Category: Construction

The construction industry has significantly evolved and nowadays actively exploits the newest technologies for improving performance and reducing time, costs, the involvement of the workforce in the process and minimising defects. Prefabrication and simulation have become perfect tools for reaching these strategic objectives and bringing up positive shifts in the whole industry.

Nowadays, in the age of widespread modular construction, the issue of becoming more time- and cost-effective has become extremely acute for constructors. One of the tools that can assist in improving the overall performance of the construction industry is the visualisation of projects. Its necessity can be easily explained by the fact that most managers rely on intuition and imagination when making decisions regarding planning and scheduling.

In means that in the case if it is possible to visualise the project, it is generally easier to organise the flow of the working process. Except for this primary benefit, this tool also has other advantages such as helping the site manager in bettering the perception of the project because one of the visualisation options is displaying virtual environment of the project; minimizing the risks of failing to meet deadlines.

After all, it optimises the schedule at every stage of construction; enhancing communication among managers and making it more efficient as they see the actual picture, not the one drawn by their imagination; and allowing to find construction alternatives that can be applied during every particular stage if they prove to be more effective. In addition to it, a visualisation is a perfect tool for avoiding defects or, at least, minimizing their quantity because it makes it possible to see the simulation of the construction in a real-time mode that helps assess the existence of defects and eradicate them (Murray, Fernando & Aouad 2004).

The specificity of the visualisation tool is that it consists of four primary components that altogether increase the productivity of the construction process. It includes the virtual environment  a tool allowing the user to analyse the elements of the constructions (modules) within the environment they will be installed in, thus creating a simulation of the projects. Additionally, it has the function of automatic constraint recognition that assists in assembling and disassembling the parts of the edifice to see whether they collide once put together.

The next constituent is the construction database that stores all information about the project including all changes in building, the order of construction, deliveries, and stock of sites. Finally, there is a system responsible for the functioning of the visualisation tool, a task manager, which provides the user with the information necessary to make the operation smooth and flawless such as the description of the data that should be entered or the steps needed for creating a simulation model.

Visualisation is indissolubly related to the process of simulation. It is one of its variations. Simulation is actively used for creating a virtual environment, developing and altering the schedule of construction, and framing the building design. As of creating a virtual environment, simulation helps in generating a 3D picture of the edifice under construction. The building design is necessary for viewing the modular parts of the construction and putting them together to view the result of the project. What should be noted that using graphic tools for simulation makes it possible to rotate the objects or assemble them in the program so that it is possible to eliminate defects because the project can be analysed before being brought to life? As of schedule, it can be modified and altered by using the simulation tool because every time the new object is added to the system, the schedule automatically changes, so that it helps improve the time performance of the constructors (Murray, Fernando & Aouad 2004).

What is also significant about simulation is that is has a wide range of advantages for architecture engineering and construction (AEC), especially if compared with conventional methods of planning and scheduling. This tool is dynamic that means that it is easy to change it every time a new resource or modular part is added to the database. Because of its dynamism, computer-aided simulation easily incorporates many random factors such as weather conditions or the status or the working team or operation of the equipment used in the construction process.

Finally, it is useful in modelling resources, e.g. demonstrating the relationship between the stage of the construction and the resources used or the simultaneous use of one resource in different processes, etc. Altogether, they make simulation a comprehensive and one of the most efficient tools for integrating design and construction (Shi 1999). Moreover, it focuses on the prioritisation of tasks, so that it is a perfect way for optimizing the flow of the working process (Hasan, Al-Hussein & Gillis 2010).

Furthermore, there is a way to exploit simulation for assessing productivity and increasing it. This process can be somewhat complicated because it is impossible to predict some random factors including weather conditions such as extreme temperatures, wind or rain or the operational status of the equipment used and breakdowns or emergencies that can have the negative influence on the level of productivity, but, in general, simulation helps in analysing it. Several factors are taken into consideration while estimating potential productivity and developing the overall schedule for the project. In most cases, they include time needed for production, transportation, and putting the needed modular part in place as well as the distance between the factory and assembly yard and the location of resources, factories, and the future building (Hasan et al. 2013). These factors if evaluated appropriately while designing the simulation model can help spectacularly improve productivity.

Except for the benefits mentioned above, there is one more significant argument in favour of using it. It is not a secret that construction is a magnificent contributor to the issue of natural environment pollution. As most industries become more environmentally friendly and there are growing concerns regarding climate change, the construction industry cannot but follow the overall tendency of trying to reduce the negative impact on the environment. Simulation can become another effective tool for reducing the influence of the construction process on the environment, especially decreasing the emission of CO₂ in the atmosphere.

The tool can be used for assessing the number of cranes that will be used for assembling the edifice and their type  single- or double-jibbed. The reason why simulation is an effective tool for reaching this goal is that it considers numerous dimensions of the projects such as source and destination locations, weight and size of modular parts, the speed of lifting modules, etc. Moreover, it examines the productivity of the cranes including the amount of energy consumed. That said, it was found that double-jibbed cranes are more productive and environmentally friendly than single-jibbed. They consume less fuel that is why they produce less CO₂ emissions (Hasan et al. 2013).

At the same time, double-jibbed cranes are more productive because they are less time-consuming when it comes to hooking modules and lifting them. In addition to it, they are more cost-effective because even though their rental cost is higher, the number of cranes needed for the project and the number of workers involved are lower. So, the result of the simulation model with time, costs, fuel consumption, and cranes productivity as the inputs, is that it is better to involve double-jibbed cranes rather than single-jibbed because they make the construction process cheaper and quicker (Hasan, Al-Hussein & Gillis 2010).

Even though simulation has proved to be an effective tool for improving construction performance and has numerous advantages, some steps should be taken while developing the simulation model so that it produces the correct results. First, it is necessary to apply proper input data to the model. It means that it should be introduced and analysed in an appropriate statistical form. Moreover, it is vital to remember that no important factors can be ignored. For example, in the case of using simulation for modular construction projects, it is important to assess the average time for design, prefabrication and assembling, distances between the factory and the assembly yard, potential delays in delivery, etc. Second, it is crucial to analyse the outputs of the simulation model. In the case of construction, it means that what is assessed is whether the outputs of the model comply with the plan for construction. This step can involve the estimation of any vital factor such as time, costs, workforce involved, etc.

The final condition is the validation of the simulation model. There are various ways to do it, but one used for construction is comparing the results with historical or published data such as the results of the simulation model developed earlier by the particular constructor or those of similar projects. What should be noted is that a similar project does not necessarily mean erecting separate edifice, it can as well be related to building one floor or installing one door. The reason for choosing this specific way for validating the model is that construction is a cyclic process, so it does not evolve significantly and always involves similar inputs and has similar outcomes.

That said, if the results of the model correspond to the result of the models that proved to be successful, then it can be used in the construction process (AbouRizk & Halpin 1990). What also should be highlighted is that because it is recommended to validate the results of the model using the previous projects that were cyclic, such simulation is referred to as simulation of repetitive construction processes.

Nowadays, the construction industry witnesses the new tendency towards the automation of the processes such as design, prefabrication, construction, simulation, and planning. What is most significant about automation is that it implies the use of computers at every stage of construction. For example, when speaking about design, automation means exploiting a wide range of graphic technologies including 3D and 4D that make the whole construction process easier and less time-consuming.

They are used for creating the design of the future construction from separate modular parts added to the database of the computer program and estimating it within the environment it will be put in. Automation of prefabrication implies the use of robotics and assembly lines in manufacturing modular parts. Furthermore, robots and machines are used in assembling and construction. In general, the primary aim of automation is reducing the involvement of workers in the construction process that will entail the decrease in costs and time and the increase of safety in the working place.

However, introducing robotics to prefabrication and construction faces numerous barriers both economic and technological. Except for the fact that the transition to automation and robotisation is costly and requires implementing many changes in the construction process, it also needs the development of new systems that would comply with the use of robots such as mobile platform and necessary software for control and management (Neelamkavil 1999).

As of the automation of simulation, it comes down to creating the virtual environment and building design. What can be added to the facts mentioned earlier in the paper is that automation makes real-time construction process simulation possible. It means that every step of the construction process will be automatically displayed in a computer program that will be useful for planning and control. The same can be said about the automation of the scheduling process. In addition to it, automation helps save time because there is no need to develop a new simulation model or change the schedule manually every time a new factor emerges. After all, it changes automatically. The only thing that should be done is adding a new factor to the database, and the computer does all the necessary calculation showing the necessary alterations to the schedule. Moreover, the data is collected in the real-time mode, so, every time a new step is taken or a new modular part is put in its place, the schedule changes.

What in general can be said about automation is that once the technological and economic barriers are overcome and the process becomes flawless, it will turn into the source of limitless advantages because it will help optimise and control the construction process. Moreover, all documentation on the project will be well organised, accurate, and timely. The status of every stage of the construction project will be up-to-date and easily accessible. What is most vital is the fact that automation will inevitably lead to the minimum defects and the maximum performance not to mention the reduction of costs and emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere making the construction industry time-, cost-, and energy-effective.

In conclusion, it may be highlighted once again that today the primary strategic objective of the construction industry is becoming more productive and environmentally friendly and, at the same time, less time- and cost-consuming. To achieve this goal, the constructors exploit a wide range of methods including developing simulation models and automation of the whole process of construction. Initially, these tools require time, money, and a lot of skills and knowledge and face many barriers, but once they are fully implemented in the process, they guarantee that it is flawless and become a source of numerous benefits.

References

AbouRizk, S M & Halpin, D W 1990, Probabilistic simulation studies for repetitive construction processes, Journal of Construction and Engineering Management, vol. 116, no. 4, pp. 575-594. Web.

Hasan, S, Al-Hussein, M & Gillis, P 2010. Advanced simulation of tower crane operation utilizing system dynamics modelling and lean principles, Proceedings of the 2010 Winter Simulation Conference , WSC, Baltimore, MD, pp. 3262-3271. Web.

Hasan, S, Bouferguene, A, Al-Hussein, M, Gillis, P & Telyas, A 2013, Productivity and CO₂ emission analysis for tower crane utilization on high-rise building projects, Automation in Construction, vol. 31, pp. 255-264. Web.

Murray, N, Fernando, T & Aouad, G 2004, A virtual environment for the design and simulated construction of prefabricated buildings, Virtual Reality, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 244-256. Web.

Neelamkavil, J 2009, Automation in the Prefab and Modular Construction Industry, Proceedings of the 26th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, ISARC, Washington, DC, pp. 299-306. Web.

Shi, J J 1999, Computer Simulation in AEC and its Future Development, Berkeley-Stanford CE&M Workshop, Stanford, CA. Web.

About cranes

A crane is one of the many machines used in the construction, manufacturing, and transport industry to move heavy materials or equipment vertically or horizontally from one point to another. A crane machine is made from smaller machines as well as wires, ropes, winders, and sheaves that are assembled so as to create a motorized advantage. The motorized advantage enables the movement of a variety of heavy loads that goes beyond the normal physical capability of humans.

The crane uses simple machines such as the lever and pulley to create its motorized advantage (2). Cranes are a common sighting in the transport industry, particularly in ship harbors, because they are used to load and unload consignment from ships that are otherwise impossible to move. Cranes are also a common sighting in the construction industry as they assist construction workers to move heavy building materials like concrete slabs and steel bars from the ground to the places they need to be installed. In the manufacturing industry, for example, the motor assembly industry, cranes are used to lift heavy equipment and through automation processes, assemble them with minimal assistance from humans (2).

There are two major factors that are considered when designing a crane: the first consideration is the weight the crane is expected to lift, and the second consideration is the crane stability. For example, a crane used in the manufacturing industry cannot be expected to lift consignment from a ship due to the weight differences. In regards to stability, a crane should be built to effectively handle heavy loads without the remote possibility of it toppling over; thus, being a hazard to everyone in the area.

In the old ages, cranes could only lift and lower heavy materials, but with the passing of time and major technological advancements, the modern cranes have the ability to move vertically as well as horizontally (2).

Reasons why cranes are used in construction

The aspects of modern construction projects are and are continuing to become more highly automated. As industrialization in the construction industry continues to grow, more companies prefer to use building structures and elements that are assembled elsewhere as opposed to doing the actual assembly on site. Concrete, for example, is only produced on-site when the construction project requires very high volumes of concrete; thus, it would not be prudent to transport the concrete (4).

If the project is smaller, it would be cheaper and more practical to transport ready-mixed concrete to the site. It means that someone is likely to see transportation equipment on-site as opposed to production equipment. In modern building construction sites, there is usually clear domination of lifting equipment, and these types of equipments are considered as critical elements in attaining productivity. Concrete pumps, earthmovers, cranes, lifts, and hoists, and material handlers are some of the most notable equipment types in a construction site (4). Though earth moving types of equipments are seen during the startup of the project, cranes are the only conspicuous equipment during the actual construction process. This is due to the important role they play in the vertical and horizontal transportation processes.

During building construction in urban spaces, there usually is not much space to place production equipment. Cranes in this situation provide the ability and flexibility of accessing smaller sites and only occupy a limited stationary area. Cranes depending on their size, also reduce the time it takes to transport materials from one point to another. It is because a crane can lift materials and deposit them on the other side without wasting time trying to navigate around barriers (4).

Cranes are used in construction because they are relatively easy to install, they can be installed in high places, and they also have the ability to lift quickly heavy material and equipment to great heights i.e. skyscrapers.

Types of Cranes

There are several crane types, each depending on the work they are meant to do. Below is a list of the several crane types and when they are used.

Crawler Crane

A crawler crane is a full revolving crane that is mounted on an undercarriage. It has a set of continuous parallel tracks also known as crawlers that provide the crane with mobility and stability. Crawler cranes configurations can be changed depending on the manufacturer specification (3). These configurations include its application type, the tower unit and the duty cycle. Crawler cranes have good lifting abilities and handle work such as lifting concrete buckets to great heights. The cranes advantage is it can move on site thus, it requires little setup. The crawlers on the crane also reinforce its stability. The crane can also travel as its lifting a load. The disadvantages include its heavy weight thus, it is expensive to transport. Also disassembling the crane for transport requires a lot of time, energy and expertise (3).

Hydraulic Truck Crane

A hydraulic truck crane is a type of vehicle mounted crane. The crane has three control and power arrangements. Both the truck and hydraulic can be controlled and powered by a single engine. The truck and hydraulic can have different power and control units. Bothe the truck and engine can the same power source but different control panels. This type of crane is always ready for a move (3). The main benefit of this crane is that it is mobile and is appropriate for use for short periods of time. The main disadvantage is that since the crane is mobile, it means it may have stability issues.

Lattice-Boom Crane

A lattice boom crane is similar to a hydraulic crane. It is a fully revolving crane that is mounted on a truck. It has a suspended cable thus, acts as a compression component as opposed to a bending component. The main benefit is that it is lightweight thus, has an additional capacity for lifting. It is also mobile thus, can be used for short time periods. The main disadvantage is that the crane is that it takes a longer time to assemble and disassemble for transport (3). It is also expensive to assemble and disassemble since it needs the aid of another crane.

Rough-Terrain Crane

A rough terrain crane is mounted on an undercarriage, and that has four unusually large rubber tires which allow the operator room for maneuvering in the job site. It is designed to pick and carry a load on rough terrain. The operator cabs can be attached to the upper works thus, allowing the operator cab to swing in the same direction as the load. Both the crane and truck draw power from the same engine which is mounted in the truck. The main benefit of this crane is that it operates at a lower cost. The main disadvantage is that it is slow due to its large size (3).

All-Terrain Crane

An all terrain crane has an undercarriage that allows it to effectively travel on all terrains and at a higher speed. The crane has four wheel-drive, steer and its ground clearance is higher. The crane has two cabs each with a different function. It is best for use when projects are at different locations. Its main advantage is that it can work on all terrains. Its main drawback is that it is more expensive than a rough terrain crane since it is a combination of two distinct features (3).

Floating Crane

A floating crane is mounted on a barge or pontoon. It bears similarities to cranes mounted on undercarriages such as the Lattice-Boom, Hydraulic Truck and the crawler crane. It is mostly used in the construction of bridges and ports. It is used to transport bridge sections from one point to another as well as recover sunken ships. Its main disadvantage is that since it operates on water, it can only be used in offshore projects. The main advantage is its high lifting capacity which is 10,000 Tons (3).

Railroad Crane

A railroad crane can travel along tracks as they carry their load. This is because they are mounted on an undercarriage car that has rail wheels. It is mostly used for train recovery, loading goods and maintenance work. The advantage is that the trains wheels can be removed, and the crane mounted on a static crane as opposed to all the other cranes. Its disadvantages are that there is a free standing height requirement and that the crane cannot be used if there is maintenance work on a particular track (3).

Tower Crane

A tower crane is well known as a balance crane and is used in the construction of very tall buildings. It is fixed to the ground thus, giving it great stability and because of the stability; it gives a great combination of lifting power and height. The tower crane can also be attached on the side of structures during construction. In major construction sites, a tower crane is one of the most predominant equipment (4). A tower crane is used to lift a variety of objects such as large tools, concrete buckets, steel bars, generators and other construction building materials. A tower crane is best used where mobility is not required; a great height wants to be achieved and when there is little space to work in. Tower cranes can be categorized into two groups: top slewing and bottom slewing (1).

The major difference between the two is how they are assembled and disassembled. It is easier and faster to erect and take apart a bottom slewing crane because there are a lower number of masts between the base and the slew. Bottom slewing cranes are also used for short-term service. Top slewing cranes take a longer time to erect and dismantle because of their height. Each mast must be taken down and hydraulics used to lower the slew before the next mast is taken down. Top slewing cranes are preferred for long-term service. The main disadvantage of tower cranes are the costly prices associated with the assembly.

A company must pay a charge for the crane to be delivered and set up by the crane company crew. After that, the company is charged a monthly fee for each month they use the crane as well as a maintenance fee. The main disadvantage is that an operator has to climb the mast to get to the operator cab which is a risky venture and a challenge, especially when dealing with the top- slewing cranes (3).

Why it is used in construction

Tower cranes are used in construction because they are quick and easy to assemble and disassemble, and they do not require many parts. They are also used because their height can be increased depending on the project requirement. A tower crane is known for lifting large loads and well as its precision aspect. They are also known to take up little space and provide a good working radius. Tower cranes also provide high speed and high concrete volume placements (4).

Size

Once the crane arrives at the site, a mobile crane is used to assemble the mast. The slewing gear and machinery arm are first assembled followed by the operators cab. To achieve the desired height, the mast can be added one mast at a time and firmly bolted to the lower mast. As the mast rises a hydraulic lift is used to lift the slew and another craned is used to lift the mast in place. Each mast is 20 feet long (3).

Tower crane parts

To achieve its stability and height, a tower crane requires essential parts. To support the tower crane, concrete is poured to create a pad onto which the crane base is bolted. The steel base is in turn attached using bolts to a tower which can be of varying heights as per the crane use. A slewing unit which is a combination of a motor and ring-gear is attached to the tower which gives the crane the ability to fully revolve. The counterweights and machinery arm are attached to the slewing unit. Finally the operators cab is also attached to the slewing unit. The operators cab is where the operators sits while controlling the tower crane. The cranes electronic motors are contained within the machinery arm (3).

How it is prevented from tipping

A tower crane is prevented from tipping over by ensuring it has a strong concrete pad supporting it. Stability is of utmost importance thus, construction companies ensure the concrete base is ready weeks before the crane arrival (4). Anchor bolts are deeply rooted in the concrete pad to support the crane base. The mast is has the strength to remain upright because of a three cross-member structure installed to the base.

Criteria for choosing a crane for construction work

• Construction type  A crane should be chosen according to the construction type. For example, tower cranes are more appropriate in the construction of tall buildings while a floating crane is more suitable for offshore projects.
• Time  A crane which will carry a heavier load at a faster time rate.
• Stability  Since the crane will be moving large loads constantly, a stable crane should be chosen.
• Multiple uses  Cranes that can be sued for multiple purposes should be selected so as to reduce the cost of hiring more cranes.
• Cost  Cost of cranes should be considered. For example, if a company has multiple projects in different terrains they should employ the use of an all terrain crane instead of a rough terrain crane (4).

References

1. Aviad Shapira, Gunnar Lucko, and Clifford J. Schexnayder. Cranes for Building Construction Projects, Journal of Construction Engineering And Management, pp. 690-698. 2007.
2. Matthies, Andrea. 1992. Medivial treadwheels, Artists Views of Building Construction. Technology and Culture. 33 (3): 510  547.
3. Types of Cranes, 2003. Norman Spencer Insurance Agency. Web.
4. Uses and Benefits of Tower Crane,Feb. 20, 2013. Xinxiang Kerui Heavy Machinery Science and Technology. Web.

An article titled The Challenge of Constructing a Bridge over the Chacao Channel talks about a project of the government to build a rather large bridge. The article specifies the problems that may arise when building such a bridge because the area is very susceptible to all kinds of influences from weather and naturally occurring phenomena such as earthquakes.

The article starts out with identifying the location of the future bridge. The Chacao channel is of particular importance because it separates the mainland from the Chiloe Island. It is mentioned that the population of the island is considerably low, only 130,000, but it is noted that the population is growing due to the developments in the area. The ferry service that is used to transport people and cars is becoming inefficient because of the increased traffic. The government of Chile has proposed the project as far back as 1999, and now it is being seriously detailed. The article does a good job naming some of the problems that might arise when building and maintaining the bridge. These include heavy winds, possible earthquakes, significantly large tides, the conditions of the grounds which might cause difficulties and strong water currents. All of this requires specific compromises and engineering which will combine several types of bridges into one.

Then, the article goes into more details about the different natural influences on the bridge. The earthquake possibility is one of the primary challenges because it has major effect on the stability of the ground and the size of waves generated by the earths movement. A historical even of 1960 is brought up as an example when an earthquake of 8.5 magnitude caused waves as large as 30 meters high and resulted in a lot of damage. Even though there is a great possibility for this occurrence to take place again, it is noted that the location of the bridge will be a safe distance away, 100 to 200 kilometers from the source. Further, it gives direct specifics about the type of the earthquake, as it is a subduction type, so the duration will be longer than usual. Unfortunately, the article does not go into detail about explaining the particular nature of a subduction earthquake, mechanisms that come into play and what exactly happens during such instability. The wind problem is also mentioned, but it is clearly not given a serious consideration because it is not of severe strength and does not last for long periods of time.

The article then focuses on the specific type of a bridge that might be built. It offers some graphics of the suspension bridge, as well as a modified version of a multi-span cable bridge. Most likely, there will be a boxed frame which would allow for greater stability. Overall, the article does a good job explaining the problems and the mechanical works of the bridges. The technical part of the article might seem a little hard to understand for a person who has not had education in such fields. The specific numbers and ratios are not really explained and at times, it is unclear what the specific relation between the numbers and the design of the bridge is.

Even though it might seem technical, it is well written and gets the attention of the reader. The project is obviously very extensive, so further details would be helpful.

Introduction

Construction projects, like any other projects, involve risks during and after their implementation. Project managers understand that during and after the implementation of their projects, there is the likelihood that unfortunate incidences or events will occur.

Organizations refer to these unfortunate events as risks. When project managers do not handle the risks in a way that protects the business from making loses, it makes the whole project to be unproductive. Project managers have to identify risks that they expect, analyze them, and propose measures to reduce their effects.

In some cases, when the project managers properly apply certain measures to manage the risks that they expect, it is likely that the risks and their effects will not occur. The way the project managers in construction projects handle the identified risks is proportional to the success of the project.

Statistics by Voetsch, Cioffi, and Anbari (2004) have established a significant relationship in the way project managers handle the available risks and the success of the project.

This paper identifies some of the possible risks in construction projects such as the Empire State Building, analyzes them, and identifies the possible measures to manage them.

Sources of risks at the Construction of the Empire State Building

Identifying risks or source(s) of the risks is the first major step that project managers take in the entire process of risk management. Project managers can identify a risk by brainstorming, reviewing literature, and personal experiences.

Depending on the nature of the project, the managers will come up with the possible sources of the risk (Cooper, Grey Raymond, & Walker, 2004). In the construction of the Empire State Building project, various sources of risks can be identified.

In a construction project, most of the risks are unavoidable because construction projects in some situations take a longer time to complete (Burtonshaw-Gunn, 2009).

In proportion to the complexity of the construction projects, project managers can categorize sources of risks in various groups. The first category of sources of risk is the technical risks.

The second category is the project management risks, third is the organizational risks, while the last category is the external risks (Burtonshaw-Gunn, 2009). Below is a detail explanation of these categories and their likely risks.

Technical risks

Generally, technicality, performance, or quality (Burtonshaw-Gunn, 2009, p. 44) of a project can be a source of risks in a construction project. Technical risks are risks relating to the available technology, the goals set, and the companys decision to rely on unreliable technology (Burtonshaw-Gunn, 2009).

The goals set by the managers may prove to be unrealistic, especially during the implementation process. For instance, a manager may need to complete the whole project after two years and yet the technology that he employs is not reliable.

Construction projects require the best and up-to-date technologies for attainment of better results. Technology is unreliable if it is not proven to be of quality, or if it is very complex.

In addition, the technology may be unreliable if it compromises the companys standards during and after the implementation of the project (Burtonshaw-Gunn, 2009).

When the project managers do not identify the sources of the technical risks, they expose the whole project to various challenges.

First, the deadline for the project completion may not be met. This is because the technology that the company is relying on may become expensive, strain the companys resources, and force it to explore ways of managing the challenge before proceeding.

Secondly, technical risks compromise the standards of the project if the technology changes before full implementation of the project. Changes in technology may alert managers that the project is of low standards and force project managers to review their plan.

Risks from project Management

The aim of a project is to help an organization to achieve its objectives (Hillson, 2009). Proper management of a project helps the organization to ensure that it does not deviate from its main objective.

The increasing competition in the corporate world requires project managers to plan effectively for any project and asses its effectiveness before including it into its strategic plan. Poor project planning or management exposes the organization to different risks.

Poor management of the organization is likely to affect any project within that organization. In addition, in the project management process, project managers can make some mistakes that increase risks to the project.

Risks from poor management can result from poor allocation of project resources (Burtonshaw-Gunn, 2009). When a project manager does not effectively account for resources in the process of project implementation, the whole project is put at risk of failing.

In addition, lack of integrity and transparency can lead to misuse of project resources and hence threaten the success of the project.

Lastly, some project managers may not share the resources to various sections of the project well. This may make the entire process of implementing the project to slow down because project sections are always interdependent.

Underutilization of all the disciplines of a project and low quality project plans are other sources of risk to a construction project (Burtonshaw-Gunn, 2009). A project manager has to ensure that disciplines in a project relate easily to enhance work teams and reduce workload.

When the disciplines do not work together as a system, there are chances that the organization will face different risks. For example, there is the risk of an increase in errors by different disciplines participating in the implementation of a project.

Low quality plans also affect the success of a project. A good project manager should draft a project management plan that clearly outlines the requirements of the project. The plan should identify the possible risks of the project from the implementation stage to the completion stage.

In addition, the plan should prescribe various measures to reduce possible risks (Burtonshaw-Gunn, 2009).

Risks from the organization

In construction projects, the organization is another source of risks. Every organization has got factors that can expose it to risks in the process of implementing a project.

Some of the common organization factors that can cause risks include low funds, conflicting projects, costs, time, inconsistent objectives, and, lack of project prioritization (Burtonshaw-Gunn, 2009, p. 44). These factors represent the existing conflicts in an organization.

If a contractor experiences these factors in an organization that they are working for, he may be forced to reschedule his plans. Rescheduling of plans interferes with deadline of project completion and increases the cost of the project.

Conflicting projects, inconsistent objectives, inadequate funds, and poor prioritization of the project are other factors that can interfere with successful project implementation. Conflicting projects result when an organization attempts to run more than one project concurrently.

In such cases, the organization may fail because the resources available may not sustain more than one project at a time. This may also make the organization to put some projects on low priority status. This scenario may deny project stakeholder support which may in turn starve it of funds form successful implementation.

Lastly, inconsistent objectives in an organization are a source of risks to the project. Project managers have to ensure that they achieve their objectives and review them regularly to ensure they remain consistent.

Inconsistent objectives may hamper timely execution of the project. This in turn causes the risk of increase in the cost of implementing the project and sometimes reduces its quality.

Risks from external sources

External forces also pose risks to projects in an organization. External forces are outside the organization and the organization has less control over them. External factors are likely to cause higher risks to an organizations projects, unlike other sources of risks.

Some of the common risky external factors include force majeure, changes in the legal or regulatory frameworks, changes in the labor requirements, risks in a country, and the project owners priorities (Burtonshaw-Gunn, 2009).

Legal and regulatory frameworks are very risky external factors. A government may pass laws to regulate construction projects in a country. The laws may include the standards that the contractors should adhere to.

Such legal frameworks force an organization to spend more to meet the requirements. In addition, the organization may face court cases if it does not meet the legal.

Table 2.1: A summary of techniques to identify risks in the construction of an empire state Building

Systems to address risks at the Construction of the Empire State Building

In construction projects, there are many risks that an organization should expect. Most of these risks happen as a result of external forces (Bubshait & Al-Atiq, 1999). Therefore, it is better to apply systems that will ensure proper management of risks to help minimize their effects.

Quality assurance system

In the process of minimizing risks in a construction project, quality assurance systems help to produce quality products and services because they prevent inefficiencies that could result in the production of low quality goods (Bubshait & Al-Atiq, 1999).

In this system, every individual in the construction project should demonstrate a systematic quality work (Bubshait & Al-Atiq, 1999, p. 41). Quality work will enhance uniformity in the work done by various subcontractors on the project.

Quality standards reduce the recurrence of a risk that may raise the cost of a project. This helps a contractor to give the client confidence in the whole project. An example of a quality assurance standard that one can apply in a construction project is the ISO 900 standard.

The standard obligates the constructor to show commitment to quality and work toward realizing customers requirements (Bubshait & Al-Atiq, 1999).

This system reduces risks that a corporate can encounter in construction because it emphasizes objective inspection, proper contract review, admitting of any failure, and proper handling of construction materials.

In this case, the system reduces risks that originate from external sources, project management, and inside the organization (National Research Council, 2005).

Planning

Better planning is essential in the successes of a project. Project managers have to set effective goals, ways to achieve them, and the means that will be used to measure the achievements. In construction projects planning is important to reduce risks and assure clients of quality products (Cooper et al., 2004).

Through planning, a project manager will develop and incorporate risk management measures into the project plan. Effective planning will ensure that the manager proposes effective measures to deal with any risks that the firm expects.

Planning ahead will help a contractor design effective goals, have enough time to assess the project team members, and interact with the vendors in advance to check on the cost of materials. Early checking of costs with the vendors reduces the risk of increasing the cost of the project at a future date.

Early planning will also prevent the organization from developing conflicting projects and have enough time and space for the prioritization of a project. Therefore, advance planning reduces organizational risks, risks from project management, and performance of the project.

Catastrophic Failure Fault Tree on Low resources

In the construction of the Empire State Building, low or scarcity of resources is a catastrophic failure to this project. Construction of the Empire State Building requires that there should be consistent and timely supply of resources.

Low supply of resources directly affects the continuation of the project. Below is a catastrophic failure tree for the proposed construction project.

Discussion of the fault tree

Availability of resources is a determinant factor in the successes of a construction project. Enough resources will help the project managers complete their project on time and be able to meet the clients requirements and expectations.

Conversely, low resources affect the success of a project. Project managers cannot achieve their goals at the time that they specify in their plans.

Low resources limit a construction project. There are various factors that cause the risk of low resources in a construction project. Below is a discussion of these factors as they appear in the failure fault tree above.

Scarcity of resources

Resource scarcity poses a huge problem to the successes of a project. Project managers need to plan for this risk because failure to compensate for scarce resources leads to the failure of different disciplines in the project to offer their duties on time (National Research Council, 2005).

Scarcity of resources risk in the construction of the Empire State Building can be a result of the global economic crisis or changing product prices (National Research Council, 2005).

Economic crises affect the disciplines operations. Firstly, the workers do not enjoy their work because they believe that the pay is not enough to help them survive in the current economy.

Secondly, the company may decide to invest in projects that will yield quick profit to cater for the economic crisis.

Lastly, the corporate may face an increase in liabilities as a result of the government implementing measures to stabilize the economy.

The project managers can handle this risk in various ways. The managers should constantly review the general costs of operations of the corporate to reduce the chances of economic crises (National Research Council, 2005).

The changing economic prices can also be attributed to scarcity of resource for completion of a project. Prices may increase as a result of changes in demand and supply, and changes in legal frameworks.

When prices of the products increase depending on the causative factors, there is the likelihood of the project to lack resources. Project managers can employ outsourcing strategy, purchasing in bulk, and making use of discount opportunities (National Research Council, 2005).

Increasing corporate responsibility

A corporate may adopt several projects at the same time. Such strategies impose numerous responsibilities on the corporate, which also proportionally becomes strenuous on the corporate resources.

Many responsibilities deny a corporate a chance to prioritize effectively the project leading poor planning (National Research Council, 2005).

Lack of prioritization denies a project support from stakeholders. Stakeholders need to understand the project before giving their support in terms of resources.

A project that lacks prioritization makes the stakeholders to be less confident in it, a situation that can cause them to request for postponement of such projects.

Project managers can avoid this risk by ensuring that they educate the stakeholders on the benefits of the project before and during implementation. The project should go hand- in -hand with the corporate strategies (National Research Council, 2005).

Poor planning also causes a scarcity of resources. During a project implementation process, project managers need to ensure that they work together with other project members for effective planning. Planners should set realistic goals and develop effective assessment techniques.

In addition, planning needs to be done in advance for better allocation of resources (National Research Council, 2005).

Other risks in the construction of the Empire State Building

Despite the catastrophic failure, low resources, weather, delay of material supply, and force majeure are some of the smaller risks project managers can encounter in the construction of the Empire State Building. The project manager needs to employee favorable measures to handle weather risk.

For example, use of technologies suitable to handle certain weather changes. Managers can avoid delay of material supply by making advance purchases. It is not easy to prepare for force majeure risks but the project manager should allocate extra resources for risks in this category.

Below is a table summarizing risks project managers can encounter in the project of construction of an empire state building:

Table 5.1: A summary of empire building construction project risks

Conclusion

Like any other construction project, the construction of the Empire State Building has a high probability of encountering different kinds of risks.

These risks originate from within the organization, outside the organization, from the project managers, and the performance of the project. Lack of resources emerges to be a catastrophic fault failure.

Therefore, by applying the suggested measures it will help in reducing the risks that come with the construction of an empire state building.

References

Bubshait, A. A., & Al-Atiq, T. H., (1999). ISO 900 standards in Construction. Journal of Management in Enginerring, 15(6), 41-48.

Burtonshaw-Gunn, S. A. (2009). Risk and Financial Management in Construction. Aldershot: Gower Publishing, Ltd.

Cooper, D.F., Grey, S., Raymond, G., & Walker, P. (2004). Project Risk Management Guidelines: Managing Risk in Large Projects and Complex Procurements. New York: John Wiley.

Hillson, D. (2009). Managing Risk in Projects. Aldershot: Gower Publishing, Ltd.

National Research Council (U. S). (2005). The Owners Role in Project Risk Management. Washington, DC: Academies Press.

Voetsch, R. J., Cioffi, D. F., & Anbari, F. T. (2004). Project risk management practices and their association with reported project successes, Proceedings from IRNOP. Web.

Introduction

The vital significance of procurement in the success of any project necessitate for deliberate measures and consideration in the selection of the most appropriate procurement method (Jim Smith, et al., 2004; Osipova & Eriksson, 2011). From the beginning of any construction project, clients, developers, consultants, builders, end user, and other pertinent stakeholders require optimal performance having budget constraints and other crucial factors in mind.

It is apparent that more than one procurement methods are available and are adopted according to the requirements and the nature of a particular project. The methods/systems can be broadly categorized into traditional method, design and build system, and the management contract method (Mikko & Arto, 2014; Babatunde, et al., 2010; Ojo, 2009).

The available procurement systems have unique characteristics and features and, consequently, they are adaptable to specific projects. In addition, each of the methods has advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, stakeholders in the construction projects ought to be deliberately cautious in the selection processes.

Factors That Determine the Choice of a Procurement Method

Before discussing the various procurement methods, it is sensible to mention some of the issues that influence the decision-making processes during procurement method selection. Stakeholders consider key factors such as pricing, flexibility, time, the nature of the project, risk, responsibility, and client resources among other factors (Davis, et al., 2008; Ojo, 2009; Jim Smith, et al., 2004).

Procurement Methods

Traditional/General Method

In the traditional contracting method, the role of the contractor is restricted to building since the employer provides an already completed design. As such, adopting the traditional method gives the client considerable control on design.

Pricing, in this method, is a product of factors such as bills of quantities given by the client, re-measurement contracts, target cost contracts, and cost plus/prime cost contracts (Davis, et al., 2008). In addition, the pricing approaches in the traditional method have relatively higher levels of certainty since the designing processes are done prior to the actual construction (Ojo, 2009).

Advantages of the traditional method of procurement

1. The client/employer is offered professional independence in administration and monitoring.
2. The traditional method allows for relatively higher levels of accountability due to competitive selection techniques.
3. The is equity during the tendering processes since all contractors are given equitable bidding opportunities.
4. The responsibility and control over the designing processes are put on the client and, therefore, high levels of functionality and overall quality of design are influenced.
5. Relatively higher levels of price certainty.
6. Flexible (easily managed/arranged) variations.
7. Many construction procurement stakeholders are familiar with the traditional system and, therefore, it is a tested and tried approach that can work in various types of procurements.

Disadvantages of the traditional method of procurement

1. Splitting of roles (designing and contracting) oftentimes results in disputes, especially when defect arise.
2. Occasionally, designing processes are delayed and are not fully developed prior the construction creating issues and pricing uncertainties, and disputes.
3. The sequential nature of the traditional method may make the procedures longer relative to other systems.
4. The contractors input is not taken during the design stage.

Recommendations for the consideration of the traditional system

Traditional system is recommended when

1. There is enough time to run the program.
2. Consultant design is needed.
3. The splitting of roles (designing and contraction) is warranted.
4. Pricing certainty and budgeting are needed at the initial stages.
5. High quality is needed.
6. Balancing of risk among key stakeholders is warranted.

Design and Build (D&B) Procurement System

In the D&B method, contractors are responsible for both design and building. It is worth noting that the D&B method can be categorized into more than one form. First, integrated design and build system allow the contractor to make both the design and carry out the construction but on the clients prerequisites and guidance. Second, the novated design and build system is almost similar to the traditional procurement method in the sense that the employer makes the initial design (Ojo, 2009; Davis, et al., 2008).

However, the in the novated D&B, the contractor develops the design further and takes the responsibility. As such, the design and building responsibility lies on the contractor in the novated D&B method. Third, the Turnkey system where the design and build responsibility is on the contractor (Davis, et al., 2008) (Ojo, 2009).

In addition, the employer should be able to operate the constructed plant at the end of the contract with little or no help from the contractor. The Turnkey D&B methods are mostly adopted by process and power projects (and other contracts that require intense/heavy engineering element). Further, performance-based projects oftentimes prefer the Turnkey D&B systems since the risks are placed on the contractors (Davis, et al., 2008).

Advantages of the design and build procurement method

1. The contractor is responsible for both the design and construction and the overall project fast tracking. As such, the contractor is not required to hire the contractor and designer separately.
2. With the D&B system, the project (construction) can commence even before the design is complete and, therefore, speed is enhanced, especially in projects that require resource allocation within given timelines.
3. The D&B method enjoys the popularity and familiarity from many construction stakeholders, including the contractors, consultants, and clients.
4. Price certainty can be achieved prior to the starting of the construction.
5. Innovation and price reductions are possible.
6. The constructors input in the design processes augments constructability and quality.

Disadvantages of the design and build procurement method

1. Clients are likely to experience challenges during the preparation of construction brief for the constructor.
2. Although changes can be adopted, they may be extremely expensive to the client.
3. The bidding processes relatively complicated since each designer gives a unique design with different pricing.
4. The client has the obligation to commit to an incomplete concept design.
5. Design liability is constrained by the availability of contracts.

Recommendations for using the design and construct D&B procurement system

The D&B procurement system should be adopted in cases where

1. Projects are functional/practical as opposed to prestigious construction.
2. Simple buildings that work with minimal or no renovations are needed.
3. There are possibilities of changing the brief for scope design.
4. Project acceleration can be attained through overlapping design and building processes.
5. Splitting of design and building responsibility is not required.

Management-oriented Procurement System

Jim Smith, et al. (2004) and Davis, et al. (2008) categorizes management-oriented procurement method into three distinctive classifications, including management contracting, construction management, and design and manage. Some of the elements that differentiate the three categories include indirect/direct client-contractor linkages, design and construction responsibility, works management, and program development (Davis, et al., 2008).

Management contracting

In management contracting system of procurement, the client selects a team of experts/professionals who work together with the appointed management contractor (Davis, et al., 2008). Before the construction commences, a client can only provide advice to the selected team.

Managing contracting allows an early start on-site and achieves early completion and relatively higher levels of flexibility in design and construction. It is imperative to note that the success of the managing contracting method significantly depends on trust and cohesiveness among stakeholders, including client, design consultants, and contractor (Davis, et al., 2008).

It is recommended that the contractor be appointed during or before the outline design stage. As such, the contractors input, in form of advice, is considered in design processes, tender processes, material delivery, and construction works (Davis, et al., 2008).

The management contractor job is dependent on a contract cost plan that is generated by a quantity surveyor, drawings, and the nature of the project.

The lack of certainty and the inability to ascertain the cost put a considerable risk on the client.

Oftentimes, lump sum contracts, characterized by bills of quantities are adopted during the competitive tendering processes (Davis, et al., 2008).

Construction management

Commonly referred to as CM, the construction management system commences with a thorough and cautious selection of a management contractor. A management fee is paid to the successful management contractor.

A unique and a differentiating feature of CM is that there is a direct link between the client and works contractor. Nevertheless, the works contracts are managed/administered by management contractor (Davis, et al., 2008). CM method allows the client to have substantial control and considerable risk. As such, the key role of the management contractor is being a simple agent with no power to determine the completion of the project or the cost to be incurred.

Some of the pros of the CM system:

• Minimal confrontation between stakeholders, including design teams, supervisors, and constructors.
• Experts are involved in a timely manner.
• Design and construction can be done concurrently saving time.
• Increased competitive bidding processes.
• Augmented accountability.

Design and manage

The D&M system gives the contractor the responsibility for construction and design, which is done by a separate team. The contractor, therefore, is paid for general administration and management of a project. The contractor works with subcontractors in designing and construction (Davis, et al., 2008).

Alternatively, a consultant (a clients agent) can be employed to make the design and provide management to the project. The consultant can also link the client to work contractors (Davis, et al., 2008).

Advantages of adopting the management procurement system

1. A majority of the stakeholders (including designers and constructors) are available in one firm and, therefore, coordination and collaboration are enhanced to the advantage of the client, designers, and constructors.
2. Overlapping of the design and construction roles saves time.
3. The contractor has the responsibility for both design and construction and their integration.
4. Current prices can be used during the bidding processes.
5. Augmented constructability and quality since the constructor has immense contribution in the design processes.
6. Every stakeholder has clear roles, risks, and responsibility.
7. The method facilitates design project flexibility.

Disadvantages of adopting the management procurement

1. It is difficult to ascertain price certainty before the final works packages.
2. The client needs to be comprehensively informed and proactive for the project to be successful.
3. Stringent time and information control is a major prerequisite.
4. The client does not exercise direct control of the project since the contractor influences key activities.
5. It is a prerequisite that the client provides high-quality brief since the design completion relies on resource commitment.

Recommendations for the adoption of the management procurement method

1. The method is most appropriate for huge, complex, and quick projects.
2. The management procurement method should be used in projects that require high degree of stakeholders confidence and trust.
3. Early appointment of management contractors is highly recommended since their expertise and knowledge are key in designing and the entire pre-construction period.
4. The management procurement system can be used when construction works need to run parallel with detailed design procedures.
5. The method is appropriate for projects where the client requires high degree of flexibility on design.
6. Where competitive tendering processes are required.

Conclusion

It is apparent that selecting the most appropriate procurement system/method poses a great challenge to construction industry stakeholders. There are numerous methods of procurement (which have distinct characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages).

This paper has discussed three procurement systems, including traditional method, design and build, and management-oriented method. Recommendations for each of the three methods are provided to the stakeholders.

Overall Recommendations

Construction stakeholders, including the client, contractors, consultants, and the end user must consider key factors such as the project specification, pricing, flexibility, time, risk, responsibility, and client resources during the selection of a procurement method.

References

Babatunde, S., Opawole, A. & Ujaddughe, I., 2010, An appraisal of project procurement methods in the Nigerian construction industry, Civil Engineering Dimension, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 1-7.

Davis, P., Love, P. & Baccarini, D., 2008, Building Procurement Methods, Brisbane; Australia: Cooperative Research Centre for Construction Innovation.

Jim Smith, B. Z., Love, P. E. & Edwards, D. J., 2004, Procurement of construction facilities in Guangdong Province, China: factors influencing the choice of procurement method, Facilities, vol. 22, no. 5/6, pp. 141-148.

Mikko, K. & Arto, S., 2014, Ensuring functionality of a nearly zero-energy building with procurement methods, Facilities, vol. 32, no. 7/8, pp. 312-323.

Ojo, S., 2009, Benchmarking the performance of construction procurement methods against selection criteria in Nigeria, Civil Engineering Dimension, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 106-112.

Osipova, E. & Eriksson, P., 2011, How Procurement Methods Influence Risk Management in Construction Project, Construction Management and Economics, vol. 29, no. 11, pp. 1149-1158.

Executive Summary

As part of its diversification ETH is proposing to tap into the Ethiopian medical care market by establishing an imaging center in Minch town. It is planning to lobby the ministry of health to assist in setting up the facility after completing all the legal requirements. The company realized the existence of a big market opportunity in Ethiopia that it intends to tap into and make profit while providing the services to the poor. Currently, there are a few imaging centers in the country and most of them are concentrated in large cities and towns but limited in the rural areas of the country. It will strike to keep its services focus local and tailoring its products to meet the communities demands and in a way that respects the cultures and traditions of the people. To actualize this venture, it will hire well trained medics and offer them more capacity building courses on using and managing medical imaging machines in a way that protects patients safety.

The company plans to use raw and auxiliary material such bricks/blocks, cement, sand, timber, aggregates, timber, iron sheets, tiles, and paints to complete the construction of the facility. Further it will install imaging equipment including X-Ray, Ultrasound, Mammography, CT scan, MRI Suites, Urethrographic, and pharmacy. It will install a cutting-edge picture storage and communication system (PACS) that will enable the viewing of digital images almost instantly upon completion of every assessment. Additionally, the PACS will reduce the turnaround time of report results. There will be specialized pharmacists who understand the incorporation of pharmaceuticals as adjunct agents in the extract of diagnostic imaging information. ETH consider this service critical because in several instances the procedures will mostly depend on the administration of agents. In addition, the center will have urgent care facilities such X-ray machines, specialized equipment for ultrasounds, mammograms, and digital X-rays.

The ARBA Minch town has an approximate population of about 200,000 people and it is the gateway to the rural riches of the southern part of the country. However, it is phasing the challenge of utilizing and managing vacant land, pointing to a problem of scarcity. ETH management team will engage the Minch local town government to get allocation of one hectare of land for the construction of the facility, and installation of other utilities. The city is connected to the national grid, however, electricity is highly affected by a continuous power interruption and outage from the main grid. Hence in its plan, the company will use automated generators to provide the facility with stable power supply in case there is electricity outrages from the national grid. In the assessment of the company, the best location would be around the Sikella settlement area of the town because of its vicinity to majority of the citys population who reside there.

ETH Company will be managed by a board of directors who will be critical in shaping the policy and making decision on the best way to run the medical imaging center. Below, there will be a team of middle level managers and technologist. The company shall employ the center manager, accounting and finance manager, sales and marketing manager, and director of medical services to run the day to day activities. Additionally, it will bring on board experts such as radiologist, medical doctors, pharmacists, orthopedic technician, X-ray tech, Mamo tech, Ultrasound tech and audio visual and electricians. Further down, will be receptionists, bookkeeper, Janitor, grounds keeper and maintenance, and security guards contracted from a security firm.

The total investment cost of the project including working capital is estimated to be $668,000, of which 60% will be generated from the shareholders and the remaining 40% raised from bank loan. ETH management team expects revenue flow to start in the fourth year of the project implementation after the successful completion of phase 1. It is expected to scale up in the fifth year when the phase 2 of the project implementation is completed and by the end of the sixth year the first full revenue generated will be realized. Accordingly, the company projects that its initial profits will be realized by the fourth year in operation. However, full profit margin estimates will be estimated in the sixth year after completion of phase 2.

Introduction

A project is proposed to construct a Medical Imaging Center that consist of X-Ray, Ultrasound, Mammography, CT scan and MRI Suites at ARBA Minch town government in Ethiopia. This Imaging center are medical facility that will consist of Doctors and Radiologist office, Patient intake area, Imaging suits for different modalities, Patient rest area, Pharmacy, Cafeteria, conference halls and urgent care facility. Imaging in the medical context refers to different technologies using ionizing (plain x-rays and computed tomography CT) and non-ionizing radiation (ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging MRI) to diagnose, monitor, or treat medical conditions. Imaging is an integral part of healthcare; however, there is a huge shortage of imaging equipment and facilities in Ethiopia specifically in Arba Minch and the surrounding area. This shortage of equipment is accompanied by a huge workforce shortage affecting radiologists, radiographers and medical physicists.

The facility is expected to sit on a one hectare of land with the building covering approximately 2,500 meter square. Imaging in the medical context means using various technologies such as ionising (plain x-rays, computed tomography, nuclear medicine) and non-ionising radiation (ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging) to diagnose and monitor different conditions (Frija et al., 2021). It is key part of healthcare, however, there exist a big shortage of imaging equipment in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs) (Hricak et la., 2021). For example, there is less than 1 CT scanner for every one million people in LMICs against close to 40 per million in high-income countries (HICs). Further, the shortage is made worse by lack of qualified workforce who can operate these technologies in LMICs where there are only about 1.9 radiologists, radiographers, and medical physicists per one million people.

Access to imaging is critical for the detection and treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and other communicable illnesses like tuberculosis. Further, imaging is essential to ensure timely appropriate treatment of diseases and it would be unethical not to transfer the benefits that state-of-the-art imaging provides in developed countries to low-income countries like Ethiopia. Therefore, lack of these facilities in hospitals, clinics, and healthcare centers compromises the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in LMICs including Ethiopia (Frija et al., 2021). SDG stress the need to focus on primary prevention of diseases and risk reduction as crucial mechanisms for diseases control.

A gap exists in Ethiopia being one of the LMICs in the sense that it does not have a state-of-the-art imaging facilities across the country particularly in the rural parts of the country. Additionally, the country has weak plans to invest in purchasing the equipment required with no priority given because it is believed to be a capital- and labour-intensive initiative (Frija et al., 2021). ETH Investment Company plans to bridge this gap by proposing to build an imaging center covering about 2,500 meter square. Thus, the company is requesting ARBA Minch town government in Ethiopia to allocate it one hectare of land within the town for construction of the facility.

Objectives of the Project

Medical imaging in this facility assist in tracking the progress of an ongoing illness for various patients. MRIs and CT scans will allow the physician to monitor the effectiveness of treatment and adjust protocols as necessary for every patient. The detailed information generated by medical imaging shall ensure that the patients get better, and more comprehensive care. Further, it will increase access to early and quality diagnosis of all non-communicable disease, thus boosting chances of survival among many patients. In addition, it will increase the range of radiology services such that individuals will get opportunities according to their needs and demands.

Companys Overview and ownership

ETH investment group trading under Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency by volume after Bitcoin. It was started by programmer Vitalik Buterin in 2015 as a Blockchain network with an associated cryptocurrency called (ETH). Therefore, it is a software platform developers use to create new applications that can make buying, selling, and using cryptocurrency a smoother process. The company envision an investment that gives freedom to the investor to choose when to make the profit and what ventures to get involved with (Haar, 2022). Further, it looks to create an easy platform that takes care of all crypto currency for all cadres of investors. It equally purposes to provide a diverse array of income streams through the use of the Ethereum Blockchain. As part of its diversification and future plans, ETH is proposing to tap into the Ethiopian medical care market by establishing an imaging center in Minch town.

Government Relations

Health sector is one investment potential area in Ethiopia today and investors can take full advantage of this opportunity through direct investment or joint ventures with locals. Ethiopia regulates business ventures through a commercial code of 1960 that provides a legal framework for undertaking business in the country. Additionally, the investment proclamation (769/2012) gives ETH Company the right to own immovable property necessary for its investment. After completing the paperwork and all the other legal requirements, ETH investment will lobby for support from the Ministry of Health in its selected priority area in the sector. The imaging is a high-end tertiary health service and is exempted from income tax exemption in Ethiopia, thus, ETH will have the opportunity to transfer these benefits to the clients.

Market Study and Strategy

There is a big demand for imaging services in Ethiopia and this presents the opportunity for the company to make profits. The availability and quality of imaging service in the developing countries are mostly poor. Ethiopia is one of the countries where general health service has been compromised by inadequate facilities, poorly maintained infrastructure, and scarcity of medics. There is an increased number of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country that was estimated to account for about estimated to account for 39% of all deaths (Market Insights, 2019). In addition, many of the NCDs occur among the countrys productive age groups of between 20 and 35 years. Hence, the quality of service is compromised by the lack of imaging centers across the country required to conduct advanced diagnosis and monitoring of diseases (Market Insights, 2019). This limitation in local provision has seen emergence of medical tourism in Ethiopia as some small segment of the population seek foreign care. Further, the available centers are concentrated in large cities and towns but limited in the rural areas of the country.

The healthcare system is changing rapidly, and imaging is no different. ETH investment must thus, stay ahead of other facilities, by being in front of other referring providers, patients, and employees in ways that its competitors cannot do. It will have to develop a listening culture to its customers so as to offer services that are customized to their needs (Claikens, 2021). The company will strike to keep its services focus local and tailoring its products to meet the communities demands and in a way that respects the cultures and traditions of the people. Additionally, the personnel who will work at the facility will always stay relevant by demonstrating personality traits such as love, kindness, reliability, trustworthiness, transparency, accountability, and taking responsibility for their actions.

Patients and Doctors need and present demand

Medical imaging is key in many medical settings and at all major healthcare facilities. The use of diagnostic imaging services is essential in confirming, assessing, monitoring and recording the course of many illnesses and response to interventions. Ethiopia like several other low and lower-middle income countries cannot afford imaging equipment (World Health Organization, n.d.). This oftentimes is coupled with the shortage of properly trained and qualified medics to use the machines that aid in providing the services. There exists a demand for imaging services particularly in rural Ethiopia, therefore, ETH had decided to tap into this opportunity by offering solutions through its proposed facility at a local town in ARBA Minch. It will equally hire well trained medics and offer them more capacity building courses on using and managing medical imaging machines in a way that protects patients safety.

Raw and Auxiliary Materials

Primary raw materials for this project will be bricks/blocks, cement, sand, timber, and aggregates. On the other hand, auxiliary material tiles, iron sheets, paints, and nails will be Raw material needed to construct any permanent house are of two categories namely natural types and synthetic ones. It is expected that about 60% of the total cost of building goes to the materials and inputs used (BuildersMart, 2020). Further, the estimation of the cost of materials is dependent on the build-up area.

Firstly, cement will be required in large quantity for preparing concrete RCC structures, in brick masonry works, and for plastering the walls. Approximately 0.4 cement is used per sqft, thus 1000 bag of 50 kg cement will be needed for 2,500 sqft house (BuildersMart, 2020). Secondly sand will be used for preparing RCC, mortar, plaster, filling, and flooring. 1.8 cubic ft. of sand is used for 1 sqft, therefore, 4500 cubic ft. will be needed for 2,500 sqft building (BuildersMart, 2020). Thirdly, about 3357 cubic ft. of aggregates for mixing sand, cement, and water will be used. About 5250 kilograms of steel bars to be used for reinforcement of cement concretes. Bricks or blocks of the same size and color should be used in the construction, and about 8500 of them will be used.

The buildings finishing will require paints and finishers that are waterproof, durable, and highly resistant to climatic conditions. The building will need to use paints for both interior and exterior sections. Build-up area walls will consume 350 and 100 liters of paints for internal and external parts of the building respectively. There will be tiles for floor sections of the building that will approximately be around 500 in total for 2ft x 2 ft tiles (BuildersMart, 2020). Other materials will be in the form of iron sheets, plumbing and electricity items, wooden products for doors, windows, tables, chairs and others. However, these are just estimates, the materials may vary depending on quality, location and brands.

Services in the Imaging Centre

The imaging center will be equipped with the latest digital enabled systems that have the capacity to provide advanced services. The services will include X-Ray, Ultrasound, Mammography, CT scan, MRI Suites, Urethrographic, and pharmacy (Imaging & Radiology, 2021). This will be actualized by a highly skilled and experienced team of doctors, radiologist, and radiology technologists working around the clock to meet demands of the clients. It will install a cutting-edge picture storage and communication system (PACS) that will enable the viewing of digital images almost instantly upon completion of every assessment (German Medical Center, 2022). Further, the PACS will reduce the turnaround time of report results. Lastly, all the services at the facility will be offer on daily basis for 24 hours per day.

Imaging Pharmacy Service

Imaging focuses on visuals of the interior parts of the human body through the use of an array of technologies. ETH will involve the use of specialized pharmacists who understand the incorporation of pharmaceuticals as adjunct agents in the extract of diagnostic imaging information. This will be critical because in several instances the procedures will mostly depend on the administration of agents. For example, in X-ray, pharmaceuticals are used to give various levels of contrast between the organs and the body to aid in clarity of the picture (Weatherman, n.d.). The ETH team understand the risks some of these agents carry and the potential of causing serious reactions that must be monitored. Therefore, it will employ the best Pharmacists with unique knowledge and understanding of drug therapy as providers of drug data related to diagnostic imaging.

Urgent care service

The center will have urgent care facilities such X-ray machines, specialized equipment for ultrasounds, mammograms, and digital X-rays. In addition, there will be a team of staff with excellent experience ready to serve emergency cases. The urgent care services will be managed by well trained and qualified medics in all modalities that patients will seek from the facility (Watson Image Center, 2020). All the staff working at this care unit will be individual radiologists who are registered and certified by the board in Ethiopia and are dedicated to deliver precise and accurate services.

Radiology Reading Service

ETH team will provide an on-site radiology and interpretation solutions to clients. This will be made possible through a team of certified and subspecialty trained radiologists that will give a range of services such as on-site radiology services, teleradiology setup services, radiology department support services, and radiology-related IT services support. The group will be at hand to help both at the medical imaging center in ARBA Minch and remotely (Flatworld Solutions, 2022). The company will equally provide technology consultation, imaging protocol assistance, powerful data storage, and imaging accreditation assistance.

Location and Infrastructure

This medical imaging center will be located in ARBA Minch town in Ethiopia. The town has an approximate population of about 200,000 people and it is the gateway to the rural riches of the southern part of the country (Ker & Downey, n.d.). It is made up of two small centers called Shecha which host the administrative duties and Sikela which serves as the commercial hub of the town. Currently, the urban center is experiencing rapid urbanization and it has grown from the fragmented shanty of 1950s to mid-1970s to a modest town (Jenberu & Admasu, 2020). Its built-up land mass has increased by 780 hectares, and the population increase has compromised the settlement leading to housing shortage and proliferations of informal settlements in different parts of the town.

Further, the town management has over the years been facing serious challenge of poor or mismanagement of vacant land spaces. Clearly, pointing to the scarcity of land availability for any massive physical infrastructure development. The major sources of water in the town are underground and forty spring which are natural. The city is connected to the national grid, however, electricity is highly affected by a continuous power interruption and outage from the main grid (Ahmed, 2016). Therefore, the reliability of power in ARBA Minch is poor which calls for other mechanisms to mitigate on interruption interruptions each day.

Land

ETH management team will engage the Minch local town government to get allocation of one hectare of land for the construction of the facility, and installation of other utilities. This will be done in accordance with Ethiopian national government laws and regulations governing the acquisition of land for private commercial development. Further, the company will seek to get full rights to use the allocated land within the town from the local, through the approval of the regional government.

Location of choice

RBA Minch has two settlements where the Secha area predominantly host the administrative offices of the towns local government and those of the national government of Ethiopia. On the other hand, the Sikella urban center is where many residential settlements of the people working and living town are based. The best location of choice will around the Sikella settlement area of the town because of its vicinity to majority of the citys population who reside there. This will save them the transport cost, time they use to move to the Secha section of the town and will be easily accessible even during night hours (Diagnostics Marketing, n.d.). Therefore, ETH investment is proposing that the ARBA Minch town government should grant its management one hectare of land around Sikella settlement of the city. Although, there is the need to have the center close to a referral where physicians are readily available, that cannot of override the convenience it should offer the clients and can always be mitigated.

Radiology room types

Radiographic equipment and room

The radiology rooms will be designed to meet the diagnostic demands and needs of all types of patients challenges. The rooms will enable comfortability of clients and shorten their waiting time by reducing examination through the use of innovative tools that enhances workflows efficiency. They will be versatile, have digital diagnosis C90 live tube head camera configurations and exam automation technologies that allows excellent patient through put (Philips, 2022). Further, the cameras will have ELEVA tube head that assist with speeding up of workflow by 28 seconds per examination, thereby giving easier collimation through an integrated touchscreen. The facility will have a state-of-the art PAC system for archiving, retrieving, presenting and sharing all digital image files.

Ultrasound Room

Room setup is essential and must be to both the physician and patient satisfaction. The assessment pedestal table and ultrasound gadget will be suited to accommodate the medics handedness and to enable the client and the practitioner to have ergonomic single visual field viewpoint of ultrasound images needle guiding purposes. The room will have a 36-42 inch flat screen on a tilting ceiling to give the best image viewing of the patient (radiology Key, 2018). Additionally, there will be a second screen of the same size to enable the clients neck, the biopsy needle, and the ultrasound image to be seen by the physician through a single narrow visual field.

Mammography Room

Based on FGI Guidelines: 2.2-3.4.3.4, a Mammography room on minimum 100 square feet. It will have a visual privacy for patients and viewpoints by the public or other paints will be block when it is in use. Additionally, it shall have a hand washing station in the procedure section (Guest Contributor, 2019). Further, changing units for the patients will be immediately accessible to the waiting area and procedure sections. Mammography room will be made in such that when clients are brought in from the waiting unit, they will sit in a sub-wait area until the technician is ready to start working on them. There will be individual lockers where patient will keep their items as they wait for the radiologist to conduct the assessment. Once the operations for each day are complete, all dressing rooms will be restocked and the gown hamper made empty.

Computed Tomography

Cross-sections of the tomography will be reconstructed from measurements of attenuation coefficients of x-ray beams passing through the volume of the object. CT will be placed to enable the remodeling of the density of the body, by a two-dimensional section perpendicular to the axis of the accession system. There will be CT X-ray tube with energy levels of about 20 to 150 keV that shall emit photons per unit time (Foster, 2022). Attenuation figures of the x-ray beam will be recorded and the information used to build a 3D representation of scanned tissues. The computer used will have an inbuilt algorithm for image reconstruction, so as to give quality tomographic images of the patient from the processed CT data.

MRI Room

MIR room will be designed to have scan unit where the magnet will be placed and patients are scanned. There will equipment section that will hold electronic gadgets and connect to the magnet, the control, and changing units as well. MIR suite facility will have enough space approximately about 800-850 sqft to accommodate the suite, waiting sections, hallways, and offices (Rentz, 2021). In general, the room layout will in such a way that it will offer excellent patients comfort and staff workflow.

Building and Room Construction and civil works

ETH proposes to construct a medical imaging building that shall covers 2,500 meter square. Phase 1 that will involve the raising up a house and installation of the equipment shall take about three years to complete. In this period, X-RAY, ULTRASOUND and Mammography suit alongside with urgent care center and Pharmacy will be fitted into the new premise. Further, the structure will have patient intake area, Doctors and Radiology office, Patient waiting area, Conference center, shop and cafeteria facility for patients. There will be a cafeteria together will a shop unit that will be open to all visitors for breakfast, lunch, dinner, buying of items (St. Marys General Hospital, 2022). However, it will have a strict procedure in which patients will only be served food that is recommended and approved by authorized caregivers and ordered through the diet office of the facility as a way of complying with nutritional requirements for each patient.

In Phase I the company Plan to construct the building and will install the equipment that consist of X-RAY, ULTRASOUND and Mammography suit alongside with urgent care center and Pharmacy. In addition, the building consists of patient intake area, Doctors and Radiology office, Patient waiting area, Conference center, shop and cafeteria facility for patients. In phase 2, the company projects to have used 100% of all its funding cost that currently stand at 15 million at this proposal stage of the project. Further, it is focusing on generating profits from the phase 1 by the end of the 4^th year of the project, thus, it will use these proceeds at the 5^th year to install CT SCAN and MRI Scan equipment.

Table 1: Showing budget for construction and equipment for phases 1 and 2.

Water and Electricity

The major utilities needed for the facility will be water and electricity. At all the times the ETH investment will ensure there is a constant supply of drinking water because, it is important that the patients have their bladder full before ultrasound test is carried out. Drinking water will allow urinary bladder to expand, thus, giving a medic a clear view of the patients kidneys, and its surrounding structures (Innovative Open MRI, 2022). Additionally, women are required to have their bladder full when they go for ultrasound; this enables the visualization and examination of the baby and the pelvic organs. Apart from this clean water will be used for all other operations, services, and washrooms within the facility.

ETH team will ensure that there is access to energy because it is critical to the functionality of all the imagining facilities. Electricity supply shall at all the time quality and reliable for 24 hours a day at the medical center. Electricity is necessary for the operation of basic amenities including lighting, cooling, ventilation, communications, and clean water supply (World Health Organization, 2022). The company will not compromise on power supply or allow it to be inadequate and unreliable at the facility because that could negatively impact the quality of health-care services, thereby making the patients to feel unsafe. To mitigate on the unforeseen electricity outrages, the plans to install and automatic generator that shall stabilize the supply whenever there is fluctuation or power is lost from the national grid.

Management team and labor

ETH Company will be managed by a board of directors who will be critical in shaping the policy and making decision on the best way to run the medical imaging center. Below, there will be a team of middle level managers and technologist. The company shall employ the center manager, accounting and finance manager, sales and marketing manager, and director of medical services to run the day to day activities. Additionally, it will bring on board experts such as radiologist, medical doctors, pharmacists, orthopedic technician, X-ray tech, Mamo tech, Ultrasound tech and audio visual and electricians. Further down, will be receptionists, bookkeeper, Janitor, grounds keeper and maintenance, and security guards contracted from a security firm. To maintain these groups of workers, the company propose to remunerate them as indicated in table 2 below.

Table 2: Proposed employees salaries.

Patient capacity

The ETH team will use a mathematical algorithm in making decision on the number of patients to be allowed in different rooms at any given time. This will be dependent on whether the patients are classified as inpatient (hospitalized), outpatient, or emergency cases. The Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) will be used to model the dynamics of the system to provide the best feasible solution (Zattar da Silver et al., 2021). This system called advanced scheduling will determine the number of patients to be admitted and how the available capacity shall be distributed among different patients who are waiting to get the service.

Financial Analysis of the Project

The total investment cost of the project including working capital is estimated to be $668,000, of which 60%will be generated from the shareholders and the remaining 40% raised from external sources like bank loan. After the first 4 years immediately phase one of the projects is completed in the third year of its implementation, the company expects to start realizing profits that will seal the shortfall which could arise during the full implementation cycle.

SWOT Analysis

The strength of the project lies in its unique services that are tailored to the local demand and cultures of residence of Minch town. Further, the ability of the company to employ highly qualified staff and leveraging on the technology and innovation to drive its service delivery. On the other hand, weakness could come in the form of the choice of location as it could limit access to the services to many people who are in the rural parts of Ethiopia. Opportunities for this facility is seen in the tapping of online system to roll out massive remote services to reach many people in the entire country. However, the threats arise when the Ethiopian government make or review laws that might affect the operations in future.

Socio Economic Benefits

The center will create direct jobs for a good number of its staff who will in turn boost their disposable income and increase their purchasing power. Additionally, complementary services will be established around the facility and this will further, create employment for many people (Dunham & Associates, 2019). Consequently, the establishment of the imaging center will generate revenue in the form of taxes such as pay as you earn and direct income tax it will pay to the government of Ethiopia. In addition, the firms and individuals engaged with the supply of items and consultancy services will be able to generate more revenue and expand their profit margins. Lastly, it will assist with detection of various non-communicable disease, thereby helping people getting early treatments that makes them stay healthy and economically productive.

Waste disposal strategies

All the waste will be treated close to the point of its production as recommended by WHO. Therefore, the management team will demand 100% responsibility from all employees of the imaging center who will be directly in the processes for the segregation of the waste to be done at the places where they were created. Further, the hospital will shred the waste to ensure maximum penetration of the steam more effectively and it reduces the waste volume to about 20% (Celitron, n.d.). Additionally, the ETH team will use other disposal mechanisms such as incineration, chemical disinfection, wet (autoclaving) and dry thermal treatment, microwave irradiation, and inertization.

Bank Loan and Repayment

The ETH investment took a loan worth 40% of its all its initial costs of construction, installation and other expenses in the immediate term. The company will commence payment of its loan obligation six (6) months after the completion of phase 1 of the project in the third year. The structure of the payment proposed will be on monthly equal installments. However, should the cash flow at the initial stages of the implementation be weak, the company and the lending bank agreed to revert to the annuity repayment structure (Yescombe, 2022). This method maintants principal and interest payments level throughout the loan term.

Conclusion

ETH management team expects revenue flow to start in the fourth year of the project implementation after the successful completion of phase 1. It is expected to scale up in the fifth year when the phase 2 of the project implementation is completed and by the end of the sixth year the first full revenue generated will be realized. Accordingly, the company projects that its initial profits will be realized by the fourth year in operation. However, full profit margin estimates will be estimated in the sixth year after completion of phase 2. During the projects life cycle, important ratios such as profit to total sales, net profit equity, return on total investment, and profit and loss statement will be used to predict the trends in the profitability of the investment.

References

Ahmed, H. (2016). Electricity power distribution system reliability assessment of Arba Minch City, Ethiopia. International Journal of Current Research.

BuildersMart. (2020). Building materials quantities for house construction.

Claikens, B. (2021). Creating and delivering service value in medical imaging departments, the marketing imperative. Journal of the Belgian Sociology of Radiology, 105 (1).

Celitron. (n.d.). Medical waste management and disposal methods.

Diagnostics Marketing. (n.d.). Where & how to start an imaging center.

Dunham, J., & Associates. (2019). The economic impact of the medical imaging technology industry in Massachusetts. Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance.

Flatworld Solutions. (2022). On-site radiology and interpretation services.

Frija, G., et al. (2021). How to improve access to medical imaging in low- and middle-income countries?Elsevier.

Foster, T. (2022). Computed tomography. Radiopaedia.

German Medical Centre. (2022). Medical imaging and radiology.

Guest Contributor. (2019). Considerations when designing a mammography suite.

Haar, r. (2022). Ethereum: what you should know before you invest. Next advisor.

Hricak, H., et al. (2021). Imaging and nuclear medicine: a lancet oncology commission. Imaging and Radiology. (2021). Teklehaimanot General Hospital.

Innovative Open MRI. (2022). Why do you need to drink water for an ultrasound?

Jenberu, A. A., & Admasu, T. (2020). Urbanization and land use pattern in Arba Minch town, Ethiopia: driving forces and challenges.Research Gate.

Key & Downey. (n.d.). Arba Minch.

Market Insights. (2019). Ethiopias leading diagnostics centers.AsokoInsight.

Ministry of Health. (2016). Investment process in Ethiopias health sector. Web.

Philips. (2022). Creating a premium DR room like no other with Philips digitaldiagnost C90.

Radiology Key. (2018). Selection and Setup of Ultrasound in Point-of-Care Medical Practice.

Rentz, S. (2021). 1.5T MRI suite size requirements.Block Imaging.

St. Marys General Hospital. (2022). Cafeteria.

Watson Image Center. (2020). Specialty Diagnostic Imaging Centers versus Urgent Care.

Weatherman, K. D. (n.d.). Diagnostic Imaging and the role of the pharmacist.

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Strengthening medical imaging. Web.

World Health Organization. (2022). Accelerating access to electricity supply in health-care facilities. Web.

Yescombe, E. R. (2022). Financial structuring.Science Direct.

Zattar da Silver, R. B, Fogliatto, F. S., Krindges, A., & Cecconello, M. S. (2021). Dynamic capacity allocation in a radiology service considering different types of patients, individual no-show probabilities, and overbooking. BMC.

Professional Bodies Related to the Profession

The profession of an engineering technologist belongs to the number of well-paid jobs that require a wide range of skills and specific knowledge. Speaking about the profession, it needs to be said that such specialists can work in a wide range of industries where it is necessary to apply theoretical concepts and models in order to improve production processes and properly utilize accepted working practices.

When it comes to the United Kingdom in general and London in particular, it is necessary to highlight that, due to the high degree of economic development of the country, some numerous institutions and associations discuss, set, and use requirements to engineering technologists and make a contribution to their professional development. Among them, there is the Engineering Council of the United Kingdom that is the institution responsible for accreditation and registration of engineering technologists.

Apart from that, the institution conducts consultations concerning the most recent professional standards defining the skills that specialists must demonstrate to obtain official certificates. Due to these consultations, young specialists are provided with all the necessary information helping to achieve professional registration. The information concerning the number of members of the organization is not available.

The organization has a significant impact on the engineering profession in London and other cities in the United Kingdom as it sets standards that are used to evaluate the applicants who want to be registered as qualified engineers. Among these standards, there are UK SPEC and ICT Tech that describe communication skills, responsibilities, professional skills, and ethical principles related to the profession.

Another institution that regulates the profession in the United Kingdom is the Institution of Engineering and Technology that is headquartered in London. The organization has existed for more than one hundred years. Nowadays, the primary aim of the given organization is to utilize recognized standards related to the profession and consider the applications of specialists who would like to obtain professional registration that provides numerous benefits even outside the United Kingdom.

The number of IET members exceeds 160,000 people, and it makes the organization one of the most popular in the country. Acting as a representative of EC that has been mentioned, IET uses the same standards and promotes ethical standards for engineering technologists and other engineering specialists. Besides, it is regarded as an organization that provides training for individuals willing to work in the field.

Apart from these two institutions associated with this profession in the United Kingdom, there is the Engineering Technologists Mobility Forum what was organized due to the concerted efforts of national organizations in six countries including the United Kingdom. The particular organizations related to this forum provide specialists in engineering technology with the opportunity to obtain professional registration and be recognized by IntET. Using professional and ethical standards and modern information resources, these organizations provide opportunities for continuous professional development to their clients and applicants.

Market Research

Nowadays, there is a high demand for construction and consulting services in London and other cities of the United Kingdom. The business plan that will be developed within the frame of the assignment will focus on the strengths and weaknesses of a new business related to engineering technology services. There is no doubt that the establishment of new companies should always be preceded by a thorough market analysis as the latter remains the most credible source of knowledge helping future entrepreneurs to define the methods to increase their businesses competitive advantage in advance. In this connection, the presence of competitors and factors that increase their popularity among customers can be regarded as one of the most important points of analysis.

The business plan will discuss the establishment of an engineering consulting company based in London. The company that will be created will work on the development and implementation of construction projects both for companies in the city and particular citizens. The actions to maintaining the trust of our target clients will include the establishment of a discount system for standing clients, regular training courses for employees, and the creation of a social media marketing strategy.

Nowadays, there are a number of large companies that provide similar services. Among them, there is WS Atkins that is a multinational company that works with customers with almost thirty countries. Nowadays, the company is recognized as one of the largest design organizations in the world, and it makes WS Atkins the key business rival. The planned company is going to be much smaller than WS Atkins, and this is why it will be rather difficult for this new business to attract the attention of target customers at the beginning of its operation.

When it comes to the most obvious advantages that WS Atkins has, it is pivotal to mention that it offers a variety of services related to construction and consultancy to companies in different parts of the world. This company presents the strongest business rival to the new company that will be created not only due to the number of services that it provides. Apart from that, the company has a strong positive reputation as its projects are well-known. Among the most famous projects that have been developed and executed by specialists from WS Atkins, there is Newport (a railway station), Mecca Metro in Saudi Arabia, Lulu shopping mall, and the Address Downtown Dubai (a skyscraper) (Project showcase n.d.).

Another company that can be considered as a key competitor of new engineering consulting companies in London is PHS Construction Ltd that is a construction company headquartered in London (Cohen, Reichl & Schmidthaler 2014). PHS Construction provides building and consulting services to companies in London and other cities in the United Kingdom. Apart from that, specialists from PHS Construction design unique projects from scratch, providing solutions related to design and planning. The company has already implemented more than 1700 projects designed for companies and private citizens in the area.

Consulting services that the company provides are appreciated by numerous clients. As it has been mentioned in the report, the new company that will be created will provide project design and construction services to two categories of clients: companies and citizens. Taking into account that PHS Construction primarily focuses on small projects related to home design, the effective work of this organization may have a negative impact on the attractiveness of our new company for private clients. At the same time, WS Atkins will be our primary competitor if the emphasis is placed on collaboration with corporate clients.

B&G Construction also belongs to the number of large and successful construction and consulting companies working with private and corporate clients in London and other cities of the United Kingdom. In addition, it designs and implements its projects in Sweden and France. The range of services that the company offers to its clients includes minor building works such as the installation of roof extensions, the restoration of old buildings, and plastering that are usually provided to private clients.

More than that, the organization also provides commercial building services to small and large companies and offers consultations to those people and companies who want their construction projects to be assessed and improved. The portfolio of the company includes numerous projects such as Cadogan Gardens (one of the luxurious hotels in London). Considering the quality of service that it provides and the fact that the organization already has a strong positive reputation in the city, B&G Construction is likely to be one of the key competitors of the company that is going to be established.

Among the key advantages that all companies that have been analyzed have, there is a strong positive reputation manifested in the great number of successful projects and the variety of services that companies provide. In addition, it needs to be said that these companies have stable organizational structures, and tasks are distributed among specialists in different departments. Due to task distribution, the potential competitors of the business that is being planned to ensure the high quality of all services that are provided. The company that will be created will need to utilize similar principles and put emphasis on quality and proper marketing strategy to become popular among target customers within a short period of time.

In order to identify those companies that can be regarded as key competitors for the business that will be created, the number of references in the media and customer recommendations available on the Internet was considered. In general, there are numerous ways to conduct market research to learn more about target customers, define their primary needs, and analyze factors that impact their purchasing decisions. In general, there are two approaches to conducting market research surveys.

First, tools helping to study markets and their properties can be used to describe markets or industries in general and single out key market players. Apart from that, surveys can be conducted by particular companies that would like to know more about the attitude of common people to their brands and the perceived quality of their products.

The construction market is studied by researchers from different countries. For instance, there are official reports that are devoted to the key tendencies related to the construction market in the United Kingdom and outline the structure of the sector that can be used to create the future business plan.

This report can be used as a valuable source for the business plan because it touches upon different aspects of the market, the use of innovation in construction services, and future problems that companies in this sector may face (UK construction: an economic analysis of the sector 2013). Considering that this source uses only official statistical data, its importance for the process of strategy development cannot be overstated.

Another source that uses the results of market research surveys in combination with the official statistics was conducted by Turner and Townsend, a British company. The source focuses on the global construction market and the average amount of money spent on construction activities in different countries and cities.

According to the findings that the company reports, the construction market in London has a significant impact on market tendencies and the demand for construction services in the United Kingdom (International construction market survey 2016). The source can be used to create an effective development strategy that will be discussed in the business plan.

Reference List

Cohen, JJ, Reichl, J & Schmidthaler, M 2014, Re-focusing research efforts on the public acceptance of energy infrastructure: a critical review, Energy, vol. 76, pp. 4-9.

International construction market survey 2016. 2016. Web.

Project showcase n.d. Web.

UK construction: an economic analysis of the sector. 2013. Web.

Introduction

Malaysia currently ranks among the leading states that support and encourage project initiatives related to sustainable urban development and so-called green urbanism. The Malaysian government promotes policies and development plans that suggest various strategies of improving green networks and increasing energy efficiency in cities (Aziz 2016).

Cyberjaya was created to be a pioneering community in green technology and is meant to serve as an example for other cities of Malaysia to adopt environmentally friendly development strategies. The city is now actively involved in the construction of green buildings, sustainable houses, and cooling systems (Jereme et al. 2015). However, despite a considerable number of green initiatives, it has only one large-scale project related to open-air recreational zones: the Cyberjaya Lake Gardens. This area covers 1.6 square kilometers and is considered to be the primary landscaped space of the city. More than 6 hectares of this territory are occupied by the lake, which attracts many tourists and locals alike (Abidin 2016).

The idea of the green city project is to shift the focus of attention away from the Garden City Concept itself and instead turn the only garden in the city into a city-in-a-garden. To this end, the project aims to expand the borders of the garden until it covers the whole residential area. This goal implies incorporating green technology principles during the development stage of building construction. Through this project, Cyberjaya will be integrated into the existing natural environment and become an uninterrupted open space. Furthermore, the expanded wetlands will filter water naturally, which can be a perfect cost-saving replacement for traditional filtration systems (Abidin 2016).

Thus, the aim of the research at hand is to analyze the future of the above-mentioned green project of Cyberjaya in terms of its practical implementation and its ability to achieve the desired result of a green city.

The objectives of the study include the following:

1. To analyze existing literature concerning green township and its possible applicability to Cyberjaya;
2. To outline the values that can be derived from the planned landscape project;
3. To propose a specific project implementation plan;
4. To identify associated risks;
5. To analyze the outcomes of the project.

Literature Review: Green Township Significance and Social Impacts

Despite the fact that the idea of promoting environmentally friendly technology and enlarging green spaces in cities has gained popularity only recently, the concept of environmental sustainability and efficiency had already appeared by the 1970s. However, the forecasts of population growth were rather pessimistic: Most studies on the topic came to the conclusion that societys striving for prosperity and technological advancement would result in both economic and environmental collapse within 50 years (Abidin 2016).

The Bruntland Report (1987) and the Rio Declaration (1982) were released to propose effective plans that would allow communities to switch from the classical models of development to more sustainable ones, making it possible for city communities to adjust to ecological deterioration, climatic changes, increasing levels of carbon dioxide, and pollution. Yet, despite the fact that these were considerable steps forward that attracted a great deal of public attention to a serious problem, the concept of green township was not developed as a separate strategy, and the related recommendations were limited to a number of unconnected steps (Hosseini & Wahid 2014).

Still, the increased attention of the community made Malaysian cities more aware of environmental problems as well as the marketing benefits of becoming more sustainable. They started to encourage environmental development in order to increase their ecological capacity, which would be beneficial not only for the community at large but also for investors and businesses as it would allow them to save money (San Onga et al. 2016).

The concept was later transformed into so-called green development or green urbanism as it implied the implementation of a set of ecological measures that would also be economically profitable: For instance, sustainability could be increased by introducing lifestyle changes such as walking or cycling instead of driving; by rejecting types of energy production that create pollution in favor of more sustainable, ecologically clean energy sources; and by promoting environmental restoration policies for areas that have been severely damaged by human activities (Hosseini & Wahid 2014).

For cities like Cyberjaya, initially planned to be an environmentally friendly community, it would mean, first and foremost, that the construction of buildings would have to be switched to a new policy: Classical models had to be replaced by environmentally friendly ones in which spatiality would be extended into green township. Such cities were built to serve as an example to others, showing how to achieve a more sustainable technological future that would not cause the destruction of the environment but would use it to gain economic advantage.

Indeed, the greatest problem indicated by researchers today is the increased urbanism across the planet, a tendency that is unlikely to change over the next decade and that will result in 60% of the global population living in cities. Given this trend, the task at hand is not to make the population go back to villages and small towns but rather to reduce the impact of climatic changes in big cities in order to make them more suitable for living (Hosseini & Wahid 2014).

Many historical references to the idea of garden cities can be encountered both in professional and fictional literature. However, never before 1898 was the concept used as a part of a real implementation plan. The concept was suggested by Sir Ebenezer Howard who incorporated a green element into the modern planning of cities and insisted on furthering the development of garden cities.

The environmental problems of cities had been addressed long before, and there were many different strategies developed to deal with the consequences of the Industrial Revolution. However, for the first time, it was proposed to switch from focusing on problems to instead developing sustainable cities that would result in the appearance of well-structured, self-contained communities that would become a part of green areas and host industries that would not damage the environment. Furthermore, this idea brought the issue of carbon emissions to the forefront, highlighting its economic disadvantages as well as its ruinous impact on human health, which brought even more attention to green elements (Supni et al. 2015).

Thus, the government of Malaysia has become attracted to the idea of resolving environmental challenges by implementing and promoting a comprehensive policy of green township that, in its wider interpretation, includes site-specific green concepts. For Cyberjaya, the implementation of the project was facilitated by the fact that the city was initially planned as an ecologically friendly area with a number of green buildings and facilities and a special green urban design in architecture. Yet, the city was still striving to create a so-called green neighborhood, a process which can be characterized as follows (Supni et al. 2015):

• Considerably reducing their negative ecological impact;
• Acknowledging their contributions to the larger community and global environmental crisis and acting accordingly;
• Trying to plan all actions and policies so that they work together;
• Switching from a linear to a circular system of environmental awareness;
• Addressing both domestic and global problems of self-sufficiency that would include all related problems (e.g. healthy food production and distribution, power generation, a reduction in carbon dioxide levels);
• Encouraging a healthy lifestyle for the population that would make it possible to reduce hospital admissions to a minimum;
• Striving for the achievement of a high quality of life in all aspects of city planning and development.

Following the criteria enumerated above, Cyberjaya was to become not only a community that implements ecological policies and protects the environment but also an integrated planned habitat that is continuously involved in ecological improvement, which includes concerns over efficient resource distribution, public health promotion, safety, and the overall well-being of the population. Since the city already had a vast territory occupied by a park, the project was viewed as one that could actually be implemented in practice (San Onga et al. 2016).

Moreover, the local community was attached to this area, and most of the city population already preferred to spend free time in the Lake Gardens, which meant that expanding the garden to the whole community was sure to be supported by the majority of residents.

Yet, the idea went much further than the simple planting of more trees or the enlarging of park territory; indeed, it would involve the development of waste-free, transportation-efficient, low-carbon, sustainable practices that would be incorporated in the construction of new areas and would transform the old ones (Bohari et al. 2016). Parks would be included in the project not simply as recreational zones but as the lungs of the city, making it possible to reduce carbon output and achieve a higher quality of air and waterthe latter of which is especially relevant to Cyberjaya and its famous lake.

Living, working, shopping, playing sports, and resting were all supposed to be combined within the new framework since green urbanism represents community cohesion and a shared commitment to green consciousness in all activities. Efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions were supposed to be multidirectional, the idea being that the quality of life, accommodation, education, and even mental health of people largely depend on their surroundings.

Well-designed and properly managed green spaces were recognized by the Malaysian government to be crucial for the development of businesses as well. That is why the majority of companies operating in the area had to switch from traditional modes of operation to sustainable ones (Supni et al. 2015).

It was decided that the whole community of Cyberjaya was to contribute to the development and incorporation of green elements into daily life: Green spaces and corridors, trees planted in the streets, roof gardens, and other innovations were made a priority among residents, who were further encouraged to propose their own initiatives on how to improve the area (Bohari et al. 2016).

The idea of green township is primarily based not on the amount of green landscape but on green performance, ranging from effective water and air management to energy-saving systems. However, the most important aspect of this concept is changing the attitude of the population and creating a unique vision that provides clear guidelines for this new way of life. A new way of life necessitates a new way of thinking and thus relies upon the commitment of all residents. It would be useless to expand the area of the Lake Gardens by planting new trees unless all the other steps enumerated above are taken.

This was the conclusion ultimately reached by the Malaysian government, which has had significant experience promoting environmental innovations in a number of its city plans since the introduction of the 8^th Malaysia Plan (2001-2005). The common idea of such projects is to intensify the sustainable use of resources and to propose efficient environmental initiatives that cover the industrial, residential, and commercial sectors simultaneously.

The success of any project is usually measured by its ability to become law, making it a standard or a guideline to be implemented on a larger scale in a number of cities across the country. The government has already come up with its National Physical Plan (NPP) and National Urbanization Policy (NUP), both of which provide a national framework for achieving a totally new status by 2020. The policies can be summarized as follows (Bohari et al. 2016):

• A transit-oriented development (TOD2) concept was proposed to increase the viability of public transportation in busy areas while developing walkway connections.
• Solid waste disposal and pollution recovery facilities were created for urban areas to improve their current ecological state; moreover, the National Solid Waste Master Plan entails recycling, collection, and disposal.
• Electricity generation plants were built to provide a supply of green energy to consumers as they generate energy from sun, wind, biomass, and water instead of using traditional sources that damage the environment.

All these introduced acts and launched projects demonstrate that the nation is ready to support green urbanism. This intention was reflected in Malaysias National Urbanization Policy, signed in 2006, which regulates the utilization of open spaces (including their use for tourism), waste management, urban growth, transport development, and renewable energy generation. For cities including Cyberjaya, this policy entails the follow strategies (Bohari et al. 2016):

• Using land for urbanization optimally, especially concerning green areas and natural landmarks as all new buildings must be compatible with the surroundings;
• Promoting urban regeneration and re-development programs to save costs;
• Meeting the needs of the population in green areas that would have a minimal level of carbon emissions;
• Creating cost-effective transportation systems that are easy to use and do not pollute the environment (including the promotion of bicycles and electric cars);
• Building toxic waste management systems and programs including the use of biodegradable materials;
• Developing housing that would use solar energy; and
• Reducing noise levels.

Case Study

Value Analysis of the Landscape for Cyberjaya

As mentioned previously, the Lake Gardens play a significant role for tourism in the region as a lot of people come to see this natural landmark, bringing the city considerable economic benefit. However, it would be wrong to assume that the concept of city landscape is reduced to the appreciation of the beauty of the park. On the contrary, city landscape refers to the whole infrastructure and ecology of the city, the geological structure of the soil, its animals and vegetation, and all human activities related to the use of the land that lead to both positive and negative transformations. Generally speaking, the landscape entails both natural resources and peoples interactions with them (Teo 2014).

Thus, the role of the City-in-the-Garden project is hard to overestimate: Its implementation will lead to a substantial transformation of the city landscape, increasing the number of benefits that the Gardens currently contribute to the city. The possible future benefits include the following four major aspects (Bohari et al. 2016):

1. Giving aesthetic pleasure through the experience of beauty: Although it is often considered a side effect by market analysts, in fact, landscape may inspire many people to launch new green projects, construct buildings, and re-organize public places. Moreover, landscape is a shared experience of the whole city population, providing conditions for people to realize their identity. Another important fact about the beauty of the landscape is that it leads to the cultural development of the city, as many artists, composers, directors, writers, poets, designers, and photographers get inspiration from their surroundings. As a result, the community development of Cyberjaya will be increased as the Gardens move beyond being a tourist attraction and acquire a new status as a vehicle of values.
2. Preserving nature and maintaining the biological diversity of the city: The ecosystem of any highly developed city suffers from urbanization that affects the natural vegetation, flora, and fauna. Indeed, human interventions are rarely positive. In the majority of cases, the influence of rapid industrial development is ruinous to the environment. Cyberjaya is to become an exception to the rule, as the project is designed to change the nature of urbanization by promoting green industries, green construction strategies, and green jobs to conserve the biological abundance of the city.
3. Conserving the history of the city: All monuments, landmarks, and buildings that constitute the landscape also have the purpose of preserving human history. The population of Cyberjaya will have an unprecedented impact on the development of the city, giving future generations the chance to dwell there in harmony with nature. This will also increase the environmental consciousness of the population by changing peoples attitudes not only to this particular landmark but also to the city as a whole.
4. Providing a source of recreation and an attraction for tourists: The Lake Gardens already enjoy immense popularity among tourists as many come to the city to visit them. This popularity will only grow as the area is expanded. The public use of natural landmarks not only serves recreational purposes but also gives the city economic benefits. People expect such areas to offer all kinds of activities including walking, biking, climbing, gliding, taking photographs, organizing picnic and parties, swimming, and more. When the green area covers the whole city, the number of activities there will be practically unlimited.

Establishing Economic Value

The creation of strong economic value deserves a separate discussion. Any property development, even one related to environmental conservation, pursues the ultimate goal of making profit. The landscape project of Cyberjaya presents the selected area as an asset that promotes the distinctive character of the city and determines the direction of business and environmental activities in the future. Still, appropriate mechanisms and marketing strategies are required to establish the strong value of this property since it is not privately owned and is unlikely to attract investors at the present moment. First and foremost, it is important to emphasize the fact that landscapes provide the following services to the economy (Samarrokhi et al. 2014):

• Attracting artistic professionals whose work increases the touristic popularity of the city;
• Creating opportunities for physical exercise and sports, which in turn may lead some investors to build sports grounds, playgrounds, and stadiums in the Gardens to make it possible for professional sportsmen to train in the open;
• Providing recreational opportunities to local residents, which will open a wide range of business opportunities for real estate, sales, and entertainment;
• Acting as a carbon sink and reducing the level of other dangerous emissions, which is economically beneficial as it eliminates the need to devise more expensive ways of pollution management.

It can be logically deduced that some of the given benefits are obtained directly from the area itself, while others are indirect and do not require any financial investments to be received. Economic profits from the Lake Gardens are obtained in the following ways (Samarrokhi et al. 2014):

1. Direct use values: Such benefits are received as a result of the use of the natural landscape by people. This category is usually subdivided into extractive and non-extractive values; the former presupposes the use of the area for timber and non-timber products, which could be obtained without having to cut trees (e.g. flowers, mushrooms, berries, fruit, roots, herbs) and later consumed or sold. The latter values are connected with recreational benefits, research projects, and educational and commercial studies that make it possible to analyze new opportunities for growth and business in the area.
2. Indirect use values: This type refers to the environmental functions of natural resources that can be used by residents for their economic activities (such as controlling erosion and lake sedimentation). The landscape under discussion can provide Cyberjaya with a number of other services including carbon sequestration, micro-climate stabilization, and the purification of water and air.
3. Optional values: The transformation of the city into a city-in-the-garden will create an optional value of conserving the landscape for future generations. Another optional value is maintaining the biodiversity of the area.
4. Non-use values: All the enumerated values are derived by using the landscape in a particular way; however, there is also the value of not using it and merely knowing that it exists in the city. Even though some areas cannot bring economic profit, they can satisfy peoples needs to see natural beauty conserved. This category of values is especially applicable to the given case, as the Lake Gardens are unique as a natural landmark.

Implementation Strategy and Associated Risks

The proposed project will be implemented through the following sequence of steps:

• Increasing the green coverage of the Lake Gardens area for it to encompass the whole city;
• Promoting the use of renewable energy sources and waste management systems;
• Transforming the physical infrastructure of Cyberjaya to align with green township principles;
• Increasing population awareness;
• Encouraging green initiatives in businesses and industry;
• Providing educational, financial, and technical assistance as well as market benefits to those who want to invest in the areas development;
• Proposing new environmental standards to the government for the citys model to be used by other regions;
• Introducing a green code of conduct for the local population as well as tourists;
• Developing responsible tourism in the area;
• Encouraging engagement among young people who want to participate in the project;
• Attracting organizations that may assist with project planning and implementation;
• Forming committees and agencies that will be responsible for managing risk and evaluating results; and
• Ensuring good governance of the project at the national level.

The major risks associated with the project implementation are as follows:

• Lack of government funding;
• Lack of funding provided by private investors and organizations;
• Delays due to red tape as the number of stakeholders is quite large;
• Problems arising from associated projects (e.g. green building design, air and water filtration systems, waste management);
• Risks to tourism as the area is under development;
• Damage to the natural habitat and biodiversity of the Gardens; and
• Unscrupulous businesses that may do harm to the area in their pursuit of profit.

Research Method

The research method will depend on an observation of how the green city initiative is implemented. This close observation must be done in order to detect mistakes in the initial design of the strategic plan and to change the direction of the program as necessary. However, this observation must be performed on several levels for it to be effective and comprehensive:

• Technical experts will be hired and provided with all necessary equipment and logistical support to be able to monitor the process and uncover its flaws.
• A monitoring committee will assess the progress of the project on regular basis.
• A research team will evaluate the correspondence of the project with the major targets, objectives, and expected outcomes of green township.
• Representatives of various municipal agencies, political parties, and population groups will be invited to perform an independent evaluation.
• A risk management team will address the challenges and risks related to the project and develop plans to prevent and eliminate them.

Analysis and Results

In order to make conclusions about the proposed initiative, it is necessary to analyze not only its financial and non-financial values but also its overall impact. The most important aspect of the project in Cyberjaya is its direct contribution to the development of a garden nationan aspiration that the Malaysian government has had since the end of the 1990s. The successful experience of one city will allow other cities to adopt its policies. Thus, the project will be analyzed by the following criteria (Kasbun, The & Ong 2016):

1. Successfully contributing to the building of the garden nation: Since the implementation of the project is connected with drastic environmental changes, it may bring about certain negative consequences as the natural balance of the area may be accidentally disturbed. However, if implemented successfully, the project will make the city an example of how to build the garden nation.
2. Establishing a green infrastructure: It is essential that the project not be limited to mere expansion of the Lake Gardens, as its ultimate goal of changing the city infrastructure will benefit people and organizations. A close look at Cyberjaya reveals that the community is consistent with the green township vision, which means that there is a good chance for success with this initiative.
3. Conserving and preserving natural resources: This target is both environmental and economic. Any project has to be assessed based on its ability to cut cost and create value. As shown in the value analysis of the previous section, this initiative is capable of saving resources and fostering their optimal use by local residents.
4. Ensuring that the landscape is taken into consideration by all stakeholders: This factor is crucial for any environmental project as the initiative must be aligned with all efforts in the city. Such commitment requires a coordinated effort of the whole community and cannot be guaranteed by the implementation of a single initiative. The task of the government is to ensure that a business that violates green principles is not accepted in the region.
5. Reviewing and improving legislation related to landscape management: This is another factor that cannot be achieved by the proposed project. Although it presupposes a change of attitude toward environmental development and active participation of businesses and citizens, it lacks legal power to be able to change laws related to the environment.
6. Strengthening industries that can operate in the area: The project will create many opportunities for the development of recreational, entertainment, sport, research, and other facilities and foster the development of several business sectors.
7. Fostering landscape as one of the integral parts of peoples way of life: The project is to emphasize the unique character of the tropical climate in Malaysia as well as its geological formations. Thus, all improvements to cities must be made creatively in order to ensure that no violation of the natural characteristics of the land occurs. Moreover, the countrys culture and historical significance must be preserved, no matter what alterations are made. The initiative under discussion has this potential on the local level; yet, it is difficult to state whether the experience of Cyberjaya will be adopted by other cities in the nation.
8. Promoting the principle of design follows function: Although attractive design and creativity are important (especially concerning tourist attractions), the project outcome can be positive only if the new infrastructure is functional. Functionality is the key goal of the given project, and there is a risk that, if some steps are omitted, the idea will be reduced to its secondary aesthetic function.

Having analyzed the project against the selected criteria, the following conclusions can be reached:

• The initiative is viable.
• It makes a contribution to building the garden nation.
• The project will not only establish but also promote green infrastructure.
• It will allow for the preservation of natural resources.
• It lacks legislative power.
• There is no guarantee that it will be aligned with other business initiatives.
• The implementation of the project will emphasize and promote the Malaysian lifestyle.
• If some of the steps are not given proper attention, there is a risk that design will prevail over functionality.

Conclusion

The idea of the Malaysian government to create Cyberjaya as a pioneering city in green technology needs to be developed so that it may be adopted by other cities in the country. The only large-scale project connected with open-air recreational zones currently existing in the city is the Lake Gardens, the major landscaped space of Cyberjaya. Thus, the initiative of the green city project is to transform the only garden in the city into a city in the garden.

Based on a value analysis, it is possible to conclude that the initiative has strong potential to turn Cyberjaya into an uninterrupted open space, which will bring numerous economic, cultural, and aesthetic benefits. However, for this positive outcome to be achieved, it is necessary to be mindful of the risks that may undermine the success of the project and eliminate them.

Reference List

Abidin, NZ 2016, Environmental concerns in Malaysian construction industry, Penerbit USM, Gelugor.

Aziz, AA 2016, Execution of contemporary Islamic architecture through design: the Cyberjaya green platinum mosque project in Malaysia, WIT Transactions on The Built Environment, vol. 159, no. 1, pp. 11-22.

Bohari, AAM, Skitmore, M, Xia, B & Zhang, X 2016, Insights into the adoption of green construction in Malaysia: the drivers and challenges, Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 45-53.

Hosseini, SE & Abdul Wahid, M 2014, The role of renewable and sustainable energy in the energy mix of Malaysia: a review, International Journal of Energy Research, vol. 38, no. 14, pp. 1769-1792.

Jereme, A, Siwar, C, Begum, RA & Alam, MM 2015, An assessment of waste management operation in Malaysia: case study on Kuala Langat and Sepang Innocent, International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 133-144.

Kasbun, NF, Teh, BH & Ong, TS 2016, Sustainability reporting and financial performance of Malaysian public listed companies, Institutions and Economies, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 78-93.

Samarrokhi, A, Jenab, K, Arumugam, VC & Weinsier, PD 2014, Analysis of the effects of operations strategies on sustainable competitive advantage in manufacturing systems, International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 34-49.

San Onga, T, Tehb, BH, Ngc, SH & Sohd, WN 2016, Environmental management system and financial performance, Environmental Management, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 26-52.

Supni, SA, Utaberta, N, Ismail, NA, Ariffin, NFM, Yunos, MYM & Ismail, S 2015, Review on effective energy management system for urban mosques in Malaysia, Advances in Environmental Biology, vol. 9, no. 24, pp. 11-15.

Teo, YH 2014, Water services industry reforms in Malaysia, International Journal of Water Resources Development, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 37-46.

This article focuses on finding the origin of the balloon frame that modern American society uses in building processes. The article looks at the origin, as well as highlights the journey that the balloon frame has undergone over the centuries.

The article begins by acknowledging that home construction has significantly changed from how it was during the 19th century to what it is at present. The article describes the construction in the 19th century as one that used large timbers to build frame houses. Construction was then a complicated affair. It was a preserve of experts, and normally consumed a lot of time. The article also seeks to challenge the conventional historical tradition that the modern-day construction technique referred to as the balloon frame was randomly invented.

According to the author, the current construction technique was coined the balloon frame in the early nineteenth century. The article adds that, unlike the traditional house construction style that uses interlocked heavy timbers, the balloon frame involved the use of boards that were less than 2 by 12 inches. The boards were then spaced strategically to form a basket-like structure that was both strong and durable. The balloon frame further relied on the other lighter products that were left from the mass production of lumber. Thus, it was able to cut on the time required to complete the building house drastically. Also, the work was completed using basic skills.

However, the author is not clear on the origin of this method. The article adds that the balloon-frame house is the closest style to the one used in modern-day America. Notably, the major difference between them is that, whereas the balloon frame method had frames that reached the two-story height, the modern construction employs walls that reached greater heights. According to Cavanagh (1999), the balloon frame is very efficient in terms of the structure and the material used.

The article asserts that the first person to publish designs on the balloon frame was William Bell. His construction manual was written in 1858. The article adds that Bell, who was a carpenter from Illinois, had been constructing houses for more than fifteen years using the balloon frame technique. In his manual, Bell sought to present the balloon-frame as an organized system. He further provided suggestions on the material and procedures that were best suited for certain buildings.

The article adds that the benefits that the new technology was presenting were very luring. However, according to the article, the benefits are yet to be fully reaped. The author attributes this to the existence of some kind of inertia that has prevented the full automation of the home construction process. The balloon-frame has been persistent due to its resistance to change. This separates it from other innovations in the home construction industry.

The author says that the full embrace of the balloon frame started during the nineteenth century in the Midwest. The adoption of innovation was a result of increased demand for houses. The author adds that the nineteenth century witnessed a lot of growth. Most American towns were founded during this time. The author argues that the innovation of the balloonframe must have occurred during this time. It was a trend for builders to move in groups, and the same applied to the construction. The author challenges the conventional history of the invention, which says the invention was dramatic. The author hypothesizes that several innovations by different builders must have given rise to this new method.

The article also gives the traditional and conventional story, which he points out to be a controversial topic. According to the story, the invention was made by Augustine Taylor in 1833 after he was asked to construct several houses, and he used the balloon frame method. The author observes that St Marys Catholic Church in Chicago is regarded as the first balloon frame by those who subscribe to this school of thought.

Interestingly, the author points out that there exists no record for any of these builders laying claim to the invention that historians have attributed to them exists. Thus, this shows that the invention was not from one builder. The argument that the builders may have been ignorant can be challenged. In this regard, the inventions were made at a time when patents and property rights were highly contested.

The second point in the authors argument is that a well-known builder would not have risked using lumber at that time in history. Thus, the article can be acknowledged as resourceful, and one that historians will find interesting.

References

Cavagh, T. (1999). Who invented your house? The Magazine of Technology 15 (2). Web.

Materials in construction and design

The use of different materials in construction and design means the focus on different production processes which are associated with the materials qualities, and these qualities guarantee the concrete design outcomes. The first material to be discussed is stone. Ancient people chose two different ways to work with stone as the material for construction. Thus, ancient people carved caves in rocks to build the shelter and also carved stone blocks to build separate strong constructions. The Egyptians pyramids are examples of such solid constructions made of large stone blocks putting on each other.

Wool is the next important material that can be used for construction. Wool is the animal-based textile that was traditionally produced as a result of washing, drying, beating, oiling, spinning, and weaving during the Ancient Times and Middle Ages. The technology of producing the woolen material improved with the help of wire-toothed boards and looms. Then, the woolen cloth was widely used to build tents by Native Americans and Bedouins because of the materials flexibleness.

Wood is the material that is used to build constructions during the centuries because of the possibility to handle wood in many ways to receive the definite qualities of the material. The wooden blockhouses are still popular because of the easiness of the materials production and further construction. Moreover, much attention is paid to the timber frame tradition in the Eastern and Western countries.

Steel is the most popular material today. Steel is the alloy of iron which is characterized by extreme hardness. Being smelted with carbon as a result of the heat influence, steel is used to build strong constructions and carcasses for different buildings to guarantee their stability. The production of steel based on combining iron and carbon under the effect of high temperatures contributes to improving the steels qualities.

Resources in construction and design

The large tropical island provides a lot of resources to feed people for a long period. Gathering and hunting activities in the forest can be used only during the early period of living on the island because the main goal is to make chickens and deer become domestic birds and animals. Furthermore, the agricultural activities should include the preparedness of lands for planting more corn. It is rational to use the territories where the cornfields are found originally.

The flax fields are the great sources of the material for making clothes. In order not to destroy the natural balance, it is necessary to cultivate the flax fields independently, while choosing open territories near the river because they should be protected from strong winds by the forests.

The best place for constructing shelters in the territory which is far from the volcano and close to the forest from one side and river from the other one. The buildings can be constructed from wood found in the forests. The necessary tools for agricultural activities can be made of copper found in the rock supplies. Dishes and the necessary furniture can be made of the clay found near the river.

To live sustainably under the described conditions, it is necessary to use the energy of the fast-flowing river, the power of the fire, and the energy of winds observed in the rocky territories. Furthermore, it is necessary to focus on increasing the number of available resources with the help of agricultural activities. Less attention should be paid to hunting and gathering, and much attention should be paid to planting and breeding animals to feed and clothe all the communitys members.