1. Introduction

Dr. Mohammad Nazmul Islam, the chair of DCEE, and our respected faculty member, Dr. Shoeb Reaz Alam, coordinated the site visit. The group arrived at the location at 9:30 a.m. At 10:00 a.m., the site and project engineers greeted the group, briefed the students on safety protocols, and provided them with protective equipment like helmets and high-visibility vests before the tour. The project engineer led the crew, while the site engineers ensured everyone's safety and kept track of everyone.

The location of the project was behind the Paltan Model Thana. It was a PWD development project that would house government personnel in government housing. The construction began in August of 2021 and is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2023.

2. Objectives

• To gain exposure to the construction environment and knowledge of the practical tasks encountered while entering the construction sector.
• Understand the fundamental construction process, see the usage of various equipment, and apply this knowledge to what has been taught in class.
• Acquire an understanding of critical safety processes and standards used on a building site.
• Inquire about the project and gain insight from those directly involved in the endeavor.

3. Observations

• Construction work- The structure was still under construction at the time of the group's visit. The seventh level was about to be poured, and the reinforcements had been bound in readiness. Construction has reached the fourth floor.
• Equipment- There were numerous types of equipment at the location. During casting, there were concrete mixers and a massive pump for pouring concrete upwards to the desired floor. The concrete molds were held in place by steel struts that had been correctly adjusted.
• Safety- The construction workers wore protective gear including hard hats, goggles, and vests. Workers wear protective gloves made of strong material when handling heavy equipment or sharp wire.
• The building has a Matt Foundation and it has 26 columns.
• The depth of the matt foundation is 4ft provided by a protective layering against moisture and other pests.
• The first three storeys of this 12-story Government section are comprised of studio apartments with two rooms, one living area, and one kitchen, as well as a porch.
• Nextly, the nine stories were typical apartments.
• The entire building is connected through an elevator and a common staircase.
• The building has a common duct area for all plumbing and electricity shafts.
• Casting was completed up to 6^th floor and the 7^th floor was about to cast.
• Construction work along with partition wall was done up to the 5^th
• The construction company used all steel struts instead of wood.
• The entire building had a safety canopy.

4. Questions

• What are they doing to overcome the effect of earthquakes on the structure?
• What is the spacing of the stirrups placed in the beam?
• How are the beam and slab cast in reality?
• Why do we see the casting lines on the slab?
• How is a failure at the footing accessed and how can it be prevented?

Things we learnt

• The stirrups were bent at 135-degree angle
• The hook was provided three times the diameter of the bar
• The stirrups in the beams were placed from the column face at a distance of 3 times the slab height (slab height = slab height + beam height)
• Hook angle in the stirrups are now 45 degrees and it is required to resist earthquake loading.

Acknowledgment

We are extremely grateful to our department and lab instructors for facilitating our field trip. In addition, we appreciate the site and project engineer's kind welcome.