Professional just a Term, Attitude is everything

With almost 10 weeks experiences in this module, a lot of things which are worth to learn other than the assessment of this module.  Since this module is called "Integrated Project" which meaning that a project is not done by a single party but involved of many composition. Management always important in our life no matter in time, works or communication. This is the key to success while we can manage well to finish our task on time, manage to work with teammate and manage well to communicate with others. 

From this module, i realize that to become a professional in construction industry, the first thing must to do is manage a good attitude. This is the most challenge part for everyone while it need a period of time to transform. A person success to manage a good attitude, he/she might demonstrate a professional attitude and behaviors appropriate to the workplace. Meanwhile, professional is not come from skill and knowledge but attitude is everything while it control our life.

Cash Flow To The Project

Cash Flow analysis is the profit analysis which use to determined the viability of the planning development project. This analysis is related to the time as time change, the actual value of money change even though the face value remain the same. This meaning that the value of one pound is not same to the value of one pound ten years after even though its designed still same. Therefore, to prevent the loss for the development in the future, cash flow analysis may carry out before making the decision for the development.

To determined the viability of the development project, some of the method can be use which is payback method, Average Rate of Return (ARR), Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). Payback method and ARR is the most common method use for small project or business while NPV and IRR is use for big project as to prevent the loss in the future.

For the development in the site at Matilda Street,  the cash flow analysis might be use to decide which is the most feasible development. However, the economic trends may need to taking account while analysis the value of the development.

Refurbishment Vs Demolition

A development can either been refurbished from the existing property or demolished and re-construct it. Due to the site conditions at Matilda street, demolition work is harder to carry on because the building is attached with the next building and demolish work may affect the structural of the attached building. Furthermore, there is only one access to the site and it is difficult for the heavy vehicle to enter the site. Therefore, refurbishment will be the ideal tactic of the development. 

The Building of the site at Matilda Street is attached with the next building (yellow grid) and there is only one access to the site (the yellow arrows)

Refurbishment seem will be the more economical way for the development but one of the problem is, will the existing foundation can support the refurbished building? This problem should be concern as it will effect the whole structural work of the building while carrying a health and safety risk to the surrounding people and property. 

In a nutshell, both refurbishment and demolition conducting a risk for the development and one of these method which with lower risk will be choose for the proposal. A development project is never complete without risk but people will always choose the way with lower or slightly risk as to minimise or avoid the trouble in the future.

Life can be easy, depend on the way you choose.

In a nutshell, development is different with investment even though they are related. A higher risk in an investment probably will get a higher return, but, a high risk in development definitely will face a problem. Meanwhile, we have to always clearly understand the concept of development. 

Develop with economic, social and environmental friendly

Due to Sheffield City Council (2014), all the new development is required to build with sustainable and meets the challenge of climate change. This has to be considered at the beginning of the design stage because a sustainable statement is required at the planning application for developments of 5 dwellings or over (including apartments) and all non-residential developments over 500 square metres gross internal floor space. While propose a sustainable development in the site at Matilda Street, some of the questions may need to consider:

• Is the development can support and help revitalise the local economy?
• Is the development enhance Sheffield's neighbourhood and communities?
• Is the development provide a range of movement and inclusion?
• Is the development will protect and enhance Sheffield's natural environment and resources?
• Is the development integrate high quality and design?

To propose a sustainable development, focus alone in environmental issue is insufficient while may also need to concern about the contribution to local economic and indeed a gated community and guarded neighbourhood planning.

A sustainable development is not only emphasis in environment requirement but also balance in economic and social demand.

However, PESTEL analysis method is useful in this stage while to analyse the related issues regarding to the sustainable development. It provide  a framework which is a key part of advanced strategic management.

The key considerations for the sustainable development is listed out and to be analyse by PESTEL method.

Consideration first rather than action

As aforesaid, it is easy to propose a development but it is hard to make a best development proposal. Due to the survey, there were some accommodations, shops and restaurants located around the site at Matilda Street. Consideration must always happen in this moment as to find out the key consideration for the development and while to choose the most suitable development for the site.

The competitors (yellow circles) are need to take into consideration because they can influence the market value of the propose development.

Due to the discussion in the seminar group, there are two analysis methods have been carried out which is SWOT and PEST EL.

SWOT analysis is more focus on the site factors and market conditions of the development while PEST EL is more complex as it have to consider the whole socioeconomic (Legal and Environmental issues) which related to the propose development. In my own opinion, SWOT analysis is more suitable to use in this planning stage because this analysis is introspection and essential when considering the launch of a new project. A detail analysis should be carry out before make the decision to choose the development as this cannot be return once the construction begin. It may cause a lost to whole parties involved if the planning is improper. Hence, consideration first rather than action.

Project Fundamental Planning

To maintain and increase the value of the land, some of the factors may need to consider for the development such as site factors, market conditions, policy directions, etc. This step is complex because the factors are complicated which have to think over instead of making profit. 

Pass all the barriers (factors) before get the Goal (profits)

In this planning step, several procedures may need to carry out which is apply to the legislation, material considerations and type of planning application. The planning policy and the type of development of the land which can be search from the Sheffield City Council website and it is easy to get the town planning information from the website.

The Local Plan Propose map in Sheffield City Council website. (The grid line area is the site at Matilda Street)

Meanwhile, the more important part is not consider at the planning policy but still focus to the site factors and market conditions as to get the best development proposal which is profitable. Ostensibly, development is just construct a new building or refurnish the building to improve it's value. In fact, it is need to carry out a lot of feasibility study and layers of planning stages before the construction begin. 

Construction Development just like the Tips of Iceberg while it seem simple, but actually the background is complex.

Construction Technical Issue

Construction Technical Issue is not fresh nowadays. It might be the first consideration in planning a new development. Based on the site at Matilda Street, the technical issues will be the location, zoning, use of land, type of development, soil condition and so on. It is easy to construct a new building or development but it is difficult while have to fulfill the requirement by the local authorities and government's regulations. For example, if i choose to renovate the building of the site and propose to do a storage or warehouse, will this proposal approve or reject by the Local Authority of Sheffield? In addition, is the land or site suitable and safe for storage the stuffs? Therefore, this may return to the reflection cycle stage (as stated aforesaid) while review the problems and issues which are possible happen in the future. 

To make a perfect development, review practices must always conducted in the planning stage, it is helpful to solve the technical problems or issues and make the development proceed smoothly. 

A good weather for site visit

Survey Team (S105) - From Left (Shin Huat, Yeo; Rong Yaw, Lee; Shin Chun, Wong; and Wei Chien, Chee)

The building is currently used for storage and is not in regular daily use. We have formed a group of 4 members to carry out the survey on this site including the measurement of the area and the building. 

The site is located near 102 Matilda Street which is about 7 minutes walking distance to Sheffield Hallam University or Sheffield City Centre and 6 minutes walking distance to Sheffield Railway Station.

Survey outcome:
The land of the site is uneven settlement which may effect to the stability of the building's foundation and structure. The building is in a mess and there were some defects occurred which is in a risk of health and safety.

Uneven ground level of the site which is lower than the ground level of the next site. This identified that the soil condition of the land is poor.

The internal wall of the building is cracking. This may be caused by the settlement of the land.

The machine is dangerous as it has not remove and it can cause electric leakage or other matter happen.

Some of the ceiling boards in the building was collapse and the ceiling is dampness cause by water leakage from the roof slab. Due to the photo above (left), the roof slab is seem as precast slab which constructed by concrete strip.

Reflection of survey:

This survey work is imperfect as the safety equipment or personal protective equipment (ppe) does not provide and use during the survey work. Due to the building defects, there will be a health and safety risk for the surveyors while carrying the survey work in the building without personal protective equipment (ppe). It may cause an injury by the falling materials, slipping, cuts and punctures, electric shock and so on.

According to Crown (2014), "employers have duties to concern the provision and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) at work" and this is required by The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002 and the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended).

A New Module Experience

Integrated Project is one of the modules in my degree programme. It is subjects to illustrate the complex nature of development process, to examine and evaluate the overall process within which building are conceived, designed, constructed and used. This blog is created to reflect the learning outcome of the module. It is a process from experience to review then reflect and finally modify in a project while to improve and enhance the project and self knowledge in order to get the best point. 

The Reflective Cycle

Success is always comes from experiences. To improve or make good a problem, the primary stage may come from the experiences of the problem. Experience is to clearly understand the actual situation of the problem. Next, the problem is to be reviewed to find out the reasons on how, why, when, where and what was happened from the problem. In the reflection stage, it is to analyse or investigate the solution to make good the problem and the problem is to modify lastly by according to the information from previous stages (Experience, review, reflect). The modify stage is the action from the final decision based on the investigation and analysis of the previous stage. However, if the problem has not to overcome ideally, it may return to the initially stage to repeat the practice until it is solve perfectly.

This Module assessment is required to redevelop the site at Matilda Street. It is applicable with the reflective cycle to the development because it help to identify the problems or some related issues of the development while to get the best solutions to solve the problems. The draft below shows the initial planning of the development :