This report identifies and discusses four main analysis topics and two breadths that will be completed during the spring 2014 semester.
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Analysis 1 - Site Logistics Modifications
This analysis focusses on improving the schedule and cost by modifying the site logistics plan. Changing the site plan to include two tower cranes as opposed to one will be the primary reasearch topic. Implementing this system will then require a resequence of the projects demolition, steel erection, and other activities that the cranes would be used for. It will also require a stuctural redesign of foundations for the new tower cranes. The goal is to significantly decrease the schedule which in turn would reduce the overall project cost.
Analysis 2 -
Curtain Wall Prefabrication and Unitization
Analysis 2 focusses on schedule improvement through the use of prefabricating the curtain walls into units. The potential to substantially decrease the installation time while also increasing the quality is where the primary benefits could be seen. The current system used for the curtain wall is a basic stick-built system that could easily be improved upon with the use of prefabrication. Through the use of the cranes discussed in Analysis 1, units can just be lifted off the trucks for installation. The analysis will also require structural modifications to allow for the installation of these prefabricated units. The goal is to decrease the schedule which will then help the owner start earning back money faster.
Analysis 3 - Water Drainage Recycling
This analysis looks into the possibility of improving the sustainability of the project through the use of a water recycling sysem. Incorporating a rain-water recycling system into the already designed for drainage system could be an effect and simple way to decrease the water usage. The current system is a typical drainage system with dozens of roof drains piping the rain water down to the buildings primary storm drain. The new system will be used to recycle the rain water to be used in the toilets. The goals is to improve sustainability and reduce lifecycle costs in a way that the public won't even see.
Analysis 4 - BIM Utilization
Analysis 4 focusses on the use of BIM to improve project as a whole and for safety. BIM will be used to demonstrate the first three analyses. This will pontentially improve the communication of ideas and activities to the owner and also to the workers. This improved communication could assist in higher quality work and safer work. The current project rarely uses BIM at all. The goal is to improve the communication while also improving the projects safety.
Structural Breadth
The first breadth will incorporate analysis 1. In this analysis, the concrete foundations for two of the stair towers will be analyzed. Analysis 1 modifies the site plan to include two tower cranes and these tower cranes will be attempting to use the foundations for two of the stair towers as their foundations as well. A study into the new loads from both the stair towers and the tower cranes will be done. This will then lead into a structural redesign of the two foundations. This redesign will show the lateral moment resistance, the area's for column base plates where necessary, the elevator pit where necessary, and the relations to the floor slabs.
In the end, the original stair tower and tower crane foundations will be compared to the new stair tower/tower crane foundations analyzing their structural components and capabilities.
Mechanical Breadth
With little sustainability aspects specifically designed for on this project, the opportunity arose to implement a simple system that can still potentially help the cost and environmental impact. Investigating into the use of a water drainage recycling system is the primary focus of Analysis 3. The research will revolve around implementing and installing a rain-water recycling system in order to prevent unnecessary costs, while also improving the sustainability and potentially the lifecycle costs to the owner. Evaluations into the use of rain-water as toilet water and possibly a grey-water system are some key areas of investigation. The system being researched will primarily consist of using the existing drain pipes to funnel the rain-water into a large storage tank. Aanalyzing the rain quantities for that area will be essential when picking the size of the tank. The collected water will be cleaned and pumped into the building for use in the toilets but if the tank is too low, there will still be a connection to the domestic water for the building. Comparing the current designs water usage to the new designs savings will be an emphasis in analyzing the water usage, sustainability, and cost impacts. Using a chart, comparisons of the cost, schedule, water usage, and constructability will be shown to display the new recycling system against the original design. Also analyzing the impact this will have on the owner and on the customers will be key in determining if the system will in the end be beneficial.
Overall, the mechanical breadth will analyze the constructability of a water drainage recycling system and investigate that systems impact on the buildings sustainability, the owner, and on the customers. |