Civil construction is a sector of the industry that encompasses all activities related to the construction, renovation, maintenance, and demolition of buildings and infrastructure. This includes the construction of houses, residential and commercial buildings, bridges, roads, dams, water supply and sanitation systems, among other civil engineering projects.
Construction management, in turn, refers to the planning, coordination and control of all activities involved in a civil construction project, which includes everything from the preparation of the architectural and structural design to the hiring of labor, acquisition of materials, management of deadlines and costs, monitoring of the execution of the work, quality control and ensuring safety on the construction site.
As you can see, there's a lot to consider and understand when it comes to construction and project management. That's why we've prepared this post to clarify the main questions on the subject. Keep reading!
It is the industry sector responsible for designing, constructing, renovating, and maintaining physical structures such as buildings, bridges, roads, and other infrastructure. This field of work involves the application of technical and practical knowledge in engineering, architecture, and project management.
In construction, you work as a professional who transforms ideas and designs into reality. Whether you're a civil engineer, architect, bricklayer, or construction foreman, you work as a team to create functional and safe buildings.
The process begins with the design, which is the construction's conception. Here, architects develop drawings and specifications, defining the final result of the project. At this stage, it's important to consider the client's needs, aesthetic aspects, functionality, and technical and economic feasibility.
Construction management is the set of activities that involves planning, coordinating, and controlling all processes related to a civil construction project. It's like being the conductor of an orchestra, ensuring that all elements are harmoniously aligned to achieve project success.
Imagine you're a construction manager. Your job is to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently, from start to finish. First, you need to plan the project—which involves analyzing the project, setting goals, defining deadlines, identifying necessary resources, and creating a schedule of activities. It's like creating a detailed roadmap to follow during construction.
With the planning With the plan in hand, it's time to put it into practice. You need to coordinate all the teams involved in the project, from bricklayers and painters to electricians and plumbers. As the conductor of this orchestra, you need to ensure that each instrument is playing at the right time and in the right rhythm.
Planning the stages of construction is crucial for several important reasons. Check it out!
Planning allows all activities to be organized in a logical and structured manner. This means that each step has its own time to occur, avoiding delays, rework, and wasted resources.
When planning the stages of the work, it is possible to optimize the use of available resources, such as labor, materials and equipment. Planning helps avoid downtime and ensures that all resources are utilized efficiently, which will reduce costs and maximize productivity.
Planning allows you to set realistic deadlines for each stage of the project. This makes it easier to monitor progress and control the schedule. With well-established deadlines, you can anticipate potential delays, take corrective measures, and ensure the project is completed on time.
Planning is also directly related to cost control. By defining all construction activities in advance, it's possible to estimate the resources needed and establish an appropriate budget. This avoids unnecessary expenses, allows you to identify potential savings, and helps prevent financial overruns during project execution.
It is also associated with ensuring the quality of the work, since by defining all stages of the project, it is possible to establish quality standards, technical specifications and requirements to be met.
A project of civil construction, generally goes through several stages, which can vary depending on the complexity and type of work. Below, learn about some of the most common ones!
The ART is a document issued by a qualified professional, such as an engineer or architect, who assumes technical responsibility for the execution of a specific service or stage of the project. The ART is required to ensure the safety and legality of the activities performed.
Logistics in construction refers to the organization and management of materials, equipment, and resources required for the project. It involves planning the transportation, storage, distribution, and movement of materials on the construction site, aiming for efficiency and cost reduction.
Safety is a primary concern on any construction site. This stage involves implementing measures to prevent accidents and ensure the physical safety of workers. This includes the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), marking hazardous areas, training, inspections, and the adoption of good workplace safety practices.
Inventory management refers to the control and monitoring of materials and supplies used on a project. It involves determining required quantities, scheduling deliveries, assessing inventory levels, and ensuring that materials are available at the right time.
Supplier management is important to ensure an adequate supply of materials and services required for construction. This includes selecting reliable suppliers, negotiating contracts, monitoring the quality of delivered products, and managing delivery times.
Civil construction encompasses a wide range of services and activities related to the construction, maintenance, and renovation of buildings and infrastructure. The main activities are:
Waste management and sustainability are increasingly relevant topics in the sector, after all, the construction industry is responsible for a significant amount of waste and environmental impacts.
Learn more about initiatives that can benefit your work and the environment!
One of the main objectives of construction waste management is to reduce the amount of material generated. This can be achieved through practices such as efficient material planning, adopting construction techniques that minimize waste, and selecting materials with a lower environmental impact.
Instead of discarding what can be reused, it's important to seek out opportunities for reuse. This involves recovering and reusing demolition materials (such as bricks, wood, and metal) and implementing waste management systems that allow for the separation and proper disposal of this material.
Recycling is a key element of construction waste management. Materials such as concrete, metal, glass, and plastic can be recycled and reintegrated into new construction processes. It's important to promote proper waste separation on the construction site and establish partnerships with recycling companies to ensure materials are recycled appropriately.
The construction industry also handles hazardous waste, such as solvents, paints, chemicals, and materials containing asbestos. These materials must be handled and disposed of in accordance with environmental, occupational health, and safety regulations. It is essential to ensure proper storage, safe transportation, and proper disposal of this waste.
Sustainability in construction also encompasses reducing energy consumption. This can be achieved through the adoption of energy-efficient practices such as thermal insulation, the use of LED lighting, efficient heating and cooling systems, and the incorporation of renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind power systems.
There are several sustainable certifications and standards available for the construction industry, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and High Environmental Quality (AQUA). These certifications establish criteria and guidelines for sustainable projects, encouraging more responsible and efficient construction practices.
Gross Sales Value (GSV) is a term used in the construction industry to refer to the total sales value of a real estate project. It is a financial metric that represents the project's potential revenue.
The PSV is calculated by multiplying the total number of units in the development by the average selling price per unit. For example, if a development has 100 units and each unit sells for, on average, R$ 200,000, the PSV would be R$ 20 million (100 units x R$ 200,000).
This metric is used to assess the profit potential of a real estate project and also for financial analysis and planning purposes. PSV is an important indicator for investors, construction companies, and developers, as it helps estimate the economic viability of a project, determine the resources required for its execution, and evaluate the return on investment.
It's important to emphasize that PSV represents the gross sales value and does not consider other expenses associated with the project, such as construction, marketing, administration, taxes, and other costs. Therefore, it should not be interpreted as the actual profit generated by the project, but rather as an initial metric to assess its sales potential.
There are many examples of civil construction projects. Here are some of the most common:
Have you seen the importance of efficient project management in civil construction, as well as its components? As you can see, it plays a fundamental role in the success and profitability of a project, for example, helping to ensure that the project is completed on time and with the best cost-benefit ratio.
It's important to always stay up-to-date on the market's possibilities and materials. Therefore, access our catalog and check out Aço Cearense's products that can contribute to your construction projects!
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