Key Guidelines for Construction Management Projects

Have you ever wondered how are the amazing looking skyscrapers made? Who designs them and how could they build it that high? These are the questions that often spring up in our mind when we see buildings and skyscrapers. These buildings are a result of cumulative efforts and hard work of a group of people, the entire construction team. Each of these people have their own separate teams. So, we’re talking of a real big team involving hundreds of individuals specializing in various fields.

When a construction project comes up, the first step is conceptualization and design development followed by procurement, assembling of labor force and so on. But there are many in-between steps that are a part of this process. First of all, for the project a construction manager is appointed. This person is someone who has years of experience in the field of construction and is well-versed with the various processes involved in constructing any structure. A construction manager oversees the entire process from beginning to the handing-over of the building to the client.

As the dimensions, design preferences, construction technology and technicalities of buildings and construction projects started changing over the years, need for construction management arose. The varying complexity levels of a construction project create a need for that one person who can oversee the entire project. Hence a construction manager is the pivot of the building project. Working under him are design manager, quantity surveyor, planning engineer, project document controller, construction scheduler, contract manager etc. Each of these personnel have their roles predefined and they have to report to the construction manager. The construction manager therefore updates the client accordingly.

Construction project management does not only consist of overseeing the construction processes, these managers have a few more important duties to fulfill themselves. Some of these are  as follows:

1. Estimating costs, budgets and work timetables. This is done along with the construction scheduler
2. Explaining the details of the contract and technical information to other members of the team
3. Co-working with the architect, engineers and other construction workers
4. Selecting assistant contractors and coordinating their duties. This is done with the help of a contract manager
5. Solve problems such as emergencies, work delays etc. and reporting the work-progress to the client
6. Fulfilling the safety codes and other regulatory measures for construction and working in accordance with the legal requirements for a construction project

All of this has to go in accordance with certain guidelines that have been laid down for construction projects. A builder or construction company has to submit a set of plans for construction process that they will follow in the building project they are working on. These plans consist of details related to construction work and proposed demolition if required. If these plans pass the Construction management guideline and templates, the project can be taken to the next step.

ProjectLink has a collection of companies that not only give you various construction related services like building project management, design development, specialised construction services etc but services that comply with the construction management guidelines. To understand these guidelines and templates better, let’s go through each one in detail.

Construction Management Guidelines

Construction management guidelines are a set of suggested rules that have to be followed by the builder and construction managers while working on a construction project. These guidelines are predefined and at the conceptual stage of a project the suggested procedures to fulfil these rules have to be submitted. These recommendations make it easy to sail through the stages of construction, widely distributed into five sections: Initiation, Planning, Execution, Performance and Monitoring and Closure and Handing-over. The requirement for a detailed plan submission for the above is largely based on the type of construction project, probability of disruptions, how it will affect the local resources, risks or dangers involved, future management of traffics etc.

1. Public Safety, Amenity and Site Security

As a part of construction project management, the safety of general public near the construction site is an important point to consider. The construction manager has to list down strategies to present a secure and safe construction site for workers as well as the general public who live near it or pass by. Issues such as occupation of space on street or footpath, cleanliness of the building site, erecting a hoarding, road opening and closing permit, use of travel tower, mobile crane or lift etc. are covered under this guideline.

Permits are required for these. Unless the manager gets the permits, work cannot progress. The construction site is required to be secured using a fence and a barrier or hoarding informing the general public about the construction has to be put up. Fencing is necessary as during excavation or construction danger to life or property is avoided. Raw material should be stored properly to avoid accidents or unsightly dispersal.

2. Operating Hours, Noise and Vibration Control

It is essential to lay down the working hours before beginning work of a construction project. The operating hours would be different on the weekends and offs on holidays have to be considered. The impact of noise and vibrations being produced as a result of construction process has to be limited keeping in mind the likely damage to nearby buildings. Under certain conditions, the prescribed hours may change. Location of the construction site, urgency of work, traffic management, noise reduction requirements, safety of workers or public etc are some of them.

3. Air and Dust Management

Construction management deems it necessary to check the causes of possible pollution to air. Specially if the project is being undertaken at a populated site, the quality of air has to be maintained at levels that are acceptable. It is the duty of the construction manager to make sure that the levels of dust and pollution remains in acceptable limits throughout the duration of construction.

Dumping of loose material or arising of dust because of vehicles should be minimised. Measures such as waste management, watering the driveways and ensuring that these measures are taken when work is not happening on the site have to be looked into while planning for a construction project.

4. Stormwater and Sediment Control

This guideline covers the prevention of contamination of waterways and stormwater drains. There are chances of sedimentation of drains during construction work. Proper measures have to be taken in order to prevent this. Water retention at the construction site may pose a threat to the structure as well as the workers. This water has to be pumped out.

Sediment filters such as straw bales filters, gravel surface barriers, geo-textiles mesh, sandbags etc are required to be used. The construction technology employed for a project have to be selected according to the surroundings and weather conditions prevalent in that area.

5. Waste and Material Reuse Management

With the increased awareness and gradual depletion of resources, the need to reuse and recycle arises. This guideline is laid to ensure a proper use of resources whether through waste management or recycling. If there is a production of waste material during certain processes then it has to be stored on site until removal. No physical or health-related threat to the workers or general public must occur. Building project management covers waste management. Steps such as using environmentally approved products, recyclable materials, avoiding over-estimation of purchasing resources should be taken.

6. Traffic Management

When big construction projects are undertaken, a lot of planning goes into controlling the public and traffic movement. Minimisation of traffic disruption due to construction activities is the focal point of this guideline. Safety of the pedestrians and vehicles in and around the construction site is essential.

Usually permits for space occupation of road or footpath in populated sites is required. The sites require inspections during the day as well as night. Based on these inspections, the traffic management plan is laid out and proposed. Issues such as speed zones based on times, road safety, pedestrian crossings etc have to be considered.


Construction project management caters to the overall construction procedures in accordance to these guidelines and templates. The construction managers are required to take permits essential for the project in order to have the project completed and handed over to the client in time. Many companies provide such services. There are software available to make the working easy for the same.

You can browse through the list of such service providing companies on ProjectLink>>> 

Source: https://www.projectlink.com.au/blog/construction-project-management-guidelines/

Popular Water Fountains for a Mesmerizing Outdoor Spaces

Water covers about 70% of the earth’s surface, out of which around 3% of the entire water on this planet is fresh, remaining 97% is saline water. Fresh water sources such as groundwater, rivers, streams and lakes provide drinking water for the human population.

Since the 1800s, the task of providing drinking water in public places has been a priority area for the authorities. Access to clean drinking water at public places like parks, public gardens, market places, malls etc. seems to be an important point of consideration. Since water is the most basic necessity, having the provision of water in such areas becomes essential. Furthermore, access to a source of clean drinking water adds to the overall outdoor experience.

Water fountains can be seen in many such areas of public use. A drinking fountain, commonly known as a bubbler, provides drinking water to people accessing the outdoor spaces such as parks and open marketplaces. The designs and structures of these water fountains have evolved to make them more convenient for people to use. The basic set-up consists of a basin, a tap, a button or sensor, and a water supply line. The button or the sensor allows to control the flow of water as per the requirement of the user and hence helps save water.

Having a source of clean water at the place of outdoor activity on a hot summer day can be a great blessing! Developers these days aim at providing best of the facilities to their clients and public. Right from the conceptualisation stage, minutest of the details that can improve user experience are planned properly. Needs of people going to a park for a brisk walk, or of those taking their pets to a dog park, have to be taken into consideration while planning for the water fountains.

The design of water fountains covers aspects such as functionality, usability, appearance, provision of facilities, cost, environment-friendly technology etc. Manufacturers are coming up with sleek and user-friendly design for these gardens that not only make the outdoor spaces look good, but are also user-friendly for all sorts of users. The water fountains are therefore being made in a way that they can serve kids, adults, people in wheelchair and pets. Often times, direct supply of city water may not ensure clean and safe drinking water. Hence the latest outdoor water fountains are now equipped with an attached feature of water filter screens.

These fountains are not only available for public spaces but also for houses and private properties. In addition to providing clean drinking water in your garden, installing water fountain can also add to the style of your garden and outdoors of your home. ProjectLink recommends some really good options of bubblers for your private properties and parks and outdoors.

Let’s take a look at three types of outdoor water fountains that will facilitate drinking water and add a contemporary touch to your garden and outdoors:

Construction Jobs of the Future

'Construction' is an industry that has garnered tremendous growth over the last few years. Even in the periods where some of the other industries have faced pressure, there are no signs to suggest any slow down for this industry. The high rate of growth in the industry, in turn requires commensurate manpower to manage and drive this industry growth. This industry is creating more number of jobs than ever before. If you are in any way associated with this field, you are in luck!

Before we talk further about the kind of employment opportunities that construction industry can offer, let’s have a quick look at the sectors that it comprises.

The industry is broadly segregated in three main sectors:

1. Building Construction
2. Infrastructure Construction
3. Industrial Construction

While the basics of the above three remain the same, work requirements, skill specialisations and employment opportunities differ across these sectors.

As the name suggests, Building Construction involves construction of residential or non-residential buildings. Residential construction includes building of houses/buildings from scratch, or carrying out small renovations such as addition of rooms in a house. The non-residential sector includes construction of commercial buildings such as offices, malls and marketplaces and institutional buildings like schools, colleges and other educational or vocational buildings.

The infrastructure construction sector covers the construction of highways, bridges, dams etc. Since the backbone of this sector is engineering, it is also referred to as heavy engineering sector. The infrastructure projects have a larger impact as they become a key impetus to the growth of an economy.

The third sector is the industrial sector. This includes construction of manufacturing plants, mills, chemical and power plants, refineries etc.

The dynamics of construction change according to the project, and the need for specialisation required for these projects. In the recent times, the requirement for construction workers has been on a rise. The construction industry can offer a wide array of job opportunities. From masons to carpenters, from civil engineers to construction managers, there are quite a few options available depending on your speciality of expertise.

With the increase in awareness about the construction process and the competition in the industry, construction agencies have become all the more important as they save the clients of most of the operational hassle involved in a construction project.

The changing market dynamics have also led to development of new construction methods and technologies. These aim at increasing the efficiency and performance and reduce environmental-damaging waste. These new methods have led to creation of new processes, which in turn has created many new construction jobs.

One such function that has come to the fore as a key one is that of a design team. The design team translates ideas, suggestions, requirements and design into reality. It can consists of architects, mechanical engineers, civil engineers, electrical and structural engineers, planning consultants, architectural consultants etc. Usually the property owners recruit their own design team. However, the incidence of agencies getting their own design teams to work on projects can also be seen quite often.

A construction project also requires people holding important roles such as construction managers, interior designers, accountants, mortgage bankers and cost engineers. Some of these functions are more salient in case of Infrastructure and Industrial construction projects.

There are many important semi-skilled or specialised construction jobs that you can look at. ProjectLink brings to you some of these options and their importance: