Technical Report Writing and Research Methodology Course: Construction Site Visit Training Report

1. Debre Tabor University
Faculty of Technology
Civil Engineering Department
Technical Report Writing and Research Methodology
Construction Site Visit Training Report
Section-3
Group-3
Group Members
Name ____________________________ Id. No.
1.Eden Mesfin_____________________0653/06
2.EleniKiros______________________
3.Kidist Gossaye___________________1140/06
4.Mogess Bayih____________________1438/06
5.Nahom Balcha___________________1499/06
6.Samuel Berhanu__________________1622/06
Submitted to: - Mr. Zeleke W.
Submission Date: - 25/05/2009 E.C.
Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.

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Acknowledgement
First and above all, we praise God, the almighty for providing us this opportunity, and granting
us the capability to proceed successfully.
We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all those who provided us the possibility to
complete this report. A special gratitude we give to our Technical Report Writing and Research
Methodology Course Instructor, Mr. Zeleke W, whose contribution in stimulating suggestions
and encouragement, helped us to coordinate our project especially in writing this report.
Furthermore, we would also like to acknowledge with much appreciation the crucial role of the
staff of Amhara Water Works Construction Enterprise, who gave the permission to use all
required equipment and the necessary materials to complete the task Construction Site Visit
Training Report. Many thanks goes to the head of the project, Mr. Tsegaye, who have invested
his full effort in guiding our team in achieving the goal. We have to appreciate the guidance
given by other labor supervisors, Mr. AdugnaWassie, that has improved our information, thanks
to their comment and advices.
Last but not least, many thanks goes to Abubeker, who is a fourth year civil engineering student,
helped us providing crucial materials and mitigating ideas.
Thank you, all.

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Abstract
The Construction Site Visit Training Report in broad spectrum contains four chapters in which
we try to explain our visit. The contents of all chapters is broadly explained and it is constructed
from the practical basis of the site work two days’ site visit.
In the opening section, which is of course the introduction section we have discussed the overall
inspection of the building.
In theory and analysis section, we have broadly discussed major elements and components of the
building.
In result and discussion section, we have summarized points like important findings with
supporting figures in our report.
In limitation part of this report, we have listed out the back warding conditions that should be
ratified out.
Last but not least, we have summarized conclusions that are supported by brief reference to data
or results.

4. Table of Contents
Title Pages
Introduction______________________________________________________________1
Objectives________________________________________________________________2
Theory and Analysis________________________________________________________3
Results and Discussions_____________________________________________________6
Limitations_______________________________________________________________7
Conclusions and Recommendations____________________________________________8
References________________________________________________________________9

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Introduction
Construction site visit is a process of job training for students in order to grasp major skills &
knowledge for future professional careers. Generally, it consists of an exchange of services for
experience between the student and an organization.
The purpose of site visit program is to increase the student’s practical experience and to enhance
their career abilities. This program complements class room learning by real word construction
industry work experience.
Program in this different skills are described one by one. The last and the fourth section of the report
content contain recommendation and conclusion. We would like to describe the project as follows:
Project: - G+3 with basementSouth Gondar Zone Higher Court building. The project has divided by two
blocks. These are, main building consisting session hall and office; and ward tower. The site covers the
area of 2700m2
.
Location: Debre Tabor Town
Client: South Gondar Zone Administration Judicial Office
Designer and consultant: Amhara Water Works Construction Enterprise
Contractor: Amhara Water Works Construction Enterprise
For the project the contractor furnishes:
 All the materials (C25 grade concrete and S400 steel grade)
 All the labor
 All equipment and machinery for the work

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Objectives
An assignment was given to us to visit a construction site and write a report. The followings are
its objectives.
 To get an understanding how the theoretical knowledge is fitted in practice.
 To gain experience in building material science.
 To develop our report writing skills.

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Theory and Analysis
Building construction is an ancient human activity. It began with the purely functional need for a
controlled environment to moderate the effects of climate. Constructed shelters were one means
by which human beings were able to adapt themselves to a wide variety of climates and become
a global species.
Human shelters were at first very simple and perhaps lasted only a few days or months. Over
time, however, even temporary structures evolved into such highly refined forms as the igloo.
Gradually more durable structures began to appear, particularly after the advent of agriculture,
when people began to stay in one place for long periods. The first shelters were dwellings, but
later other functions, such as food storage and ceremony, were housed in separate buildings.
Some structures began to have symbolic as well as functional value, marking the beginning of
the distinction between architecture and building.
The history of building is marked by a number of trends. One is the increasing durability of the
materials used. Early building materials were perishable, such as leaves, branches, and animal
hides. Later, more durable natural materials—such as clay, stone, and timber—and, finally,
synthetic materials—such as brick, concrete, metals, and plastics—were used. Another is a quest
for buildings of ever greater height and span; this was made possible by the development of
stronger materials and by knowledge of how materials behave and how to exploit them to greater
advantage. A third major trend involves the degree of control exercised over the interior
environment of buildings: increasingly precise regulation of air temperature, light and sound
levels, humidity, odors, air speed, and other factors that affect human comfort has been possible.
Yet another trend is the change in energy available to the construction process, starting with
human muscle power and developing toward the powerful machinery used today.
The basic requirements, a building should satisfy in design and performance are:

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1. It must be strong enough to withstand the loads coming on it including the self-weight,
live load, wind load and earthquake load.
2. It must not deflect under the loads.
3. It must give comfort and convenience to the inhabitants.
Building Components and their Basic Requirements
A building has three basic parts:
i. Substructure or foundations
ii. Superstructure, and
iii. Finishing works.
Sub-structure or Foundation
It is the lower portion of the building, usually located below the ground level, which transmits
the loads of the super-structure to the supporting soil. A foundation is therefore that part of the
structure which is in direct contact with the ground to which the loads are transmitted. Both
combined and isolated footing is being used here, which are a typical shallow foundation.
Superstructure Parts
These are parts of the structure which are above ground level, and which serve the purpose
of its intended use. A part of the super-structure, located between the ground level and the
floor level is known as plinth. Major components of superstructure are columns, wall, beam,
slab, stair, and roof.
A column can be defined as a vertical structural member designed to transmit a compressive
load. It transmits the load from ceiling/roof slab and beam, including its own weight to the
foundation. Hence, it should be realized that the failure of a column results in the collapse of
the entire structure.The column of the building that we have visited had been made of concrete.
Different types of cross-section like circular, rectangular and square has been used here for the
column in these building.
A wall is a structure that defines an area, carries a load, or provides shelter or security. It is
non load bearing structure of a building. Building walls purposes are to
support roofs, floors and ceilings, enclose a space as part of the building envelope, along with
a roof to give buildings form, and to provide shelter and security. Here in our case, the wall
has a thickness of 25cm.

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Beam: - is a horizontally statically determinate structural member that exhibits bending
(sagging) under a uniformly distributed load. Likewise, Different types of cross-section like
circular, rectangular and square has been used here for the column in these building.
Slab: - is a very common and important structural element, are constructed to provide flat,
useful surfaces. It is a horizontal structural component, with top and bottom surfaces parallel
or near so. The depth of a concrete slab floor is very small compared to its span. Here in our
case, the thickness has been taken as 25cm.
A stair: - is a series of steps arranged in such a manner as to connect different floors of a
building. Stairs are designed to provide as easy and quick access to different floors. A
staircase is an enclosure which contains the complete stairway.Open newel, and dog legged of
a half turn stair and a straight stair has been built here.
Roof: - is the upper most portion of the building which protects the building from rain, wind
and sun. It is supported by trusses made of steel built over grade beam. The roofing is built of
galvanized EGA sheet. Hollow Structural Sections, especially RHS (Rectangular Hollow Steel)
steel is commonly used in welded steel framesof trusses.
Finishing Works
A group of construction operations relating to the exterior and interior finishing of buildings a
nd structures toenhance their service and aesthetic qualities. Finishing work is the concluding s
tage of construction; in many cases, theoverall quality of a building or structure being put into
service depends on the quality of its execution. The main types offinishing work include facin
g, plastering, flooring (and parquetry), painting, wallpapering, and glazing. The building we
have visited has been 62 percent completed. The finishing works has been
begun
Figure 1 Elevation View of a Building

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Results and Discussions
In this report, so many activities have been discussed so far. Such that we have explained what
have been done, and will be done in the future.
Building components that have been built were the followings: excavation of the soil, footing
and foundation works, beams, columns, walls, stair cases, slabs, and roofing.
The remaining building construction activities are all included under 30 percentage of the
whole work, which is finishing works. This consists of painting,facing, fittings of plumbing
and installations, plastering, flooring (and parquetry), wallpapering, screening, and glazing.
The remaining building construction works would have been the finishing works which is
indeed ongoing.
The building had been laid on suitable and comfortable clay soil, which makes it not to
undergo differential settlement, and swelling movement.

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Limitations
 First thing is first, there was no safety clothing.
 There is no natural ventilation system that is provided to the building. And this makes
the building uncomfortable to the users. This is because the designer did not consider it
well.
 The screening thickness that is recommended by Ethiopian Buildings Code of
Standards(EBCS) is 1.5cm, but this building is being screened by a thickness of 1.7cm.
This makes the building economically extravagant.
 The building is being constructed near to the main road which makes the building
exposed to a vibration, and sound pollution that is uncomfortable for office working
condition.
 The construction of the building would not be finished in its scheduled time. It had
been briefed to us that the construction period would have been three years; though the
involvement in the site is only working days. The construction must have been ended
and availed to the users by February, 2009 E.C, but it seemed to us it would not be
finished by the scheduled time.

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Conclusions and Recommendations
Conclusions
Generally, the building has been worked by overview of Building Authority of the South Gondar
Zone Administration.
Although there are some modifications to the design, the site is built based on the design, based
on project manager and supervisors provision, and specifications of Ethiopian Building Code of
Standards.
Recommendations
We suggest the contractor to provide safety clothing to its labors.
It is better if there would be modifications to the building to provide ventilation.
There should be a consideration of budget.

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References
Zeleke W. et al. 2007. Technical Report Writing and Research Methodology Course
Module. Debre Tabor. Debre Tabor University.
Yitayal T. 2008 E.C. Building Construction Course Module. Debre Tabor. Debre Tabor
University.
M. K. Chandrasekar. 2008. Structural Engineering III. Debre Tabor. Debre Tabor
University.