Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods Book by R. Peurifoy [9th Edition]

PreFace

Technologies used across all phases of the constructed project life cycle
continue to evolve at an ever increasing rate. Existing and emerging
technologies can assist with overall project planning, design, construction,
and maintenance activities by providing efficient data retrieval and
information in visual formats. Construction equipment telematics now
provide operators and managers with real-time equipment positioning,
pressure sensing, fuel rate consumption, automated path guidance, alerts,
and other specific measures to optimize machine performance.
Owners play a vital role in seeking new ways to accelerate project
delivery and this edition of the text addresses the key to successful
execution of an acceleration effort—planning.

The Critical Path Method
(CPM) and the Project Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT),
planning tools developed in the late 1950s, are still the mainstays for
project scheduling. Building Information Modeling (BIM), an idea dating
from the 1970s, did not receive wide acceptance until 2002 but is now
commonly used to support both building and infrastructure construction.
CPM and PERT are scheduling algorithms while BIM is a digital
representation of the building process. Lidar (light and radar) sensing
technology, sometimes written LIDAR or LiDAR, now allows the
engineer to rapidly create a DTM (Digital Terrain Model) of a project site.
This model of the existing site can be overlaid with the proposed project
grading. Together, the DTM and the design drawing provide another
planning support tool. There is still one other new piece of equipment to
support planning, or more specifically surveying and machine guidance,
the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or what is commonly called a drone.
UAVs have the potential to become tools as important as individual pieces
of yellow iron because they can provide the engineer accurate data or
imaging almost instantaneously. They can be used to inventory jobsite
materials and equipment, and to monitor site safety.

In spite of the aforementioned technologies, it is still necessary to
understand machine capability and to compute the most economical
grouping of machines to complete the tasks identified during project
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planning. This text describes the methods used to investigate equipment
productivity and it provides equipment application understanding.
Proficiency in analysis and familiarity with appropriate applications are
critically important to those wishing to compete in the accelerated project
environment.

A machine is economical only if used in the proper manner and in the
environment in which it has the mechanical capabilities to function
effectively. Technology planning tools greatly enhance our ability to
formulate equipment planning and construction decisions, but to use the
tools to an advantage, an equipment planner must have an understanding
of individual machine capabilities and how to properly apply those
capabilities to construction challenges.

This ninth edition follows in the tradition established by Robert L.
Peurifoy over 60 years ago, and like the previous eight editions, provides
the reader with the fundamentals of machine selection and production
estimating in a logical, simple, and concise format. With a grounding in
these fundamentals, the engineer/constructor is better prepared to evaluate
economic equipment application options.

Significant changes have been made to this edition. The construction
market place has experienced a shift in project types, with more work
involving reconstruction of aging infrastructure and more projects being
executed in congested urban environments. Equipment manufacturers have
responded to these market dynamics with new machines and with changes
to existing machines. Contracts for projects in urban environments
continue to require more intense planning in order to accommodate
restrictive regulations concerning construction nuisances particularly
vibrations, light, and noise. Additionally, new government regulations
designed to protect the environment, particularly emission rules, have
caused equipment manufacturers to develop a new generation of engines
and seek ways to reduce fuel usage. While energy savings yield fuel cost
savings, the effect of these engine modifications on maintenance costs is
still a question. Because of these market changes this text includes
additional material about small machines used on urban projects and for
building construction.

Construction Planning, Equipment and Methods, Ninth Edition, follows in the footsteps of previous editions by laying out the fundamentals of machine utilization and production estimating in a logical, simple, and concise format. The book discusses the latest technologies and capabilities and offers real-world applications. Examples and illustrations showcase the latest equipment models and end-of-chapter summaries and homework problems reinforce salient points. You will explore construction economics, earthwork, and soil and rock properties. Safety procedures and financial considerations are thoroughly explained in this comprehensive guide. Coverage includes: •The history of construction equipment •Safety •Planning equipment utilization •Equipment economics •Operating costs •Rent and lease considerations •Planning for earthwork construction •Soil and rock •Compaction specifications •Seismic and deflection testing •Soil processing •Current models of dozers, excavators, scrapers, and cranes •And much more