Construction Site Setup, Equipment, and Earthworks

Posted on Jul 1, 2025 in Business Administration and Innovation Management

Construction Site Infrastructure & Planning

Definitions of Key Construction Terms

  • BTM (Temporary Work Base): Installations, facilities, and infrastructure temporarily necessary for proper work management, administration, and execution.
  • Base of Life: A set of services and facilities ensuring the working conditions and well-being of personnel.
  • Technical Base: A set of facilities for technical services and the assurance of production machinery.
  • Industrial Base: A set of technological facilities required for the production of various components needed during project execution.

Factors Influencing Temporary Work Base (BTM) Design & Implementation

  1. Execution timeline
  2. Type, grade, quality, and volume of work
  3. Implementation location
  4. Availability of facilities and/or services
  5. Joint Venture (UTE) considerations
  6. Geo-technical, topographical, and climatological conditions
  7. Local regulations, ordinances, and policies

Factors Affecting Industrial Base Location

  1. Plant capacity
  2. Scope of the work
  3. Transportation capabilities
  4. Location of raw materials
  5. Haul routes
  6. Condition of potential sites

Earthmoving & Civil Works Considerations

Key Questions for Earthmoving Operations

  1. Where will excess excavated material be placed?
  2. Where should topsoil be stored for later landscaping use?
  3. How will drainage be managed during rain before final drainage systems are in place?
  4. Which areas should be prioritized for initial earthmoving?
  5. What are the temporary movement paths, and should they be planned in advance or left to spontaneity?

Key Questions for Civil Construction Works

  1. Where should sand and stone for concrete production be stored?
  2. Where will cement be stored, and what warehouse size is required?
  3. What is the most central location for concrete or cement mixers?
  4. Where should rebar workshops, carpentry, and other necessary stores be placed?

Key Questions for On-Site Assembly

  1. Where will structures and machinery be stored?
  2. Will covered or uncovered storage be required?
  3. Is there sufficient power for temporary lighting, assembly machinery, and technology testing?

Pre-Project & Contractual Considerations

  1. Official third-party authorizations
  2. Site occupation permits
  3. Restoration of affected services
  4. Impact on third-party properties

Builder’s Background & Permissions

  1. Conventional official permits
  2. Special authorizations
  3. Perceptive plans/studies
  4. Additional land occupation

Construction Equipment Management

Environmental Aspects of Equipment Management

  1. Geological conditions
  2. Weather conditions
  3. Local conditions
  4. Site conditions
  5. Transportation logistics
  6. Electricity, fuel, and water availability
  7. Labor force considerations
  8. Specific tasks within the work zone
  9. Required authorizations

General Equipment Selection Criteria

  1. Can the machine operate effectively with the specific soil and terrain?
  2. Is it possible to achieve the required quality standards?
  3. Will the machine damage or compromise the quality of existing structures?
  4. Can the machine handle the workload efficiently?
  5. Are the operational and production costs adequate?
  6. Is the equipment reusable and easy to maintain?
  7. Will automation lead to a reduction in labor?
  8. Will it pose safety or environmental problems?
  9. Can it be quickly prepared and used anywhere on site?

Factors Affecting Machine Selection

  1. Nature of the operation
  2. Type of soil and material to be handled
  3. Transport distance
  4. Weather conditions
  5. Indirect project-related factors
  6. Required production output
  7. Haul roads: legal factors, terrain, etc.
  8. Unsurmountable points or obstacles
  9. Compatibility in terms of equipment performance
  10. Comparative cost of possible equipment options

Land Compensation & Excavation

Land Excavation Types

  1. Rock excavation
  2. Transit field excavation (e.g., mixed soil)
  3. Ground excavation (e.g., common earth)

Equipment for Starting & Charging

  1. For Earth: Bulldozer & Loader, Bulldozer & Scraper, Backhoe
  2. For Transit Material: Bulldozer & Loader, Bulldozer & Backhoe
  3. For Rock: Blasting + Backhoe, Blasting + Wheel Loader, Backhoe + Hammer