In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is the process that consists of the building or assembling infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction takes enormous multitasking.
Normally, the job is managed by a project manager, and supervised by a construction manager, design engineer, construction engineer or project architect.
For the successful execution of a project, effective planning is essential. Those involved with the design and execution of the infrastructure in question must consider the environmental impact of the job, the successful scheduling, budgeting, construction site safety, availability of building materials, logistics, and inconvenience to the public caused by construction delays, and bidding, etc.
Design, finance, and legal aspects overlap and interrelate. The design must be not only structurally sound and appropriate for the use and location, but must also be financially possible to build, and legal to use. The financial structure must accommodate the need for building the design provided, and must pay amounts that are legally owed. The legal structure must integrate the design into the surrounding legal framework, and enforce the financial consequences of the construction process.
TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
In general, there are three types of construction:
Each type of construction project requires a unique team to plan, design, construct, and maintain the project.
The most common method of construction procurement is design, bid & build.
In this arrangement, the architect or engineer acts as the project coordinator.
His or her role is to design the works, prepare the specifications and produce construction drawings, administer the contract, tender the works, and manage the works from inception to completion.
There are direct contractual links between the architect's client and the main contractor. Any subcontractor will have a direct contractual relationship with the main contractor.
With design & build This approach has become more common in recent years and includes an entire completed package, including fixtures, fittings and equipment where necessary, to produce a completed fully functional building.
In some cases, the Design and Build (D & B) package can also include finding the site, arranging funding and applying for all necessary statutory consents.