The UK Construction Blog

Subject to planning permission, the Yorkshire-based developer wants to complete the scheme at Manor Point on North Street by September 2012.

The land is currently occupied by a disused structurally dangerous four-storey residential property and has been acquired from the administrators of Life Homes.

Although the proposed design is dictated by need, renowned Leeds architects Carey Jones have developed the tower with due consideration to the Leeds Tall Building Guide.

Sitemaster Building LT

Take advantage now of this limited time offer,

SiteMaster Building LT (now REDUCED by £300) is an ideal starter programme for someone who is about to invest £600 or equivalent $/€ rate on the Leica Disto D8 laser distance meter and wants to interface with an intelligent mobile drawing package which supports .dwg format CAD package; SiteMaster Building LT will give you the flexibility you need as an ideal starter package with an easy upgrade through to the full version should you so wish. Limited time offer ONLY

For occasional building surveys

BuildingLT gives you many handy ways to create walls (even double line walls), windows, doors, openings and symbols. You can measure and draw rectangular and circular columns, recesses, chimneys and niches/ductes. You can use the EnterPoint dialog for precise entry of coordinates and angle/distance values, plus much much more.

Sitemaster Building LT take advantage while you can.

and now add a Leica Disto D8

Leica Disto D8

to your software to allow you to transmit dimensions directly into the software, with NO mistakes and NO return visits to site. Walk off the job with finished CAD drawings saving up to 70% of your normal production of drawings time.

The most versatile laser distance meter in the world! Equipped with a digital Point finder, high-resolution 2.4“ colour display, 360° tilt sensor and BLUETHOOTH® technology, the Leica DISTO™ D8 is a real world first and offers completely new measuring options.
Leica Disto D8 Video

The Prince of Wales has officially opened a construction college at his “model” village in Dorset.

The Dorset Construction and Training Centre, in Poundbury, runs Weymouth College’s stone masonry courses.

The prince met students in the college’s workshop and was handed a slab of Portland stone to carve by lecturer Richard Mortimer.

Poundbury, which was created in 1993, is an urban extension to Dorchester on the prince’s Duchy of Cornwall land.

It was built by the prince to encourage greener ways of living and is home to 1,500 people, with plans to house 5,000 people by 2025.

The college has been running since February and aims to become a Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Construction.

It also runs heritage-based courses including roof thatching and dry-stone walling.

‘Complete fool’

The prince was taught to use a steel dummy and letter cutting chisel to carve out parts of a nail point pattern into a piece of slab.

He said there was a “large black hole” in terms of stonemasonry skills in the UK.

“I couldn’t be more pleased to see what is happening here,” he added.

“The quality of the training and the apprentices is remarkable.”

The prince joked: “All I have done is to make a complete fool of myself by being offered a go at making a nasty mess of a lump of stone, which makes me more appreciative of the amazing skill needed to do this work.”

Lecturer Richard Mortimer said it was an “honour” to teach the prince.

“He did really well,” he said.

“He picked the chisel up straight away and went straight into it, he didn’t hold back at all.”

The students will give a stone and teak bench to Clarence House as a gift once it is finished.

The prince, who has been patron of the Samaritans charity since 1999, went on to meet volunteers from the Weymouth branch, which celebrates its 40th anniversary next spring.

He officially handed over the keys to their new £5,000 van, bought after more than a year of fundraising, to transport up to six volunteers at a time

Sitemaster Elevations

SiteMaster Elevations
Photographic Facade Survey

SiteMaster Elevations – surveying to precise exterior views
Save Time and Money – Now you can produce Elevational Drawings from Photographs

Photographic Facade Survey

SiteMaster Elevation is an independent add-on for SiteMaster. You can benefit from photogrammetric procedures by determining detailed measurements from freehand digital photographs or scanned images.

Sitemaster Elevations Screenshot

SiteMaster Elevation requires only one rectangle with two known side lengths for calibrating an image plan. The software lets you measure and draw a building in 2D with added height information on floors, openings etc.

It saves the exact measurement results by redrawing the image with points, lines, rectangles, polylines, arcs and circles. SiteMaster Elevation transfers drawing elements with state-of-the-art technology to your CAD system, e.g. or SiteMaster Building. After completing your measurements you can generate a report list of all measurements and areas. The results can be exported in excel lists.
Processing digital photographs of the building’s facade in SiteMaster Elevation allows you to enhance your project into a full 3D plan with precise exterior views. You can exchange drawing files between SiteMaster Elevation, SiteMaster (and other solutions) using the .FLX (PowerCAD) and .DXF file formats.

Leading supplier of Diggers and Mini Diggers for Hire. We have 87 locations spread around the UK, We open early so you will always have the confidence to collect and take to your site in time for normal work start. If you would rather have delivery, each store is complete with a driver and bed truck so we can drop off to your location when required!

NEW: We also sell replacement tracks for all brands of mini diggers

Sitemaster Building

There is an ever growing requirement in today’s fast paced society by clients and customers to have quick, accurate building plans, floor plans, ‘as built’ plans and   elevational drawings of buildings with which to plan their future building proposals, schemes and to comply with current legislation like the recent Government Directives where Local Authorities, schools, colleges and the like are required to take a much more proactive approach to the whole area of Property Management.

However, in older buildings, asbestos, water hygiene and associated issues cannot be determined unless accurate measured building surveys exist and are kept up to date. Fire Regulations and new laws to improve access to public buildings for people with disabilities have also raised the profile of property asset management at local level. These new regulations have highlighted that hundreds of councils ether do not have the original plans for many of their public buildings, or some premises have undergone so many extensions  and refurbishments that the original drawings bear little relation to the present layout of the building. Local Authorities, are  facing  a race against time to arrange for all schools, colleges and nursing homes, to be surveyed with accurate drawings produced for their records. In the long run it will lead to greater efficiency of property management. Short term it may at first appear to be a huge burden, but Graeberts suite of Sitemaster software and Mobile CAD Surveying Ltd’s mobile kit  is positioned to help alleviate the pressure and provide a highly productive surveying solution – with many benefits for the future.

In the private sector, pressure is constantly placed on Architects, Surveyors and Facilities/Project Managers to produce fast accurate drawings and data of existing and new or proposed schemes, this cannot be achieved unless a fast accurate method of producing existing floor plans is available. Now Sitemaster Building 4.1 is that programme which can produce very accurate finished floor plans in the same or less time than it takes to carry out a traditional site survey.

Before Sitemaster Building was available, it meant sending a surveyor to a project site, to carry out all the measuring and manual sketches by hand, before returning to his office to re-input all the data at their office into their office based CAD system. They may also have been required to go back to site on numerous occasions to correct inaccuracies that came to light during the CAD process, a very frequent event that causes major delays in time and much additional expense to the project team.

Compare that to what a surveyor would now achieve using Sitemaster Building suite of software. Now not only are they accurately measuring the properties, but they are generating in ‘real time’ the finished CAD drawings at the same time, no hand drawn sketches, no scribbled notes, no long drives back to the office to then generate the CAD plans but most importantly no return visits to correct inaccurate or missing dimensions. The property is therefore, measured, drawn in CAD and mailed back to the office in 50 per cent of the time previously taken, allowing the surveyor to go straight on to  his next job.

It really is a Win Win situation for all parties!

Although there are FIVE software programmes in the Sitemaster Suite, Sitemaster Building is the Mobile CAD Solution and the main one that would be employed to facilitate the completion of CAD drawings for ‘as built’ or proposed floor plans and is therefore critical in the marketing of this range of software, to show a client/customer the features and range of this whole suite.

Some Technical information about Sitemaster Building:-
The extensive features of SiteMaster Building are especially interesting for users that need to create and deliver professional CAD drawings.
The layer management supports the combination of several floor plans in one single file. Heights of rooms, openings and symbols can be recorded and exported. Lasered distances are recorded in the background and saved on an extra layer for proofing purposes.

Draw fast and accurate walls (as single or double line), windows, doors and symbols. You can draw rectangular and circular columns, Recesses, chimneys and niches/ducts. SiteMaster Building offers you more than 250 CAD and numerous editing commands. The program features associative dimensioning and room area calculation. The Camera function allows you to insert icon-referenced inspection photos and images. SiteMaster Building contains an Image function for direct insertion and scaling of photos and image underlays with support for file formats as BMP, JPG, PNG, TIFF and RLC digital photos and images.

VoiceNotes that can easily been inserted eliminate time consuming text markup by providing record and playback of high-compressed audio notes and instructions directly inside your drawings.

AutoCAD-compatible drawing symbols / blocks can be used. The Visual Symbol Manager lets you insert symbols ? as-measured, referenced or free in the drawing. You can export Excel-compatible .csv files with room/area lists and room schedule reports/symbol lists. The Check Distance function lets you compare »as-built« distances to plan distances and record this comparison.

Experienced power users can use the visual Desktop, Menu and Toolbar Editor (DME2) and Lisp and/or C++ programming APIs to customize and extend the program furthermore.

Productivity levels and therefore profit margins are a concern to all, but in an industry where so much process is manual there only needs to be one error in measurement, or error in reading a measurement and the entire dimensions of a building will be inaccurate. The result?  A return to site to re-measure and then back to the office to amend the CAD drawings. This is a huge resource cost and ultimately vastly decreases profit margins, affects customer service and increases costs for both the supplier and the client.

Anybody connected with design, construction, engineering, facilities management, manufacturing, mapping, real estate and related industries will know that. Local authorities, hospitals, schools, surveyors, facilities management companies – any sector involved in the management of multiple and large buildings that require compliance with Health and Safety regulations, the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and those requiring Asset Registry services are now looking at how to shorten the “field-to-finish” time and associated cost.

In order to tempt the surveyor away from the traditional pen/paper/laser approach, any solution offered has to be quick, efficient and truly mobile. To persuade the money men it also has to offer a swift ROI – laser scanning options were seeing an increase in adoption a few years back but were still costly, and did not create the “as-built” drawings and floor plans in the field that would significantly cut design and planning time and cost.

The answer lies in incorporating handheld devices, software,   Bluetooth and   wireless technology – to produce a CAD drawing in front of your eyes. The measurements taken by laser meter and sent via Bluetooth into the software installed on the handheld device, produce a pictorial representation almost instantly. Human error is completely eliminated – the surveyor can see immediately if he has taken the measurement incorrectly. The solution also needs to offer the basics for internal building design, down to such detail as furniture if required, thereby producing a finished drawing in the field that can be emailed back to the office.

If we say the output is 100% accurate in half the time and at half the cost we’re pretty close. Productivity in simple terms is increased by 100% – the work is delivered in one day – therefore the profit is increased by 100%. Mobile technology has actually been proven to increase productivity by up to 1000% when compared to traditional design methods. And that’s not mentioning the less tangible increase in service level to the customer. A return on investment can be seen in some cases on day 1, but we say on average within 14-15 working days, including the cost of the hardware, software and training.

AMA Research have published the 1st Edition of its overview of the Central Government Construction Market in the UK, covering the defence, police, immigration, courts, prison, fire & rescue, central government offices and public leisure sectors. The report should be of particular interest to contractors, suppliers, FM providers and construction professionals and provides a comprehensive review of the sector.

Key areas in the report

The Central Government Construction sector is worth over £3.5 billion and covers accommodation related construction in the following Government Departments:

• Ministry of Defence (Defence Estates)
• Home Office (Police Service, Immigration)
• Ministry of Justice (Prisons and Courts)
• HM Revenue and Customs
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Museums, Libraries, Sport, & Leisure)
• Department for Communities and Local Government (Fire & Rescue)

Areas of particular interest:

• Analysis of key central government functions including defence, police services, immigration service, courts service, prison service, fire & rescue services, central government offices and public leisure services including current estate size and future estate strategy.
• A detailed review of major capital building programmes of key central government departments including MoD, MoJ, DCMS, HMRC and the Home Office.
• A detailed review of leading contractors and consortia involved in central government construction work including sector strengths and project activity.
• Forecasts of developments up to 2011 and underlying prospects for the next 5 years – impact of Election, potential funding cuts etc.
• Key factors affecting the central government sector including the impact of the economic downturn, the Public Value Programme, future public spending levels, sustainability and the use of offsite construction methods.

Some of the companies featured include:

Carillion, Enterprise Plc, Galliford Try, Interserve, John Laing, Kier, Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska, Willmott Dixon

Key areas covered in the report include:

CONSTRUCTION MARKET OVERVIEW

Value of construction new work output.

Construction output by sector in 2002-08 and forecasts for 2009-2013.

Central Government construction market: £3.5+ billion spending on new build and RMI – output by sector.

Central Government Facilities Management market overview.

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMMES

Central Government Capital Expenditure.

Defence Estates – Future Estates Strategy, estates budget 2008-11, Living & Training Accommodation (number of new bed spaces 2007-2020), 10 Year Accommodation Management strategy (single/family living), new build/RMI, key projects, condition assessments, budgets/timescales, key influences etc. Police Service – capital expenditure, construction programmes & key projects – values and current status.

Immigration Service – key expansion plans – budgets, key projects, bedspaces etc. Courts Service – Courts Estate, capital expenditure, key construction programmes and budgets up to 2011. New build and RMI.

Prison Service – Prison Estate, prison population, capital expenditure, key construction programmes and budgets, new prison capacity (Mini-Titans), HM Prison Service Framework Agreements – public/private sector, use of MMC, procurement routes, new build/RMI, FM.

Leisure – DCMS expenditure, key construction programmes and budgets, Olympics, museums, sport and recreation, cultural sites etc. – budget splits up to 2011. Fire & Rescue Services – capital expenditure, PFI programmes, budgets up to 2011. Central Government Offices – key projects & programmes, Carter review.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE MARKET

Planned Future Public Investment including measures announced in the Pre-Budget Report, possible impact of change of government in 2010. Role of PFI. Public Value & Operational Efficiency Programmes – review of procurement routes, Carter review.

Sustainability – BREEAM – impact on specifications/procurement.

Use of Offsite / MMC – application to the Central Government construction market – MoD, prisons, immigration centres etc.

CONSTRUCTION MARKET SUPPLY

Structure & Size of the Contracting Industry.

Leading Clients in the Central Government construction market.

Leading Construction Contractors and Consortia operating in the Central Government construction market – role of framework agreements.

Additional Information

AMA Research has recently published the 1st Edition of its overview of the UK Central Government Construction Market in the UK, covering the defence, police, immigration, courts, prison, fire & rescue, central government offices and public leisure sectors. The report should be of particular interest to engineering consultancy firms, architects & designers, contractors, suppliers and construction professionals and provides a comprehensive review of the central government construction sector.

While the downturn in the economy is expected to have a negative impact on the growth of the overall construction market, the Central Government sector is due to receive a boost over the short to medium term from the Government’s decision to bring forward £3bn of capital spending to 2009-10 from 2010-11 in order to provide some impetus to the economy. However, this measure will result in lower departmental capital expenditure limits in 2010-11, resulting in more moderate growth in the sector in the medium to longer term even though the overall economy is expected to slowly recover in that period.

While the programme of redevelopments in some sectors such as Central Government Offices is now largely over, some growth is expected to continue over the next few years, supported by government investment in increasing the provision of prison accommodation, improvements to the Fire and Rescue Services, investment in defence accommodation and developments in connection with the 2012 Olympics.

This 1st edition of our report specifically reviews key central government functions including defence, police services, immigration service, courts service, prison service, fire & rescue services, central government offices and public leisure services including current estate size and future estate strategy

The report also reviews the structure and size of the central government construction sector with an analysis of prospects for construction activity in the sector over the next five years and gives a detailed review of major capital building programmes and anticipated capital budgets of key central government departments including MoD, MoJ, DCMS, HMRC and the Home Office.

In addition, the report discusses the key factors affecting the central government sector including the impact of the economic downturn, the Public Value Programme, future public spending levels, implications for central government construction of a change in government including the future of services within the custodial sector, sustainability and the use of offsite construction methods.

Analysis of market developments has been based upon both quantitative and qualitative assessments of both primary and secondary source data. Interpretation of relevant data has been undertaken to explore and support trends within the central government construction market and to provide a basis for forecasts of future prospects

In a referendum organised by the nationalist Swiss People’s Party (SVP), 57.5 per cent of voters approved a constitutional ban on the construction of minarets.

The SVP labelled minarets as symbols of a rising political power that could transform Switzerland into an Islamic state. Voters in just four of the country’s 26 cantons, or states, rejected the initiative.

Mangera Yvars Architects’ Ali Mangera, who masterminded the original London super-mosque proposals, said: ‘Decisions like this should be placed on architectural factors, not a pretext against Islam. This is more to do with the emasculation of a group of people – the right wing is behind this.

He added: ‘[Minarets] are not ideal for every part of London and they are not just about the call to prayer. But they are interesting features and also function as natural air conditioning mechanisms. ’

Adrian Stewart, director of Do Architecture, which designed the minaret-less Al-Furqan Mosque in Glasgow for the UK Islamic Mission, said: ‘This is being used to isolate a community. A minaret is not a critical component of a mosque and does not always have to be involved. The debate has been blown out of proportion. We know from experience there is a desire to generate a regionalism, which makes a mosque very much more about its location.’

Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, commented that mosques and minarets in Europe remained ‘manifestations of the proudly indigenous nature of Islam in Europe’.

He added: ‘It is tragic that the far right is stripping away at our heritage of coexistence between faiths and cultures in Europe.’

Far right parties in Austria, Belgium and France have used the Swiss vote to call for a similar ban in their own countries.

Carpet Cleaner

Possibly the best value Carpet Cleaner hire in the UK today is from www.carpetcleaner-hire.co.uk with the industry standard machine which restores carpets and upholstery to showroom conditions. Lightweight, versatile and easy to use this machine removes dirt, bacteria, allergens and odours from your home. Collect from over 87 locations around the UK or delivered to your door.

Get your home shipshape in time for the festive season!

You can hire this Carpet Cleaner for a full weekend from just £20