This document provides a report on a technical site visit to an Andes Construction site. The following key points are made: - The site visit allowed students to understand construction processes in practice compared to theory, and exposed them to the working environment and safety practices. - The site was separated into three zones, with the foundation completed in Zone A and in progress in Zone B. Pile cap foundation was used due to unstable soil conditions. - Advantages of pile cap foundations include increased bearing capacity and ability to use in areas with underground water pressure. Disadvantages include higher costs and need for heavy equipment. - Concrete grade 25 was used for casting beams, columns, slabs and foundations. Light

1. 1
SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN
Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia
Bachelorof Quantity Surveyor[QSB 60104]
ConstructionTechnologyI [BLD 60104]
Building Materials [BLD 62003]
Title: Technical Site Visit to Andes Construction Site
AssignmentDate: 26 June 2015
Submission Date: 3 July 2015
Name: Ng Wai Khong
StudentID: 0317980

2. 2
Contents
.....................................................................................................................................................................................1
Introduction........................................................................................................................................................3
Objective ...............................................................................................................................................................4
Construction Technology (Types of Foundation) .......................................................................5
Building Materials...........................................................................................................................................7
Appendix...............................................................................................................................................................7
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................................................13

3. 3
Introduction
As a quantity surveyor, we are required to not only estimate the pricing and
quantity of the building materials needed for a construction, but also get to
discover the attempts of changes of the sites in daily routine. Hence, for this
assignment, which is a mixture of 3 main subjects, Measurement, Construction
Technology and Building Materials which are compactible to each other, the
lecturers had planned to bring us to a site visit to obtained the knowledge itself
practically rather than just on papers and books.
As a report introduction, the site is around 15km far from our departure
destinations. It takes us around 15minutes to reach that site. We are required to
wear a safety helmet in case that accidents happened can help to reduce the
injuries to as low as possible. The weather of that day is very humid and yet we
need to adapt to this kind of often-changed weather on site. Instantly, a brief talk
is given to all of us regarding the current progress of the site and the safety
measures that should be taken.
Based on the Project Manager of the site, the site is separate to 3 zones, which is
A, B and C. Furthermore, the foundation of Zone A is done and the foundation of
Zone B is progressing. The whole project estimated pricing is around MYR
12.5M, and the starting date of the construction is on July/2014. In addition, we
are separated to 3 groups each guided by one of the supervisor of the site.
Basically, without any rest, we approached quickly to the site which is full of
sand and mud.
We went up and down the construction site to experience how the workers work
to build and construct a building itself from the ground. From Zone A to Zone B,
it takes us around 45 minutes to explore the hidden knowledge in the site. For
Zone A, the foundation is completely constructed and we get to discover how
does a Mesh Fabric Reinforcement looks like and the details steel rods placement
inside a column before applying the concrete in it.
For Zone B, we get to discover in details of the work below ground floor level. We
are lucky enough to get a view of the work underground like piling and how they
drained out the water from the site. Although the journey is short, we get to rest
after an adventure throughout the site. We have our small meal there and visits
the working place of the supervisor which is a small cabin where they located
their drawings and stuffs.

4. 4
Objective
 To understand the basics of the construction process.
 To understand the pratical aspect of construction techniques in
comparison to the theory aspect in books and its application on site.
 Exposure to actual working environment on site including uncertainty
circumstances.
 Ability to communicate with the construction team members on site and
to see the importance of teamwork in the building team.
 Witness the usage of construction equipment on site including mechanical
plants.
 Explore and identify various types of building materials and technology
on site.
 Awareness of the importance of safety on site and understanding of safety
problems and site conditions.
 Recognize the items measurable for sub-structure and reinforced
concrete frame works.

5. 5
Construction Technology (Types of Foundation)
The types of foundation involve majorly in the construction site is Pile cap. Pile
cap foundation is basically more suitable to our site because for our building is
supposed to be a 25 level apartment. Yet, this is the only foundation which is
suitable for this type of high rise building compare to strip foundation and pad
footing foundation. While, the foundation for Zone A is finish constructed, but for
Zone B, they just started their piling work.
The image shown above is one the pile that is completely piled to the
underground and this is the biggest pilecap on-site. Due to the condition of the
soil which is unstable, this is quite a difficult task for them to figure how the size
of the pile cap should be. Hence, this is the largest volume of pile cap they done in
their recent project.
Furthermore, there will be a table showing the advantages and disadvantages of
pilecap foundation.

6. 6
Advantages of Pile Cap
Foundation
Disadvantages of Pile Cap
Foundation
Piles can precast to the required
specifications.
Precast or pre-stressed concrete piles
must be properly reinforced to
withstand handling stresses during the
transportation and driving.
Piles of any soil, length and shape
can be made in advance and used at
the site. The progress of the work
will be rapid.
Advance planning is required for
handling and driving.
A pile driven into granular soil
compacts the adjacent soil mass and
as a result the bearing capacity of
the pile is increased.
Requires heavy equipment for handling
and driving.
The work is neat and clean. The
supervision of work at the site can
be reduced to a minimum. The
storage space required is very much
less.
Since the exact lengths required at the
site cannot be determined in advance,
the method involves cutting off extra
lengths or adding more lengths.
Increases the cost of the project.
Driven piles may conveniently be
used in places where it is advisable
not to drill holes for fear of meeting
ground water under pressure.
Driven piles are not suitable in soils of
poor drainage qualities. If the driving of
piles is not properly phased and
arranged, there is every possibility of
heaving of the soil or the lifting of the
driven piles during the driving of the
new pile.

7. 7
Building Materials
Most of the beam, column, slab and even foundation is cast with concrete and in
the market there is lot of types of concrete grades where each different grade of
concrete bring different effects which is either good or bad and the suitability of
the grade of concrete to the beam, column, slab and foundation itself.
The grade of concrete identifies the content of the concrete and there are mainly
two types of grade of concrete which is light weight grade concrete and heavy
weight grade concrete. The concrete grade which is used in the site is Grade 25
which is the usual grade used in concrete casting for buildings. Grade 25 is
considered as light moderate grade of concrete.
The advantage and disadvantages of light weight concrete is shown in the table:
Advantages Disadvantages
It helps to reduce the dead load,
increase the progress of building and
lowers the hauling and handling cost.
Very sensitive with water content in
the mixtures.
The weight of building on foundation
is an important factor in the design,
particularly in case of weak soil and
tall structures, In framed structured,
the beam and column have to carry
load of wall and floor, If these wall
and floor made of light weight
concrete it will result in considerable
economy.
Mixing time is longer than
conventional concrete to assure
proper mixing.
Low Thermal Conductivity.
Structural lightweight aggregate’s
cellular structure provides internal
curing through water entrainment
which is especially beneficial for high-
performance concrete.
Difficult to place and finish because
the porosity and angularity of the
aggregate. In some mixes the cement
mortar may separate the aggregate
and float towards the surface.
Appendix

8. 8
Pilecap Plan from our site
visit.
Site office where all the files
and plans are located at.

9. 9
Zone B, where they are
starting to cast the concrete
on the foundation.
The Project Manager Office.

10. 10
The project manager itself
showing the stirrups that
will be used in the site.
More Steel rods that will be
used for the site.

11. 11
Labeling for the steel rod.
Excavator

12. 12
Mesh Fabric Reinforcement
Crane.

13. 13
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the whole site visit is a valuable experience for me because I get to
learn all of these in practical than studying. I get to discover the plants and
different building materials obtained on site. Yet, this is crucial part for my life by
gaining experience of how a building is constructed from a drawing to a real
construction experience.
Instantly, this site visit tells me that how important it is for the mixture of the
main 3 core subject we learn in our first semester and this report brings to the
end of the overall modules that we learnt in classes. Of course, when we went to
the site, we get to be able to easily analyze all the types of materials and
construction technology involve in the site.
Thank You.