Toward Infrastructure Improvement An Agenda for Research (1994) / Chapter Skim
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Construction Equipment and Procedures
Construction Equipment and Procedures
Pages 81-94
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From page 81... ...
Off-site fabrication, "just-in-time" delivery of materials and labor to the site, reusable formwork, and climbing cranes are examples of performance-enhancing construction techniques introduced in recent years. While many construction innovations are project-specific, research on the broader issues of enhancing construction productivity, for example with computer-aided tools and equipment or new construction materials, could yield substantial returns to the industry and to infrastructure performance.
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From page 82... ...
Research could yield improved methods for characterization of project constraints, optimization algorithms, and costeffective systems for making advanced management methods accessible to project personnel.
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From page 83... ...
Dredge Spoil Past studies, sponsored primarily by the Corps of Engineers, have sought to improve methods for disposal of dredge spoil, and a number of full-scale disposal sites have been established. Containment islands, such as Hart-Miller in Baltimore Harbor, and salt-marsh construction in Chesapeake Bay could point toward more environmentally sensitive means to deal with recurring dredge-spoil problems.
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From page 84... ...
· Can remote data-acquisition systems be utilized to monitor longterm performance of treatment and remediation? Dry Construction Waste Even when sites are not thought to be particularly contaminated, the management of urban soils excavated during infrastructure construction and improvement often requires comprehensive chemical assessment to satisfy stringent governmental solid- and hazardous-waste laws and regulations.
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From page 85... ...
Soil sampling and testing programs must balance the needs for environmental protection with the realities of demanding construction schedules. Research is needed to facilitate rapid screening for hazard and reduce laboratory costs and response times.
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From page 86... ...
The benefits of this technology in urban applications include reduced disruption of street traffic and adjacent businesses, longer service life of street pavement, improved safety for construction personnel, and ground movement and vibration hazards to nearby structures. In wetlands and ecological reserve areas, trenchless construction can avoid disrupting natural systems.
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From page 87... ...
What are the most appropriate site-exploration methods and analytical models for characterizing soft soil sites, particularly those in highly deformable clays and silts, with emphasis on predicting permanent ground movements in response to deep excavation and construction activities?
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From page 88... ...
What kind of automatic sensing and control systems can be adapted for heavy construction equipment to reduce the risk of exposing and penetrating hazardous structures, such as high-pressure gas and liquidfuel pipelines, and contaminated soils? · Can cost-effective robotic systems be developed for inspection and construction at sites having potentially toxic chemicals, flammable or toxic gases, and high risk settings, such as elevated structures and underwater environments?
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From page 89... ...
Several of the previously mentioned research niche areas obviously apply to rehabilitation and retrofit, particularly life-cycle management, condition assessment and monitoring, and new materials. However, certain other research areas are specifically connected to infrastructure in situ repair, and these can offer significant cost savings in both immediate application as well as through their long-term impact on the planning and practice of rehabilitation and retrofit.
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From page 90... ...
When deciding which segments would be rebuilt with scarce state and federal funds, government agencies decided that the overpass should be completely demolished and not replaced. Other similar choices have been made for the decommissioning of school buildings as the school-age population in a community diminishes, and for water reservoirs as small communities join regional water authorities.
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From page 91... ...
Research can be conducted on the attributes of less costly materials for these temporary structures, as well as the design of systems that improve the efficiency of service operations while me ing maintenance and repair costs. Typical questions for research might include: · What are the attributes of temporary facilities that have a curtailed design life, such as the exclusion of expansion capabilities and the use of specific materials?
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From page 92... ...
Management improvements for infrastructure construction can serve as an example and can improve practices throughout the construction industry. Contracting Practices Disputes leading to litigation between parties involved in infrastructure construction, as in all civil construction, have led to an adversarial climate that can interfere with legitimate business activities and ultimately increase costs for infrastructure owners and users.
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From page 93... ...
Project Management Tools Apart from avoidance and adjudication of disputes and risks, there are many opportunities for improved management practices assisted by computer and data-handling techniques.2 Research is needed to support methods for providing detailed technical information on-site, such as shop drawings, and for monitoring of quantitative measures of construction project productivity on site and at major off-site fabrication locations. Such systems would in turn enable research into decision rules for scheduling and procurement contingency planning and response strategies.
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From page 94... ...
A grip on the car engaged the cable to move cars along rails at an average speed of 12 miles per hour, about twice that of the horsecar. Cable railways were especially attractive in large dense cities Deco use trailers attached to a grip car gave the system high carrying capacity.
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