Construction Technology and Building Systems have changed dramatically in the past 20 years. There are a lot of studies involving these systems that makes construction safer, economical, faster and better. These are innovations aimed to improve the lives of the workers and the end-users.
Technologies in Construction are now more adept in answering concerning the environment. Global warming, as an issue, is now a global awareness. Helping to minimize wastes will significantly contribute to help the environment’s well-being. Economically speaking, this approach costs more than usual conventional approach. One example is using the EcoSystem™ environment friendly elevators which use AC gearless motors, unlike hydraulic type elevators that can cause leaks and harm the environment. Another example is the Water-free urinals that do not need water to flush urine, saves thousands of gallons a year.
Building Systems are also changing. Building systems are more advanced, economical and faster than before. The process are also streamed lined to produce same results but at low cost. There are also processes that limits labors on the job site by using advanced equipments that are safer. These systems such as Quadlocks™, Phenix Sytems™ etc. makes construction easier, less wastes, high quality, safer and economical.
In my experience as a Civil Engineer, I have seen countless of mistakes, reworks, unsafe environment, bad management, poor accounting and poor quality of construction. Philippine contractors are not adapting systems as specified by the National Building Code or the Occupational Health and Safety Commission. They are more focused on profit rather than the well-being of workers. They are focused on saving more money rather than taking care of the environment. The Philippine Law is there but the implementation is not. The contractors tend to relax on the laws that protect the environment and the people. I hope there will come a time that buildings, big and small, will be audited by the government on these matters and I also hope they will be penalized for such actions. The problem with construction is discipline. We must discipline our sub-ordinates and ourselves to these small things that can be a big issue when neglected. We must be diligent enough to impose the laws that can also benefit the quality of the building.
Civil Engineers, such as me, should start learning new methods rather than be stagnant in doing the same routine. I know more now but I still hunger for more knowledge. I am striving to gain more and it is always fun to learn new methods and systems. It is really not the body strength that produces more money but it’s the brain’s power. How much you know are the things that are paid more.
