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.