BUILDING SERVICES 1

REFLECTIVE

             Building services is a module to equip our 'freshman' the basic principle of the building services systems and introduce the services that are commonly provided in a building, primarily cold water treatment and supply, sewerage disposal and treatment, storm water management, telecommunication services and ventilation systems. All of them are highlight of this module, we have learnt the technique of integration among the building services systems and also the installation of services , the building and the structure, according to the Uniform Building By Law (UBBL). This module stands an important role in the structure design of the building as the building services may influence on how a building perform both financially and functionally. It particularly considers the impact created be associated pipes, ducts and cabling requirements on design, construction and maintenance procedures.

            For a better understanding in this module, our lecturer had prepared lectures, test and also assignments for all of us. There are a lot of basic theories have been showed in the class lecture. A quantity surveyor should be develop their understanding of building services in order to satisfy the requirement of a building. We also can foresee the efficient and cost-effective maintenance and operation of building services for the next few years. It will be very helpful for our career in the future. A mid term test also carried out as a practical in application of theories in a building to ensure that we all have a better understanding.

           Lecturer also gave a group assignment with topic related to integration of solar energy towards building. This project is a study on one type of building services system. We decided to have a site visit on a green building called GEO Building (Green Energy Office) in order to have a better understanding. The staff of the building had highlighted their Green Energy equipment and also design of the building itself. It is the only building that have save 50% electric in Malaysia. This building not only impress Malaysian, many foreigners also came all the way here to have a visit on the building. In addition, the staff of GEO building also provided useful advice and information to the people who have interested in the integration of solar energy towards building. Our lecturer also organised a site visit to smart tunnel which also one of the marvelous building in Malaysia. I have gained a lot of knowledge from the site visit, it was really fun.

         Now, I believe that I have the ability to apply the basic theories in different kinds of application. For example, the single or double storey houses and the condominium need to use different types of pipe due to the number of people who stays in the building. Furthermore, the amount of the toilet, bathroom, basin also will change due to different structure. I also posses a good understanding of the major building services systems and their integration into the architecture and structures.

We took a photo during the site visit to smart tunnel.  

These were the members that accompany us to have a tour around GEO Building. 

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY 2

REFLECTIVE

             Construction Technology is a module which introduce the base knowledge of the fundamental principles of design and technology to us and train the basic skills necessary to apply in the future actual construction site. This module covered the fundamentals of piled foundations, deep excavation, formworks, scaffoldings, shoring and underpinning, partition and suspended ceilings, portal frames, precast concrete and steel roof trusses. These knowledge will enable us to make our own decision on various structural design such as the functional element, selection and the rational and economic use of resources.
         
             This module are designed for individuals who have limited experience in the industry and who require specific upgrading knowledge and skills. Therefore, we have indoor lecture and some site visit that can help us in understanding current construction industry trends and become familiar with standards for
quality construction and trends in building technology. In the lecturer class, I have learnt a lot in lecture class as there is an experienced lecturer like to share his previous experiences in the construction fields which are very helpful when I get into this field. Our lecturer also demonstrated how to apply those theories in various material applications with his experiences. This method helped us to learn more faster and develop technical and job skill related to careers in the construction industry. These knowledge will made me as a quantity surveyor with a competency skill level for working in the field of housing and small building design and construction.

             Besides that, all of us were assigned a group assignment which consist of maximum 5 members for each group. This was an assignment that required us to visit a building site and observe the construction process related to the topic in the construction technology and try to applied those theories we have learnt before in class. This is a good experience for us especially for future job as we have showed the proper techniques associated with residential and commercial construction on the construction sites. In addition, I also developed the teamwork and problem solving skills necessary in the construction industry. Teamwork is very important in this field as we will meet a lot of peoples in different careers such as engineers, architects, client with different temper, all of us necessary to cooperate well in order to complete the construction project. To have a better understanding, we also studies the building codes, construction site layout, construction documents, mechanical systems and construction safety in the assignment. With these necessary knowledge, our future are secured.    

           This module is only a foundation in construction technology, we need to have more and more knowledge related to this topic to prove that we have the competency skills to enter the workplace as a versatile member of a construction team.

This was a picture that took during the site visit.  

This is a photo given by the contractor when the construction of piling almost done.

MEASUREMENT 2

REFLECTIVE

              This is a fast track intensive measurement course designed for those with little or no measurement ability or for those requiring a ‘refresher’ course in measurement. As a quantity surveyor, understanding the principle and the skill of measuring a construction work is the most important part that we have to learnt. A professional without these knowledge, cannot called themselves as a qualified quantity surveyor. The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the purpose of building measurement and give them the essential skills necessary to measure building quantities accurately and neatly onto standard dimension paper, taking off list, query sheet and also Bills of Quantities. It also seeks to introduce the basic theories and concepts of the subject matter and prepare the students for weekly tutorials.

             Through this module, I have learnt to adopt the correct way to measure for the brickworks, stud partitions, staircase structure, staircase finishes and balustrading, floor, wall and ceiling finishes and precast concrete piling. I also gained a lot of knowledge about principles and the techniques of writing a Bills of Quantities. Now, I believe that I have the ability to prepare a proper Bills of Quantities. This module develops by building on the essential skills involved in measuring building quantities. Thus, our lecturer gave us a lot of specially designed exercise to improve our skills in a practical ways and it is the fastest ways to help our to absorb these brand new knowledge to us. On the other hand, the weekly tutorials provide students with the opportunity to present solutions to the tutor on pre-determined tasks and to prepare their Portfolio of Evidence.

             In order to develop a better skill, our lecturer also prepared a group assignment for us. It is a five to six members assignment. We needed to use all of the skills that we have learnt in the classroom and applied them in the assignment. During the assignment, we had met a lot of problems that we may have on the future. Thus, I am very glad that there is a experienced lecturer gave us a lot of advice towards the project. Now, I have the knowledge and skill to measure construction works confidently. We also have an in class individual assignment given by our lecturer to test our application of skills in a drawing.

           End of this module, I have learnt a lot which will be very helpful in our careers, yet I need to practice more and more in order to obtain these competency skills.

We have successfully applied theories in class to measure the finishes in the assignment given by lecturer.  

Site Surveying

Reflective

           Surveying and mapping uses state-of-the-art technology and mathematical-based analysis to study the built and natural environments. This is a module which helps us to build the first impression of site surveying. It includes linear surveying, leveling, traversing, satellite positioning, remote sensing, mapping survey and building construction surveying. The aim of this module is to enable the student to competently undertake all general survey problems except the highly specialized survey operations which will be very useful in future days.
       
           Our lecturer had used two ways to develop our understanding on site surveying. One way is consist of theory and the other is consists of obtaining practical skills. The theory part is including our in-class lecture, and test that we had in this module to improve the understanding of those theories. On the other hand, the practical part usually held at outdoor. An outdoor practical can teach us to apply the measurement techniques and theories that we had learnt in class clearly. In addition the student will develop the ability to use specialist surveying equipment to complete land surveying and building measurement tasks.

          In the mid- term test,  we were tested on distance measurements, leveling and electronic distance measurements. It is not an easy job to understand those theories fully. I had worked hard to understand and apply those theories correctly in the test. Furthermore, measuring part also tested in the exam. It is very important that we were able to measure the leveling and error correction that might have in the fieldwork. It was impossible that a fieldwork can be done flawless. There should be some mistake will occur during the fieldwork, so the error should be corrected by using the formula that are given to obtain the correct data. These were the things that we have learnt through the exam.  
       
          To have a better understanding of the lecture in class, we had done two fieldwork as an outdoor practical and ensure that we have the ability in doing the land surveying in the future. These fieldwork were assigned by the lecturer and we had made a five person group to do the assignment.  It is required to collect the data that we can get from the specialized survey equipment and do a report about the place where we did our research. In the report, we had discussed our result and data that obtained from site. The first fieldwork topic is leveling, whereas the second fieldwork is traversing. Both of these fieldwork is most common in the construction sites. As a qualified quantity surveyor, we must know how to read in these fieldwork reports also, these may help us to have a brief ideas of the structure of building and also the destination that is going to build before the construction starts.  

          At the end of this module, I had gained a lot of experience and professional knowledge through outdoor practical and also the indoor lecture which have gave me confident towards my ability to become a better quantity surveyor.

These are the exercise that we did in class to measure the leveling and traversing through calculation.

Introduction to law

Reflective Journal

            This module will provide students with an understanding of the Malaysia Legal System, and basic concepts of the common law including sources of law, public law, private law (torts, contract, and trusts), precedent and to the relationship between the common law and statute. The approach to
the various topics will be divided into theoretical issues and practice and procedure. The theoretical issues will include the study of an in depth substantive area of Law such as: the introduce to Malaysia legal system, the tort of tort, and law of contract.Students will become familiar with legal language and literature in addition to devoting considerable time to the background study of individual cases and examples.

            The most efficient way for students to understand the principle of law is provided a lot of cases which easy to understand to them and to do their research on this topic. The lecturer provided test after a certain period to test on our understanding on that certain topic. This is a module which need to memorize a lot of information. As a Malaysian, we need to know the system of law in our country. when we involved in breach contract, we can know clearly what rights we have and what damages should be claimed in a breach contract.

            Quantity surveying professional also need to know how to make and legal, binding contract. An illegal, unbinding contract cannot carry any legal action towards the breach parties in the contract. Thus, we need to have some awareness on it and to avoid something similar happened in future. We need to aware that the other parties can sue us on which area of law.

Building Material

Reflective Journal
         This module informs the student the relevant of physical and chemical properties of a wide range of building material. It also emcompasses the board environmental debate by including the energy saving and recycled materials. For each material, the lecturer explained the manufacturing process,salient properties and typical uses of these material, with aims of ensuring their appropriate application within the awareness of the suitability of the physical and chemical properties as well as the ecological impact.

        This module also provided us a series of continuous assessment such as assignment, test and final exam to ensure that we able to explain the use, physical and chemical properties of type of building materials. In this module, we also able to study the effect of building materials on the construction and structural qualities. In class, we also will have some discussion on the problem associated with different material used. For easier understanding, the lecturer prefer to show video clips in class which is help a lot.

        Two assignments were given throughout the whole semester 1. Both assignments was a group project, and do some deeper research on the building material to have a better understanding. Then, we have a in-class presentation to share the research on the certain topic with coursemates.

       One of lecturer, Pn Hasmanira also held a factory trip in segamat around June. Along the trip, we have a lot of fun and gained many knowledge. The factory that we visited is called Ajiya, and it is a company which produced the insulated glass, tinted glass, bullet-proof glass, laminated glass and more. Besides that, Ajiya company also produced metal roofing. They also have designed their own truss system for roofing. Thus, costumers may choose whether want to use their system or not. We also need to observe the use of materials to different building during the trip such as the roofing, finishing of building itself.

        This module is very important to a quantity surveyor professional, we need to acknowledge what materials that were used in the building. Then, only we can start calculate the amount of money because different materials have different cost.

A fun factory trip with friends. 

Construction Technology 1

Reflective Journal

         This module intends to provide understanding of wide range of building components with different functions. It  also describe the design process, how to build the elements and some elements and some simple sketches. There are assignments and test provided in order to achieve the learning outcomes.
   
         As a quantity surveyor, we need some basic knowledge on the construction of building. Thus, the lecturer introduced us the principles and practices of construction technology in residential building and work generally of more complex nature. The lecturer also provided us some experience of himself that he had met before in the construction field. These interesting experiences are really useful to us when we stepped into the society.

        Besides that, a lot of drawing is provided to let us sketch them. Through these sketches, we understand the construction of buildings and the scientific principles which underpin the design and construction. There are some video clips had showed by lecturer such as mega- structure or the national geography which was related to the marvelous building in the world.

        To build a building, the structure and foundation are the most important section in construction. This is because different structure and different foundation is designed for different building. For example, piling foundation is used for the high and heavy loading building. The structure and foundation  might change depend on the environment of the site and the natural disaster which may possible happen in the future. This is an important module to help us to understand more about the building, and it can help us to visualize the building itself.

Measurement 1

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL

           This module covers the principle, purpose and function of Standard Method of Measurement (SMM2) including measurement principles, description and standard phraseology. It also covers the measurement of simple excavation trenches, pit, foundations, pilecaps, reinforced concrete frame and floors including roof slabs. During these 14 weeks, this module also introduced the students to the principles of specification writing, form of specification and their uses in the various trades and an introductory understanding of the understanding of the preparation of Bills of Quantities and Tender Document. History and development of the role of quantity surveyor in construction industry have been mentioned in this module.

         This module acts as the basic foundation for every quantity surveyor. We need to understand the principles of measurement and technique in preparing the bills of quantities and specification writing. These are very important once we start working as a quantity surveyor because the technique will be the same throughout the whole world. Thus, the works are understandable even it is done by quantity surveyor from other countries. We also have learned some awareness of nature, content, and significance of tendering and contractual documentation. We also learned how to read the Standard Method of Measurement in Taking-off quantities to get sufficient knowledge.

         An assignment was given to us during week 9 or 10, it was about a 54 unit residential housing. we are given a certain period to complete the project. It was a group project, thus there were many discussions between group members ourselves. In this project, we only need to calculate for the excavation and earthwork, work above finish floor level and the work below ground floor level including Ground slab, apron slab, ground beam, roof beam, roof slab and upper roof. This is a tough task for us as this is the first project that we ever have to measure the whole building. It was difficult, yet we had completed it.    

         Our lecturer, Sr Ang also held a visit on the construction site. By visiting the construction site, we have gained a lot of experiences and information. This trip can help us to understand more to the building itself and have many information that were not mention in the plan.  In addition, there are many seminar and event related to quantity surveyor also held in campus such as introduce to Building Information Modellling (BIM), International Surveyors Congress and more. These activities will help us in the future to become a better future.
   

Discussion between group members.

Site visit in Subang Jaya, a project of Tenaga Nasional Berhad(TNB) to build a substation. 

Seminar introduce to Building Information modelling  

One of the company is invited to give a seminar about fresh graduate quantity surveyor.