONALEscuela Superior de Ingeniera y ArquitecturaUnidad ZacatencoPUENTESGRUPO 8CM09

CONSTRUCTION STUDIESConstruction studies are an important part of a bridge project since we can obtain a substantial amount of information about the materials that are available in the region where the proposed bridge is going to be built, the salaries of the workers and the ancillary operations that need to be considered. We can summarize the contents that make up the construction studies in 4 main sections.

1. AVAILABILITY OF MATERIALS We must consider the quantity, quality and cost of the materials that are expected to be used during the construction of the bridge. It is of special importance to determine whether gravel, sand and rock banks can be found in the surrounding area and if we can make use of these banks.Another aspect to consider is the availability of other kind of materials that would be useful for the construction of our bridge and its ancillary operations. Nearby materials such as steel, timber and concrete can help to save great amounts of time and money.Water is another resource that cannot be overlooked since no building can be built if there isnt a reliable source of water located nearby. The details that we need to know about water are: Water sources that can be found in the area. Quality and quantity of water. If there isnt enough water in the area, how much it will cost to bring it to the construction site. We must also consider the supply of drinking water.

2. CONSTRUCTION SITE ACCESSIt is important to acknowledge the existing roads that go in and out of the construction site, especially those which give access to the material banks, water, general resources, etc.When considering existing roads, we must make sure that their width is enough to accommodate trucks, cranes and any other building vehicle that is going to be needed. If there are no existing roads or they are not suitable for our purposes we must build temporary roads.3. SALARYIn this section we need to take into consideration the human resources that take part into the development of the works. Are there enough people to work on the bridge project? Do they have the knowledge and experience to perform well in a task of this importance?When suitable workers cannot be found in the surrounding area, the next thing to do is bring people from other places. This means extra transportation costs and the need to build a base camp for the foreign workers to live. The base camp must provide all facilities and services for them to work happily. All of this impact in the final cost of the project.

4. GENERAL CONDITIONS OF THE AREAThis section is about what we can find near the construction site, this includes towns, workshops to fix the equipment, providers of tools, fuel, oil, and any other facilities or services that could come in handy.The weather conditions are also crucial for the developing of the construction, they will dictate the scheme of work and sometimes necessary measures need to be taken.Finally, one of the most important parts of the project: The construction procedure of the bridge. It will depend on the topography, the span and cross section of the bridge, the soil type on which it will stand and the selected foundation type.