BLD 501 – ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

1.0 SURVEY AND EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE FORMS,

PERFORMANNCE OF STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS AND BUILDING.

1.0 SYSTEM DESIGN

System design is the application of operation research building design; system design was
initially applied to design of machines and electronic equipment, initially building design
were mainly imitations that do not encourage innovations, while system design method
encourages innovation. It can play significant role in meeting challenges posed by building
complexity and cost.

1.2 SYSTEM DESIGN

DEFINITION
System design comprises a rational, orderly series of steps that leads to the best decision
for a given set or conditions. The procedures require:
1. Analysis of a building as a system
2. Synthesis or selection of components to form a system that meet specific objectives
while subject to constraints or variable controllable by designers.
3. Appraisal of system performance, including comparisons with alternative system.
4. Feedback to analysis and synthesis of information obtained in system evaluation, to
improve the design. The prime advantage of this procedure is that, through comparisons
of alternatives and data feedback to design process is achieved system design provides
an optimum or best system for the given conditions. Another advantage is that it enables
the designer to classify the requirements for the building being designed. Furthermore,
the procedure provides a common basis of understanding and promotes cooperation
between the specialists in various aspects of building design.

1.3 WHAT IS A SYSTEM AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS

DEFINITION: A system is an assemblage formed to satisfy specific objectives and subject
to constraints and restrictions and consisting of two or more components that are
interrelated and compatible, each component being essential to the required performance
of the system. Since the components are required to be interrelated, operation, or even
the more existence, of one component affects in some way the performance of other
components.
Also, the required performance of the system as a whole, as well as the constraints in the
system, imposes restriction on each component.
A building meets the definition of a system as being an assemblage. It is also constructed
to serve specific objective or purpose. It is subject to constraints while doing so, in as
much as designers can control property of the system by selection of components.
Building components, such as walls, floors, roofs, window and doors are interrelated and
compactible with each other. The existence of any of these components affects to some
extent the performance of the other components. The required performance of the building
as a whole imposes restrictions on the components. Consequently, a building has the basic
characteristics of a system and systems design procedures should be applicable to it.
1.4 SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
A group of components of a system may also be a system. Such a group is called a
subsystem. It can also be designed as a system, but its goal must be to assist the system
of which it is a component to meet its objectives. Similarly, a group of components of a
subsystem may also be a system. That group is called a subsystem.

For clarity the major subsystems of a building, are referred to as system in a complex
system such as a building, subsystem and other components may be combined in a variety
of ways to form different system. For the purposes of building design, the major systems
are usually defined in accordance with the construction trades that will assemble them;
for example structural framing, plumbing, electrical systems and heating, ventilation, and
air conditioning.

In system analysis, a system is resolved into its basic components.

Subsystem are determined. Then, the system is investigated to determine the nature,
interaction and performance of the as a whole. This investigation should answer such:
Question as:
(1) What does each component (or subsystem) do?
(2) What does other component serve its function?
(3) What else does the component do?
(4) Why does the component do the things it does?
(5) What does the component do the things it does?
(6) What must the component really do?
(7) Can it be eliminated because it is not essential or because another component
can assume its task?

1.5 SYSTEMS DESIGN

The traditional design procedure needs improvement because clients are not certain that
it will give the best value for money or that the required performance could not have been
attained at lower cost. These uncertainties arise because historically;
(1) Actual construction costs often exceed the lower tenders or negotiated prices
because of design changes ordered during construction, unanticipated delays
during construction, which increase costs, and unforeseen conditions or subsoil
that make excavation and foundation construction works more expensive
(2) Construction, operation, or maintenance costs are higher than estimated,
because of design mistakes or omissions.
(3) Separation of design and construction into different specialties leads to
underestimate in or overestimation of construction costs and antagonistic
relationship between designers and builders.
(4) Construction costs are kept within the clients’ budget at the expense of later
higher operating, maintenance and repair costs.
(5) Coordination of the output of Architects and consultants is not sufficiently close
for production of an optimum building for the client actual needs.
One objective of system design is to correct these defects above. This can be done in
stages with accurate cost estimates and frequent client review. System design should
therefore at least do the followings:
(1) Question the cost effectiveness of the proposed building components and
stimulate generation of lower – cost alternatives that will achieve the required
performance. This can be done by incorporating value engineering in System
Design.
(2) More closely coordinating the work of other consultants and engage a builder to
assist and advise on design.
(3) Take into account both initial and life cycle costs.
(4) Employ techniques that will reduce the number of design mistakes and omission
discovered during construction phase.

SYSTEM DESIGN PROCEDURE

System Design System Analysis Synthesis Appraisal Feedback

DEFINITION: System design is the application of scientific method to selection and

assembly of components or subsystems to form the optimum system as to attain the
specified goals and the objectives while subject to given constraints and restrictions.
For system design to obtain the following questions must be answered.
(1) What does the client actually want the building to accomplish (goals, objectives,
and associated criteria)?
(2) What conditions exist, or will exist after construction, that are beyond the
designer control?
(3) What requirements for the building or conditions affecting system performance
does design control (constraints and associated standards)?
(4) What performance requirements time and cost criteria can the client and
designers use to appraise the systems performance?

Collection of information necessary for design of the building starts at the inception of
design and may continue through contract document phase. Data collection is an essential
part of system design, but because of its continuity throughout design, it is not listed as
one basic steps.
System design procedure is resolved into nine basic steps as follows:
In preparation for step 1, the designer should secure a building programme and
information on existing conditions that will affect building design. In step 1, the designer
uses the available information to define the goals to be met by the system.

1.5.1 GOALS
STEP 1
Goals state what the building is to accomplish, how it will affect the environment and other
systems, and how other systems and environment will affect these buildings.

Goals should be generalized but brief statements, encompassing all the design objectives.
They should be specific, as to guide generation of initial and alternative designs and control
selection of the best alternative.

Example: Design a branch post office building with 100 employees to be constructed on a
site owned by the client. The building should harmonize with neighboring structures.
Design must be completed within 90 days and constructions within 1 year. Construction
cost is not to exceed N 5,500,000
Note: When system design is used for a subsystem and how it affects it and also how is
affected by the other systems.

OBJECTIVES
STEP 2
Objectives are similar to goals but supplies in details the requirements that the system
must satisfy to attain the goals. In listing objectives, it may start with broad
generalizations that later develop to more detailed levels to guide the design of the
system. Objectives such as minimization of initial costs, life cycle costs, and construction
time should be listed.

Other objectives that affect design of building include health, safety, welfare, zoning and
occupational safety and health administration regulations.

Objectives should be specific to guide the planning of the building, interior spaces and for
selection of specific characteristics for the building and its components, appearance,
strength, durability, stiffness, operational efficiency, maintenance, and fire resistance.
Objectives should also specify the degree of control needed for operation of systems
provided to meet the other objectives.

At least one criterion must be associated with each objective. The criterion is a range of
values within which the performance of the system must lie for the objective to meet. The
criterion should be capable of serving as a guide in evaluation of alternative systems. For
example for the fire resistance of a wall, the criterion is 2hrs – fire rating in addition to
establishing criteria, the designers should weigh objectives in order of relative importance
to the clients; which serves as a guide for comparisons of alternatives.

1.5.3 SYSTEM CONSTRAINTS

Constraints are restrictions on the values of design variables that represent properties of
the system and are controllable by the designers. Designers are seldom completely free
to choose any values desired for controllable variables because of various restrictions
which may legal such as building code requirement or may be economic, physical,
chemical, temporal, psychological, sociological or aesthetic requirements; such
restrictions may fix the values of the controllable variables or establish a range in which
they must lie.
At least one standard must be associated with each constraints.
A standard is a value or range of values governing a property of the system. The standard
specifying a fixed value may be a minimum or maximum value.

Example: A designer may be seeking to determine the thickness of a load bearing wall.
This requirement is a minimum standard. The designer may hence select a wall thickness
of 9” or 225 mm but other requirements may indicate that the thickness should not exceed
16” or 400mm. This is a maximum standard. Furthermore, brick may be available only in
nominal width of 4” – 100mm. Hence constraints limits the value of the controllable
variable, i.e wall thickness to 8”, 12” or 16” – i.e 200,300 or 400mm.

1.5.4 SYNTHESIS
In this step 3, the designer must conceive of at least one system that satisfies the
objectives and constraints. In respect of this, reliance is placed on past experience
knowledge, imagination, and creative skills and advise from consultants, including value
– engineering, instruction experts and experienced operations of the type of facilities to
be designed.
Furthermore, designers should select systems that are cost effective and speedily erected.
To save design time in selection of a system, the designer should investigate alternative
systems in a logical sequence for achievement of optimum results.
The following is a possible sequence.
(1) Selection of an available industrialized building a system that is preassembled in
a factory. It may cost low because of mass production technique, low facility
wages, also quality materials and construction may be better.
(2) Design of an industrial building as client needs several of it.
(3) Assembling of a building with prefabricated components or systems.