Construction

Construction means the erection or assembly of large structures, primarily those which provide shelter, such as commercial and residential buildings. It also includes major works such as ships, aircraft, and public works such as roads, dams, and bridges.

The major elements of a building include:

- the foundation, which supports the building and gives it stability;

- the structure, which supports all the imposed loads and transmits them to the foundation;

- the exterior walls, which may or may not be part of the primary supporting structure;

- the interior partitions, which also may or may not be part of the primary structure;

- the environmental-control systems, including the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, lighting, and acoustical systems;

- the power, water supply, and waste disposal systems.

Jobs in construction are many and varied, ranging from architects to painters. However, every building needs a solid foundation on which the structure can be erected, paying special attention to the exterior walls which will need to withstand the elements.

Constructware is a US company which provides collaboration solutions to construction companies to help them achieve business success by increasing productivity, improving risk management and reducing costs. Look at the diagram opposite which shows their areas of activity: