Lesson List

Welcome?

Welcome to Construction and Infrastructure. In this theme, you will learn about the power of the built environment to protect us from natural disasters like floods and earthquakes, and design well-connected cities.

Extra Information about Construction and Infrastructure – optional

Construction and the Central Business District?

A central business district (CBD) is the commercial and business centre of a city, where most shops and companies are based. As cities grow, how can construction make sure CBDs are attractive and efficient?

Construction and Flood Defenses?

Natural disasters like floods can be damaging and stressful, as well as expensive, and they often happen very quickly. How can construction build defenses that protect our cities from flooding in areas of high risk?

Construction and Earthquake-Proof Buildings?

Earthquakes are one of the Earth’s most destructive forces, but if we plan and prepare then the risks can be reduced in new and existing buildings. How can construction create buildings that are earthquake-proof?

Construction and Site Planning – Deeley Construction

Construction and Water Infrastructure – Barhale

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1. Instructions from your Supervisor

Hi

We have just won a project to help a client upgrade and improve their existing office building, which is near an earthquake faultline. 

If people plan and prepare for earthquakes, then the risks can be reduced. Advances in building design mean that many new buildings are ‘earthquake proof’. Older buildings can be retrofitted to strengthen them in order to reduce the effects of earthquake shaking. 

Earthquakes are one of the Earth’s most destructive forces: the seismic waves throughout the ground can destroy buildings, take lives, and costs tremendous amounts of money for loss and repair.

According to the National Earthquake Information Center, there are an average of 20,000 earthquakes each year with approximately 16 of them becoming major disasters. Over the past few decades, engineers have introduced new designs and building materials to better equip buildings to withstand earthquakes.

When an earthquake occurs, it sends shockwaves throughout the ground in short rapid intervals in all different directions. While buildings are generally equipped to handle vertical forces from their weight and gravity, they cannot handle side-to-side forces emitted by quakes.

This horizontal load vibrates walls, floors, columns, beams and the connectors that hold them together. The difference in movement between the bottom and top of buildings exerts extreme stress, causing the supporting frame to rupture and the entire structure to collapse. To design an earthquake-proof building, engineers need to reinforce the structure and counteract an earthquake’s forces.

I have a task that needs completing, and I’d really like your help.

Our client has set over an online registration form for this project to confirm we understand the work involved, and I would like you to complete the online form with the right information.

I’ve included the resources you need to complete the task, including documents, images, videos and templates. They should give you plenty of ideas and information.

Follow the instructions, and when you’re ready, complete your task. All this should take you about 45 minutes.

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