What Is Project management

What is project management? Before defining project management it is more specifically necessary to define a project.

A project is “a unique set of coordinated activities with definite starting and finishing points , undertaken by an individual or organization to meet specific objectives within defined schedule, cost and performance parameters.”Source: BS 6079:2000 Guide to Project Management

A project is ‘‘a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result’’

Source: The Project Management Institute (PMI 2008)

                                                                 

From above definitions, it is understood that a project is a unique set of activities with specific objectives, which can actually be isolated from general management which normally deals with activities of repetitive and functional nature. Further, having a defined schedule means that a project has a defined beginning and end in time…..to meetspecific objectives within definedcost and performance parameters. Once those objectives are accomplished it can be considered that the project is finished. Therefore, a project is unique and temporary in character.       `

The 3 dimensions, Time-Cost-Quality, mentioned in above definitions may be stated as below.

Project Management for construction

Consider a construction project with a unique set of coordinated activities with definite starting and finishing points , to meet specific objectives within defined schedule, cost and performance parameters. From the inception to the client’s occupation, there are groups of different activities having interrelationships. It is highly competitive market with perhaps lesser profit margin than in the past. It may include specialized works with the roles to be played by specialists such as planners, designers, estimators, contractors, suppliers etc. involved in the project at different stages of the project. New scientific discoveries and technological advances, modern equipment have made it more capital intensive. In the past this had been labour intensive.

Complexity of construction works has also demanded the adoption of many different forms of procurement contracts. Latest knowledge and skill to be employed in a systematic way in order to meet the objectives of the project within the defined schedule, cost and performance parameters.Techniques, knowledge and skills include the work analysis in a systematic way such as the  use of critical path method. As such, the whole project and its activities have to be managed, well planned and executed.Project management has the leading role to play in this exercise.

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Earth Moving Equipments

   When we start to construct a building, bridge, dam, road or whatever project we need various equipment such as bulldozers, backhoes, dredges etc.

Factors we must consider when we are selecting the equipment.

• Volume of excavation to have remove
• Area of excavation
• Soil type
• Duration of a project
• Weather condition

Advantages and disadvantages of using earth-moving equipment.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Use few manpower	High maintenance cost
Less dangerous accident by human workers. (collapse soil)	Required large working area
Can go to greater depth	At resting increase cost
Quickly done

Backhoe Excavator

        Back-hoe excavator is heavy equipment that consists with backhoe on the back and bucket on the front. It can use for multiple purposes. It travels on rubber tires. Backhoes are very popular in urban constructions. These machines use to dig trenches, dig small excavations. Basement excavation also can use this machine.  Front backhoe used to move materials such as sand, gravel and load to trucks.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Multipurpose machine	Can’t use in marshy aria
Low maintenance

 Bulldozer

          It is a simple very popular machine. It can easily work with soil. It is a crawler with substantial blade. It has various numbers of uses. It can push and pull only. It can push large quantity of sand, rubble, waste and such as materials. When clearing and grubbing we can use it. Generally if have a site maintenance, we have to use it.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Can drive in any soil condition	Only push and pull can do
Low maintenance

Front end loader

          It is a most popular machine found in most of construction projects. It can be rubber tire or track machine. A front end loader has bucket in front. That bucket use to load and unload materials and lift. Mostly it use to excavate and carry soils and also it used to transport the materials on site. 

Advantages	Disadvantages
Large area can covered	If it has rubber tires can’t drive in marshy land
	No multipurpose

Dump trucks

          Dump trucks for transporting large amount of materials such as sand, gravel and waste. Normal capacity range is 5-15m³. It has a container in back. Shape of the container is mostly large box. The container can be lifted up and down by using hydraulic power. Therefore load can be easily dumped.  

Advantages	Disadvantages
Large load can be transport	No multipurpose
Various capacity can be select	Can’t use in marshy land

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