Lecturer: Marco Morandotti  

Course name: Construction organization
Course code: 502535
Degree course: Ingegneria Civile, Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale
Disciplinary field of science: ICAR/10
University credits: ECTS 6
Course website: n.d.

Specific course objectives

The course aims to provide students the basic concepts and practices related to building technology, seen as a key component of the building process, from the design, through production and construction, to the management of the buildings. Therefore, the students will learn to read and think about a building in terms of feasibility construction through both case studies and inside the laboratory project. The course's content follows from the methodologies and the available knowledge, state of the art and the most recent research results in relation to the conception, design, production and evaluation of structural elements, with particular attention to the context of production and architecture in which they are used.

Course programme

The course aims to address the complexity of the entire building process as an organized sequence of operational steps that lead from the detection of needs to their satisfaction in terms of building production. It also aims to provide to the students the conceptual and practical bases related to the building technologies, both traditional and innovative, seen as a key component for the building’s feasibility for the selection of suitable solutions not only in the design phase but also in the execution one and in its maintenance, through Structure/Envelope systems or prefabrication. For these reasons it is addressed the issue of safety on building site, not only as a functional organization and management (stakeholders, tasks, documents and equipment) as well as a verification of the effectiveness of constructive and technological design choices.

Design project as construction process: the metadesign
Reading of the architectural project as a constructive process characterized by sequence of distinct phases during the design process that must be read in a synthetic and integrated way. The performance based approach to planning and design and the essential requirements. Evolution of concepts and tools, the basics, the tools for the management of quality, methods and levels of control, control of the design project, methods for the performance and functional verification of constructive elements; phases and significant moments of control in the design and production.

• 1. definition of performance based approach to the project
• 2. phases of the building process: the design process: metadesign, design, program the construction process: production, prefabrication, construction the management process: management, operation, maintenance
• 3. definition of building quality
• 4. reading of these themes through recently realized projects

Traditional and innovative construction techniques
Reading the feasibility of construction of a building through the study of the technologies and materials derived from construction areas or not. In particular, we will go deeper into the timber construction systems from their historical tradition of constructive solutions to newer systems through the distinction between massive and light systems. Directions theoretical and applied on dry layered structures (Structure/Envelope system). Description of the design process and, through design examples, analysis of the possible levels of innovation and experimental research on this topic. Analysis of some manufacturing S/R systems in wood and steel. Construction systems related to prefabrication. The analysis of the different technologies will be critically analyzed both in the design phase, and during the construction on the building site. All these techniques will be addressed both with some detailed case studies and integrative seminars.

• 1. traditional and innovative materials (high tech low tech)
• 2 timber construction systems: massive and light systems, blockbau technique, balloon frame and platform frame technique, xlam panels, connections between technical nodes. Case studies on these techniques through projects and materials.
• 3 Industrialization / Prefabrication process: closed loop and open prefabrication systems: from design to construction through case studies
• 4 Dry stratified construction systems (S/R): sustainable approach, principal paradigmatic features, building site as assembly kit. S/R case studies of these constructive technologies in steel, reinforced concrete prefabricated systems or wood

Safety at the building site
The main legislation, criteria and general principles of safety and security (T.U. n.81/2008). Analysis of the figures involved, their tasks and operational tools for security management. Tutorials for the preparation of the layout of the building site and comparative safety study between a traditional building site and one set on the S/R principles.

• 1. definition of construction site and level of risk
• 2. existing legislation
• 3 people with security duties and obligations related client and project manager coordinator safety in the design phase (CSP), coordinator safety at runtime (CSE) and self-employed workers
• 4. documents to be kept at the building site
• 5. plan of safety, coordination (PSC) and operational plan safety (POS)
• 6 temporary works, excavations, types of scaffolding
• 7 devices of collective and individual protection, preventive and protective measures
• 8 traditional and S/R building site
• 9 building site on the existing The lectures are supported by an exercise for creating a PSC (minimum content, layout, Gantt chart and costs for security).

Supplementary activities
Inside the course will be organized specific seminars relating to each theme treated inside the course through the participation of both researchers in the field of the issues addressed both companies in the production of some constructive systems. A visit to a construction building site and a study trip on the themes of the course will be organized.

Course entry requirements

Basic knowledge of the construction process and the traditional construction techniques, basic knowledge of the chemical and mechanical behavior of construction materials, basic knowledge of the behavior of physical-technical buildings.

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 40
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 10
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0

Suggested reading materials

At the end of each lessons will be given an in depth bibliography of all topics covered in the course

Testing and exams

The admission to the examination is subjected to a positive evaluation of the exercise on security developed in the classroom during the course. The examination consists also in an oral exam based on the lessons' and seminars' topics.