Perspectives of Society, Science and Technology

A presentation on

CONSTRUCTION
By:

Gopal Zavar

Nikita Kale Karishma Badani Raviraj Patil Shivani Kshirsagar

Kushal Kathalkar Dishit Parekh Ravi Joshi Shrikant Nimbalkar

Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai

INTRODUCTION

CONSTRUCTION

Introduction
Construction is a process that consists of making the buildings and erecting the infrastructure.

Modern construction is a combination of civil, architectural and

structural engineering. Basic amenities for Life Food, Clothing and Shelter Construction technology evolved to provide the shelter for human beings With growing needs of man it was extended to construction of bridges, dams, roads, railways etc. Todays scene Malls, Commercial complexes, skyscrapers . (Result of continuous development in construction technology)

TIMELINE

CONSTRUCTION

TIMELINE
Factors affecting time line: The discovery and availability of construction materials and machinery Development in engineering and building techniques

Neolithic Period (8000 BC to 7000 BC)

First bridges Wooden logs and first buildings Huts, tents Stone structures were built using dry-stone-walling techniques

Absence of metal tools placed limitations on the materials that can be used for constru Majority of the constructions were done using timber.

The first mud bricks were formed by hand during the late Neolithic period.

In Western Europe, the iconic monument called the Stonehenge was constructed duri this time which is regarded as one of the sophisticated structures by archaeologists.

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CONSTRUCTION

TIMELINE

CONSTRUCTION

Ancient Mesopotamia:
The earliest large scale buildings were built in ancient Mesopotamia. These structures were the palaces and temples. Materials: Mud brick formed in wooden moulds.

Mud bricks became very popular for construction.

The later Mesopotamian civilizations developed glazed brickwork which was used for decorating the interior and exterior of buildings.

Ancient Egypt:
Adobe (sun-baked mud brick) construction was used for buildings and houses.
The grandest buidings were constructed in stone using massive masonry blocks.

In contrast to Mesopotamian structures in brick, the Egyptians built structures in stone

Egyptians achieved extraordinary feats of Engineering using relatively primitive techno As per the evidences they did not use wheels or pulleys.

They transported massive stones over great distances using rollers, ropes and sledge The Great Pyramid of Giza remained the tallest structure in the world for 3800 years.

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CONSTRUCTION

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CONSTRUCTION

Ancient Greece:
Greeks also used mud bricks like the Egyptians and Mesopotamians. They constructed the arch bridges. They constructed stone buildings with large cut rocks joined with metal cramps.

The building structures used a simple beam and column system without vaults and arc

The development of mathematics enabled them to understand the principle of pulleys w they did utilized for their construction purpose. They constructed the buildings like the Pantheon.

Ancient Rome:

The great Roman breakthrough was the development of hydraulic lime mortar (concre

They constructed domes with huge spans and sophisticated heating and ventilation sy for their thermal baths. They constructed bridges, aqueducts and covered amphitheatres. Vitruvius was a Roman writer architect and engineer active in the 1st century BC. He wrote extensive passages on construction techniques.

The Romans developed sophisticated timber cranes capable of lifting loads upto 100 to

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CONSTRUCTION

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CONSTRUCTION

Medieval Period:
Till 1000 A.D. most buildings in Northern Europe were constructed with timber while in Southern Europe adobe was popular. In the period from 600-1100 AD, the buildings had roofs made up with timber.

In 12th century, the Gothic style of architecture with its vaults, flying buttresses and poin gothic arches was developed.

The pile driver was invented around 1500.

Outstanding buildings of the period were the Gothic Cathedrals e.g. Kings College Cha Notre Dame, Paris etc.

Renaissance Period:
Lot of technological developments were seen in this period. In western Europe, water mills were used to saw timber and convert trees into planks. Bricks were extensively used. Ironwork was used in roof carpentry. Forelock bolts were used to fix iron components.

Roofing was done using terracotta roof tiles. Stone was the choice of material for presti buildings.
Outstanding achievement was the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore built in 1445.

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CONSTRUCTION

TIMELINE

CONSTRUCTION

TIMELINE

CONSTRUCTION

Seventeenth Century:
Major breakthrough: Manufacture of glass. First cast plate glass was developed in France. Lime was used as an additive in mortar.

Flying scaffolds were used in England.

Complex systems of pulleys were put into use.

Eighteenth Century:
The architects and engineers became increasingly professionalized.

Experimental science and mathematical methods were used extensively in constructi buildings. The birth of industrial revolution increased the pace and quantity of construction. Iron columns and beams were used for buildings. Iron production costs declined giving impetus to iron engineering. Steel began to be used in manufacture of tools.

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CONSTRUCTION

Nineteenth Century:

Due to Industrial revolution, construction in new areas such as railways, canals and ro began.

New construction tools like steam engines, machine tools, explosives were used.

Mass production of steel began in mid-nineteenth century and was used in the form of I-beams and reinforced concrete. Plumbing appeared and gave common access to drinking water and sewage. Glass panes became available to ordinary.

Twentieth Century:
High rise buildings thus started coming up. Heavy equipment and power tools decreased the manpower requirement.

Due to second industrial revolution in early 20th century, cranes and elevators became a

New technologies such as pre-fabrication and computer aided design became available

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CONSTRUCTION

CONSTRUCTION

ANALYSIS
1500-1750 - Building in Stone and Brick became general - Timber used in roofs and floors - Half Timber used in areas where timber was in short supply After 17th Century- Brick and tiles were a cheap and a readily available substitute 18th Century However, they suffered an eclipse on aesthetic grounds

CONSTRUCTION Romans were the pioneers in concrete technology and lead to the development of construction technology throughout Europe.

The construction techniques did not developed during the Renaissance period. They were quite similar to those during the Medieval period. The technology and techniques developed greatly in the eighteenth century due to development of mathematics and engineering.

It was the industrial revolution that increased the pace of development in the construction technology. Without the industrial revolution we still would have been living in Eighteenth century homes.
Bricks are continually being used since the BC period till date. Although advanced technology is in use today certain seventeenth century techniques are still used in todays construction like the line gauge, plumb-line, the carpenter's square, the spirit level, the sliderule the drafting compass etc.

CONSTRUCTION

Systems like CAD (Computer Aided Design) and BIM (Building Information Modelling) have been incorporating digital 3D imagery. Automated machine guidance is looking to speed up production time and lower production costs by relying on computer systems to keep machines and their operators on location and on time during their work. Linked with global positioning systems, heavy machinery can be outfitted to read site longitude, latitude, depth, height, etc. The machine can report when it needs maintenance, when the job cant be finished, when its broken, when a task has been completed, and much more. There are companies who already use robotic machines to perform less complex jobs on construction sites - from painting to concrete flooring. In the future, its not unlikely that these machines will be preparing the site, pouring the concrete, and carrying in the steel beams as well.

CONSTRUCTION

Researchers have learned that carbon dioxide can be turned into solid construction material, and therefore all the emissions causing finger-pointing around the world might be of some use. Piezoelectric materials are now being used in roads, subway systems, and parking lots to power things like checkout lines, traffic lights, and even homes. These materials can harness energy from minute vibrations. Obayashi Corp., headquartered in Tokyo, has unveiled a project to build a gigantic elevator that would transport passengers to a station 36,000 kilometers above the Earth. The company would utilize carbon nanotubes, which are 20 times stronger than steel, to produce cables for the space elevator. The terminal station would house laboratories and living space. The car could carry up to 30 people to the station at 200 kilometers per hour, which would mean a 7-1/2 day trip to reach the station. Magnetic linear motors are one possible means of propulsion for the car, according to Obayashi. Solar power generation facilities would also be set up around the terminal station to transmit power to the ground.

CONCLUSION
The growing population and need for infrastructure will keep the construction industry driving further. The growth of the construction technology and thus the construction industry is exponential. Man has reached upto almost a kilometer of height with his structures and shall continue to ascend towards the sky. So thats a lot to chew on. Some of it may never amount to much more than the hype - some of it could revolutionize the industry.

Thank You !!