Technology Of Today Mr. Plansinis

 Is the design and building of structures.  Is not limited to buildings. Can be dams, highways, canals, waterways, etc…  Provides and infrastructure that allows modern society to work the way it does.

 Industrial – Includes the manufacturing of industrial structures. Such as Power Plants, Water treatment plants, Sewege plants, etc…  Residential – Includes the manufacturing of buildings for people to live in. Houses.  Commercial – referres to buildings used for business. Such as shopping malls, offices, and restaurauts.  Public Works – Reffers to structures and buildings for public use. Monuments and memorials.

 Saw the development of tools. Hammers were first introduced as rocks held in you hand. Handles were then added to provide greater force and leverage to the hammer.  Often determined by tools and materials that were available or found in nature. Early shelters were made from tree limbs leaning against each other and then wrapped in animal skin.  Romans developed many construction processes and products, such as concrete and plumbing.

 Planning has become a larger part of construction and is essential to modern buildings and structures.  The introduction of engineered woods, composites and metal alloys make new designs possible.  Modern tools such as pneumatic and electric powered tools has mad the construction process and require less effort.

 Buildings – Are usually defined as a structure with a roof and walls. It may be temporary or permanent. Ex. Schools, Stores and houses.  Roads – Includes the building of highways, streets, and other types of roads.  Tunnels – are underground passageways. They allow people, vehicles or materials to pass through or under an obstruction.  Dams – A dam is a structure placed across a body of water to control or block its flow. The water that collects behind the dam is called a reservoir.  Canals – are artificial water ways built for irrigation or navigation.  Bridges – Are structures built to allow people and vehicles to pass over obsticals such as waterways, valleys, highways or railroads.

 The private sector of our economy initiates three of the four types of construction. Residential, commercial and industrial.  Private funds are used to pay for the design and construction of these projects. PUBLIC SECTOR ECONOMY This includes municipalities, counties, states and the federal government. People are appointed to or hired by the government to serve on boards or in agencies, bureaus, departments or commissions. Tax money is used to pay for design and construction costs.

 A community must be carefully planned to best meet the needs of the people who live there.  This process is usually overseen by CITY PLANNERS who have studied all aspects of community development. They also work very closely with city, county, and state officials.  After learning about the community, areas are identified with potential growth.

 These constructions take place to maintain, alter, or renovate structures.  This may improve the structure or change its use.

 No matter what type of structure is desired or who desires it, it must mmet the requirements and standards set up by the community in which it is to be built.  Zoning laws tell what kind of structurs can be built in certain areas.  May specifiy such things as:  Maximum property size  Maximum height of buildings  Number of families that can occupy a home.  Number of parking spaces  Distance structures mus be from the properties boundary lines.

 In addition to zoning laws. All structures must meet certain building codes.  Building codes are local and state laws that specify the methods and materials that can or must be used for every aspect of construction.  May vary from location to location based on climate and geological conditions.

 There are certain things to consider when selecting a site for future construction.  Location- Where is it. Is it in the city or country. (commercial) is it in an area wher there are a lot of potential customers.  Size and shape- Is the site large enough for the planned construction. If not can the adjoining side be acquired.  Topography- refers to the sites surface features.  Utilities – Services such as water, electricity, natural gas, waste disposal, postal, and telephone service. Are these available.  Zoning – Will zoning laws permit the type of planned structure to be built there.  Cost – Is the price of the site reasonable and affordable?

 Shows:  Shape and size of the property  Its position in relation to other properties, roads, and streets.  The elevation (height) of the property.  Special land features (rivers, streams, hills, gullies, trees, etc.)  Also includes a written description of the property.

 Identifying Specific Needs – How many people, what will the space be used for, how much can be afforded, location, environmental building techniques.  Developing Ideas – Making sketches and jotting down ideas.  Refining the design – Adjusting the design to make sure that it meets the customers needs.  Preparing Final Plans and specifictions  Working drawings – contain information needed to construct a project.  Specifications – Written details about what materials are to be used, as well as the standards and government regulations that must be followed.

 Clearing the site  The site must be cleared of anything in the way of new construction. This might include trees, old structures, rocks and excess soil.  Earthmoving is the process where excess soil and rocks are cleared away and the remaining soil is leveled and smoothed.

 The part of the structure that rests upon the earth and supports the superstructure.  May be above or below ground level  Typically made of concrete.  Made up of two parts.  Footing – Lie below the foundation wall to distribute the weight of the building. Typically twice as wide as the wall.  Walls – also made of concrete. They transmit the weight of the superstructure to the footing. These become basement walls in houses with basements.

 Studs- are parallel, evenly spaced, vertical boards that frame exterior and interior walls. Studs are nailed at the top and bottom to boards called plates.  Joists – are parallel, evenly spaced, horizontal boards that support floors and ceilings.  Rafters – are sloping roof-framing boards. They extend from the ridge (horizontal peak) down past the side walls to form the shape of the roof.  Roof Trusses – are preassembled triangular units used to frame the roof instead of rafters.

 Sheathing – is a layer of material, such as plywood, that is placed between the framing and the finished exterior.  After the sheathing, windows and doors are installed, the decorative exterior is placed on the outside. Such as vinyl siding, brick, stone or wood paneling. INSTALLING FLOORS A sub-floor of plywood or oriented-strand board (OSB) is nailed to the floor joists. Sometimes another layer of plywood or concrete board is added over the sub-floor before the finish floor is applied.

 Utilities such as electricity, plumbing, HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning) are added to the building. Lines for each must be placed inside the walls before closing them in. This is called “roughing in”  Insulation is added between exterior walls to prevent heat and AC loss.  The interior is enclosed with drywall. The seams of the drywall are taped and filled then smoothed.  The utilities are then finished.

 In an effort to limit the impacts of construction technology on the environment, people are becoming more interested in constructing green buildings.  The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has developed several definitions for green buildings.  The USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, standards establish how new construction can be certified as “Geen”. The standards include the following areas:  Sustainable site planning  Safeguarding water supplies and efficient use of water  Energy efficiency and renewable energy.  Conservation of materials and resources.