a dam project may require that a concrete-batching plant be constructed right on the building site in order to accommodate the quantities of concrete needed.
Characteristics
These projects are usually publicly funded and tend to last for a long time. Building miles of roads can take many years. It is not unusual for individuals involved in this sector of the market to move temporarily to where the project is located. There are also occasions when your work might require that you be located in isolated areas for long stretches of time. However, anyone intrigued by big machines, tractors, and excavators will be attracted to this sector. This sector of the market is the least affected by economic fluctuations and, therefore, can offer a reasonable measure of job stability.
Industrial Construction
This sector of the industry is highly specialized and requires firms with vast resources and significant construction and engineering expertise. The number of contractors qualified to work within the industrial sector is limited. The project types included in this category are defined primarily by the production activities that occur within the facility. Manufacturing plants, electrical generating facilities, oil refineries, pipelines, steel mills, and chemical processing plants are all examples of industrial construction projects.
Means and Methods
Industrial buildings are often very basic in their exterior design. The building shell does not need to be very fancy for its intended purpose. The success of an industrial project is usually determined by how well the facility is able to perform relative to its production goals. In industrial construction, the processes that go on inside the shell constitute the real construction challenge. Unlike residential or commercial construction, the installation of equipment makes up a big piece of the industrial construction process. Massive boilers, reactors, and processors that need to be installed under strict quality standards and regulatory guidelines are what really count here.
Because of the complex process considerations, engineers are typically the lead designers on these types of projects. The means and methods associated with the construction of the building shell are quite simplistic; however, the installation of the equipment and process systems require technological savvy, sophisticated knowledge, and great attention to detail.
Primary Materials
The building materials utilized in industrial construction are very similar to those used in commercial construction. Steel, concrete, and reinforced concrete masonry make up the primary components. These buildings often house specialized equipment, machinery, or process piping, and the interior finishes are usually quite stark for ease of maintenance. Often the concrete or block walls are simply painted, concrete floors are left unfinished, and no ceiling finish is applied, thus leaving exposed piping and ductwork in full view. In some cases, special materials, such as glass piping or heat-sensitive tiles, may be utilized in the construction of industrial buildings.
Characteristics
This sector of the industry deals with building huge facilities that take many years to complete. In some cases, a project may be under construction for as long as 5 to 10 years, and the possibility of the construction management team having to relocate is quite high. The funding for these projects is usually provided by private sources, and the contract amounts are generally large. There are many international opportunities in industrial construction, and anyone seeking a chance to travel abroad will most likely find it within this sector. Having an interest in international business, international law, or even world politics could be an asset for anyone considering this sector. And, of course, fluency in a foreign language is always a plus.
Sometimes industrial projects are located in remote areas, even to the point where modern conveniences are in short supply. Depending on the facility type, there may be requirements for high security clearance and government oversight. It is very important that the engineers and construction managers on these projects work closely together because the consequences of poor communication can be serious.
Environmental Construction
Although some people may lump environmental construction under the heavy civil category, it is unique enough to have its own classification, especially considering the increase in market share that this sector is currently experiencing and probably will for some time to come. Generally, this sector of the industry is comprised of projects that improve the environment, maintain public health, and contribute to a community's quality of life. Think clean water, sanitary sewers, and waste management. And although these projects may not seem very glamorous at first glance, in reality they represent one of the most vital sectors of the industry and one that demands a significant investment in order to sustain our communities.
brownfield sites
A property that is abandoned or underused because of historic environmental contamination.
In the United States, we don't give much thought to what happens to the water that we release down the drain after taking a bath or what happens once we flush a toilet. Most people don't even consider where our drinking water comes from, especially with many of us buying a bottle from the local convenience store. And then there's what happens to the plastic bottle that the water we purchased came in. But the fact is that each one of these daily occurrences is directly tied to the environmental construction sector. This sector builds the conveyance systems, treatment plants, and operations facilities necessary to collect, treat, reclaim, and distribute water. It works to build desalination plants, clean up hazardous sites, and handle other ecological endeavors such as managing and restoring watersheds and wetlands. It is also the sector of the industry that deals with landfill remediation and the redevelopment of the brownfield sites left behind. Often these sites become golf courses, parks, or other recreational areas, and the contractors who mitigated the hazards are often the same contractors who get to complete the restoration work as well. Quite rewarding work, wouldn't you say? If you are one of those individuals who is particularly interested in improving the environment and sustaining the planet, then environmental construction may be the perfect opportunity for you to get your feet wet—literally!
Means and Methods
There is a great deal of earth moving and site work that usually takes place with any environmental project along with trenching and pipe laying, asphalt removal and installation, tunneling, blasting, and other means of excavation. However, many environmental projects still require a building or structure to house the specialized instrumentation, monitoring equipment, incinerators, and process piping to operate the system. Therefore, the same means and methods associated with typical industrial or commercial construction also come into play in this sector. These facilities still need foundations, exterior cladding, windows, doors, roofing, and finishes, as well as mechanical and electrical systems. These support buildings may not be as fancy as a bank or a museum, but they still need to provide a proper work environment for the people who operate the facilities.
Primary Materials
Environmental projects are often comprised of a combination of commercial, industrial, and heavy civil building materials. However, in addition to dirt, gravel, asphalt, concrete, rebar, steel, and piping, we also need specialized materials such as pumps, valves, filters, membranes, and aerators, just to name a few. Special electronic equipment and controls are also part of the mix on these projects, and a vital one at that. Because the facility
