Why this Book Project?

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From cost estimating to project scheduling, and other project control discussions.

The Why, How, and What of this Book Project

This is not just any other textbook; it is an interactive webbook. Webbook opens a whole new world of learning, an opportunity to deliver extensive and rich interactive content to help gamify learning. This allows us to deliver new and exciting interactive content that is project-based and reflects real-world project scenarios. We are passionate about sharing our extensive industry experience with students, young professionals, and seasoned professionals. We want to provide affordable access to what we know, and a webbook checks all the boxes for us.

In this book project, we offer skill sets that could transform how construction professionals plan, estimate, schedule, supervise, and construct items of work. The skill sets we offer with this webbook could help solve some of the problems that people have, giving them the construction knowledge they need to improve project outcomes consistently.

Why We Wrote this Webbook, and the Tools and Skill Sets it Offers
Why We Wrote this Webbook, and the Tools and Skill Sets it Offers
Readiness Level of Recent Graduates
  • Many recent graduates lack even the most essential skill of reading and interpreting construction drawings and specifications.
  • Universities often don’t cover key areas adequately, and employers assume new hires are already trained—most are not.
  • The recent graduates may sometimes get overwhelmed trying to fill those construction knowledge gaps.
  • Hence the need for skill sets to get recent graduates job-ready for the heavy civil construction sector.
Limitations of On-The-Job Training
  • On-the-job training in core construction skills is rare, and employees are left to find knowledge wherever they can.
  • This leaves young and some seasoned professionals underprepared.
  • Inadequate or no on-the-job training means that recent graduates, young and seasoned professionals, end up working hard and not smart.
  • The result is a grueling career path that have significant negative effects on people's mental and physical health, as well as their overall well-being.
Limitations of Available Textbooks on Materials and Methods
  • They are written from a 50,000-foot view.
  • They are not written within the context of heavy civil construction items of work.
  • A reader will require various other resources to fill the gaps.
  • None of the textbooks out there is focused on heavy civil construction items of work.
  • With this book project, we aim to redesign and redefine what a textbook on heavy civil construction materials and methods should be.
  • And we wouldn't need to imagine the alternatives to not using a textbook of this format when it comes to heavy civil construction materials and methods.
Overwhelming Volume of Online Content and Noise
  • Easy to get distracted online searching for construction-related content.
  • Some of that construction-related content is not written by those with construction knowledge and expertise.
  • Some of the content on construction practices and methods is erroneous.
  • Need for guided, filtered, focused, and curated construction knowledge content.
Real-World Solutions to Real Construction Project Problems
  • Knowledge of construction materials and methods is fundamental to various aspects of construction engineering and management.
  • The webbook offers tools and skill sets that are designed to bridge the knowledge gap.
  • It offers know-how that is focused, comprehensive, within context, and hands-on.
  • The webbook includes five units, with over 90 heavy civil construction items of work.
  • The webbook also includes a student version for students in CE, CM, and ConE programs.
  • It offers fundamental knowledge of heavy civil construction items of work and related materials and methods.
In-Depth Knowledge of Heavy Civil Scope of Work
  • The webbook includes a detailed characterization of each webbook unit and related items of work.
  • It has curated samples of State DOT contract drawings and specifications.
  • It includes an in-depth checklist of specification items with 16 groups and over 90 items for reading and interpreting heavy civil specifications.
  • The webbook has an in-depth checklist of drawing elements for reading and interpreting heavy civil contract drawings specific to each item of work.
  • It includes testing and inspection items specific to each item of work.
  • In includes field inspection and verification items specific to each item of work.
  • The webbook includes related items to consider at the bid/proposal phase, specific to each item of work.
  • It also includes related safety hazard items specific to each webbook unit.
Detailed Breakdown and Measurement of Work Tasks
  • Work breakdown structure (WBS) - a tool to help breakdown complex projects into manageable chunks.
  • Detailed breakdown of the scope of work - the foundation for planning, estimating, scheduling and controlling of project outcomes.
  • A detailed and exhaustive list of typical work tasks (activities) specific to each item of work is provided in the webbook.
  • A detailed standard methods of measurement for quantity takeoff specific to each item of work is provided in the webbook.
Tool to Evaluate and Track Daily Cost
  • One of the most basic yet most powerful tools in construction is a daily cost analysis.
  • It allows the person running an operation to evaluate daily performance based on budget vs. actuals.
  • Enables predictive analysis using “what-if” scenarios.
  • Helps optimize crew, schedule, and spending decisions.
  • The webbook includes a daily cost analysis application/form for simulating daily cost.
Tool for Detailed Work Planning
  • Poor planning leads to costly mistakes.
  • Requires an in-depth understanding of items to consider for detailed work planning.
  • Requires knowledge of what to consider when developing project schedules.
  • In construction, there is no tolerance for "trial and error," and everyone benefits from pre-execution simulations.
  • Key sections of work planning include materials/products selection, related drawings and specs, crew selection, control budget, quality control items, safety hazards, and construction survey.
  • The webbook includes a work planning and cost estimating application/form to help simulate work planning and cost estimating.
  • The webbook also includes engaging and interactive construction animations or videos to help with visualizing construction methods.
Gamification
  • Carefully designed, developed, and implemented interactive learning games are effective for learning.
  • The webbook includes numerous interactive and engaging H5P content.
  • The webbook includes construction equipment production rate calculators to help engage the reader.
  • The webbook also includes a concrete mix proportioning calculator.
  • The webbook includes the daily cost analysis simulator as a way to engage the reader.
  • It also includes the work planning and cost estimating simulator.
Add-Ons
  • A blog and podcast page is included in the webbook.
  • The webbook will discuss and present the state-of-practice on BIM and AI.
  • As part of the webbook package, short courses will be presented.
  • The webbook includes a Q&A forum.
  • The webbook includes several short and focused project case studies.
  • It also includes the characterization of 39 construction project control areas.
  • Based on all the various tools used in the webbook, a helpful page on tools for work and learning is also included.

..

This Book Project is Grounded on these Core Foundations or Principles

  • Focus primarily on heavy civil construction items of work.
  • Hands-on real-world heavy civil construction skill sets with real-project application and relevance.
  • Deliver today’s engaging and interactive content – keep the reader focused and interested.
  • Listen and gather insights through Q&A forums, reviews, and feedback, and remain relevant.

Table of Contents

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