THE CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT PROCESS 1.

The development process applied to a construction project starts at inception and ends with demolition. 2. The major stages of the construction development process can be simplified as follows: i. Inception ii. Design and Costing iii. Construction iv. In-use v. Demolition * The clients/owners initiate construction projects and involve: - Identification of the clients requirements and development of brief - Selection of appropriate location - Securing of financial resources - Feasibility study - The decision to build - Appointment of suitable design team members to be involved with the project * Design and Costing stage the design team prepares the required drawings and documentation required for the implementation of the project: - Development of the project design (drawings and specifications) based on the clients requirements - Costing the design - Preparation of the tender documentation (includes Bills of Quantities) to enable tenders to be obtained for the construction of the project - Application for statutory approvals - Identification and appointment of contractors for the construction of the project - Preparation of the contract documentation * Construction stage - This is the stage when the contractor commences the work on site and includes: - Project planning where the contractor will programme the work in accordance with the contract conditions - Operations on site to completion of the project - Commissioning where the contractor hands over the completed project to the client * In-use stage - This is the longest phase of the projects life cycle where maintenance, repair and modifications are necessary so that the project will be able to fulfil its function as initially planned * Demolition stage Demolition becomes necessary through decay and obsolescence and when no further use can be made of the project

PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT Historical development: * First stage (very early period) Owner (client) hired master craftsman to supervise works * Second stage (14th-15th century) Master builder supervised works and designed buildings. * Third stage (15th-17th century) Designer/architect brought in by owner/client. Master builder employs craftsmen. * Fourth stage (17th-19th century) Architect trained others for architectural work and employed landscape gardeners if required. Architect also supervised all works. * Fifth stage (19th-20th century) As buildings becoming increasingly complex, assistance from specialists at the design stage was sought e.g. Structural engineer calculates the sizes of elements while quantity surveyor prepares bill of quantities Parties involved in the construction process: Construction is a group activity and involved various parties. The participants involved can be categorised into groups or teams according to their roles or involvement as follows: 1. The client/user initiates the project and may be: - an individual - a company - a local authority (PBT), or - a government department 2. The design team (consultants) Interpret the clients requirements into specific designs and documentations and consists of: - Architects - Engineers - Quantity Surveyors - Others such as Project Managers 3. The construction team carries out operations on site and translates the designs and documentations

into reality: - Main contractors - Sub-contractors - Specialists - Suppliers - Others such as Construction Managers 4. Legislative team before construction works can commence on site approval has to be obtained from the various authorities: - Planning department - Local authorities - Technical agencies 5. Manufacturing team supplies the materials, components and equipment which are used during the construction processes, and therefore incorporates many organisations.