Optimization of construction cost and schedules of RC structures

Abstract

Our project is about the management of the construction of a health and fitness center in Miziara – Zgharta district. The main objective of our project is to try to optimize and reduce the cost of the construction process by changing the reinforced concrete structural design. Optimizing the cost not necessarily mean reducing the cost of a construction activity, where we may increase the cost of an activity while on the other hand we may have reduced the whole construction duration , or had a cut in the material used. The initial main design of the project was solid concrete slabs supported by concrete columns which are carried on isolated foundations. A challenging idea is to try and change the design of footings and slabs and see its effect on the total duration and cost of the project; Why not try and go for raft foundations instead of isolated? Why not use post tension slabs instead of solid slabs? Which combination would be the most successful? The foundation stone to start construction is shop drawings, doing the shop drawing using AutoCAD was the second step. Then we did the bill of quantity of the project and we got the exact quantities of material that should be used to construct the project. For the planning and scheduling we used primavera, the most powerful software in this domain. As a conclusion, we will be able to show the significant impact of reinforced concrete design on the total schedule of the project in terms of cost and duration.