Construction Technology and Innovation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Construction Technology and Innovation - Essay Example Unlike modern construction approaches, the traditional building methods are characterized by multiple deliveries, expansive skilled workforce and uncertainties arising from costing and poor performance. The traditional building techniques also involve inter-dependent sub-groups and as such the quality of the final product cannot be assured. The tendering process could further complicate the whole process as learning curve problems are likely to resort. This paper discusses the modern methods of construction that are common in the UK. Modern Construction Methods The House builders Federation of the UK defines MMC as techniques, which entail efficient production management processes to achieve more quality building products. The modern methods of constructions that have become popular include open panels with lining materials, insulation services, windows, doors, internal wall finishes and external claddings. The UK construction industry is also embracing the use of ready-made parts, w hich are then pieced together. Unlike traditional houses, modern houses are built using concrete moulds and steels. A number of techniques have been embraced by those using modern construction methods. One of the popular techniques is the adoption of volumetric approach, which entails construction of three-dimensional modular units (Pan, Gibb & Dainty 2007, p.183). According to Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (2009, p.3), other common modern methods of construction include the use of floor and roof cassettes, pre-cast concrete foundations, and pre-formed wiring looms. In the recent past, UK MMC developments have been redesigned to look like traditional brick houses. It is assumed that this new approach will continue gaining favour with the UK residents. Industries and educational institutions could also take advantage of these new construction approaches in order to achieve the benefits that are detailed below. According to the UK government, modern building technique s have a host of attendant benefits. Firstly, modern houses are easier to construct and environmentally friendly as they involve less transportation of materials and produce less waste. Secondly, they result to fewer accidents and have less impact on local residents during construction. In addition, the modern housing methods require less labour and are economical as fewer materials are required. Thirdly, the modern methods of construction significantly reduce onsite build time by 50%, and thus reduce labour costs. According to a study that was commissioned by the Office of the deputy Prime Minister, the volumetric approach, reduces on-site build time to 16weeks compared to 39 weeks for brick and block style. Likewise, using open panels reduces on-site building time to 20 weeks compared to 39 weeks for brick-and-block style (National Audit Office 2005). The benefits of the modern construction methods are best highlighted by a report that was commissioned by National Audit Office (20 05, p.7). According to this report, MMC guarantees the UK residents safer houses because most of the materials are produced under controlled environments (Roy, Low & Waller 2005, p.60). This is unlike on-site building techniques where enhancing quality of products becomes very challenging. In addition, customers are able to preview the complete houses before making any purchases. Although modern methods of construction are likely to become popular, their levels of acceptability among the UK residents are

Can the Government Stabilize the Economy (3 sections) Research Proposal

Can the Government Stabilize the Economy (3 sections) - Research Proposal Example . Such scarcity, whether natural or man-made, makes it necessary for everyone to stretch whatever limited resources he has. Resources can be financial or physical. Practically every one has to make hard choices, to make trade-offs as between one good or service and another. A decision to have one or more of one thing means that one will have less of something else. The relevant cost of any decision is its opportunity cost- the value of the next best alternative one has to give up. Economists stress that one must always calculate the opportunity cost of any specific choice. It would be an ideal situation if a policy maker had all the resources with which to grow the national economy. Scarcity is not the basic premise of growing an economy but rather the availability and the optimal utilization of resources. A country such as the United States has considerable amount and diversity of resources such that it can become self-sufficient; however, less naturally endowed countries would have to grapple with dire scarcity to some degree and will have to procure resources other countries. In a particular case where a country has to consider only what resources it has within its national borders, it will have to make choices about how to use them to maximize or optimize production. In a simplified production possibility frontier (PPF) model where a country has limited resources and a given technology and has only two outputs from a fixed supply of inputs, the decision maker has to make decision about the various combinations of the two outputs, such as wheat and soybeans, or foodstuff and computers. The production of food alone and none of computers will likely not use the resources available in an optimal way. The ideal combination might lie between the two extremes where a certain proportion of resources are employed for the production of food and computers jointly. The concept of the production possibilities frontier comes to our mind – it shows the