RAG 132 BUILT ENVIRONMENT & HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

LECTURE 3: PRODUCT

2008-10-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

I apologize to Mr.1b as I was absent during the lecture 3- Product due to sickness. So, I unable to do my own notes during the lecture and therefore I have to do this post according to my own analysis and Mr.1b's website.

A product mayb be viewed as having the following elements such as form & space, nodes & paths and illusion.

Then, a form may have different attributes like colour, scale, size, heavy, light and so on.

A space would be structured as below:

Also, a product might be an illusion.

An illusion is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain noramlly organizes a interprets sensory stimulation. There are few kinds of illusion i.e. optical illusion, auditory illusion, and tactile illusions.

Example of great illusion:

Still remember it...?

2008-10-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

Guess what..?My group [V FIVE] 's dome still standing proudly under the hot sun after 35 days...!! =)

10 September 2008

15 October 2008

PRODUCTION OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT (PART II)

2008-09-28T02:21:00.000-07:00

Actors-The people in Building Industry

Owner: Land and/or building
Key figures:

initiates building projects, key of development process, catalyst, fuel & engine
make decision at stages of development that control the final outcome

Types of Owner

Public owner: The Federal Government (Kementerian Kerja Raya, JKR- the implements of government projects on site), State Government, District Councils, Local Authorities, Ministries
Private owner: Major contributors of housing, tourisme etc...

Objectives of Owner:

Time: To control & meet the development & construction time, early project completion is of high priority
Cost: To ensure low cost but high quality development

Role of Owner:

Decide on the best approach of development to reach the objectives of the organization
Obtain a continuous & sufficient financial source to carry out & complete the development
Ensure all the necessary planning & building approval are obtained from the local authorities before development works begin
Monitor the overall development process to ensure quality product to capture positive & high market demand

Owner requires services from....

Professionals: Designers & constructions eg. architects, planners, land surveyors, engineers & quantity surveyors for the planning, design & procurement works & to get necessary approvals from the local authorities
Project managers responsible in organizing, managing & monitoring the development & construction process
Contractors responsible for carrying out the building works

*So, start from now, we need to have close relationship with everyone from different major courses, at the same time knows each other as we might meet again and work together one day.

Designer

Interior Designer, Architect, Landscape Architect, Urban Designer, Urban Planner

Objectives of Designer:

To produce the built environment which is better than the existing
The focus- physical design from micro to macro level

Consultant

Provide specialized knowledge, skills & services to supplement those of the designers
Structural & Civil Engineer (C & S)
Mechanical & Electrical Engineer (M & E)
Quantity Surveyor
Land Surveyor

Government Agencies & Local Authorities

Public Works Department (JKR), Ministry of Housing & Local Government, Councils of the Local Authorities, TM, TNB, JBA, JAS, Bomba

Objectives of Government Agencies & Local Authorities:

To ensure & safeguard the public health, welfare & safety, structural & fire safety, local zoning & land use requirement
To administer building codes that established minimum stantards for development & construction based on. eg. Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) 1984

Approvals are to be obtained from the local authorities before and after commencement of work at stages of the development process:

Sub-Division Approval (Kelulusan Pecah Sempadan)
Planning Approval
Building Approval
Start Work Permit
Final Inspection
Certificate of Fitness (CFO); Now (Since April 2007)- Certificate of completion & compiance (CCC)

Contractor

Main contractor

Individual or organization who undertakes to carry out & complete the development or construction works according to the specifications documented in the tender & contract documents

Sub contractor + Nominated sub-contractor 'NSC' (mechanical, electrical, fire-fighting, sanitation works)

Role: To undertake & provide labour for the general construction works specialized works

Personel & Site Workers: Site manager, clerk of work, skill workers, semi skill workers, construction workers

Manufacturer & Supplier

Producer of building materials

Supplier of materials & plants, mechanical, electrical, air-conditioning etc

Financial Agencies

Role:

Provide loans
Provide insurance policies
Provide consultants with error & omissions insurance

User-Owner and/or End Users

Objective: Owner (eg. University)

Durability
Easy & Low Maintenance Cost

Objective: End users (eg. Students)

Comfort & safety
Personalized space
Privacy
Territoriality

*From this lecture, i learnt that to produce a built environment, requires cooperation and large network from different experts such as architects, quantity surveyors, project managers and so on. I also learnt that every single action we do wil affect the others as the people in building industry in fact means ALL OF US from land owner to the end users... Besides that, building industy is so unique, massive and complex as it involves wide knowledge from different fields on the market.

PRODUCTION OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT (PART I)

2008-09-28T00:12:00.000-07:00

INRODUCTION TO THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
PRODUCTION OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

The environment in terms of physical, social, cultural, economics & political is an image & symbol of progress of the country. The condition of our built environment affects the performance of different sectors [public & private] which is required to achieve a developed country.

* Therefore, as students of School of HBP, we have to be alert & sensitive for the condition of our built environment as we are playing an essiential role in developing our country in the coming future. In other words, we act as ACTORs on the SITE of Malaysia's built environment to produce a better living environment.

The building industry plays an important role, contributing services to house of activities carried out by these different sectors. Building industry involves people & processes in the production of the built environment.

The Building Industry
The profile: Unique & Flexible

A local industry: Temporary relationship exists during every single project. Each project is a new undertaking with temporary link & gathering of diverse group of local actors. eg. Construction Project A is carried out by Actors A who are Architects, Interior Designers, Project Manager, Quantity Surveyors, Planners, Social Scientists, Engineers..etc
Fragmented: Variation in workloads for firms such as Architect Firm
Market Fluctuation: Low level of capital investment while labour investment is relatively high. eg. In the wake of increase of petrol price, price of building material such as concrete will increase too.

Actors-The people in Building Industry

Owner: Land and/or building (can be different owner or the same)

Professionals: Designers & Consultants (WE!!!!)

Government Agencies & Local Authorities (eg. Planners-approves and monitors the projects)

Contractors & Sub-contractors (normally attached to Quantity Surveyors & Construction Managers)

Suppliers

Lending & Insurance Institutions
End users (people who are going to use the building and experiencing the built environment)

Indirect participants (Publics, NGOs who comment on the built environment

To be continued....

10 SEPTEMBER 2008- DOMES DAY

2008-09-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

10 September 2008, a day to remember..It was Domes Day, but it was also my sleepless night!

9 September 2008, my group, V FIVE started our dome decoration from 8pm untill 8am of another day..we worked for 12 hours!! @.@

After having breakfast, we went to E48A lecture hall to listen to the briefing given by Mr.Wan. Then, we carried our dome from studio to the site ("Carryability Test Path"). Next, report was submitted and registration was done.

Site: Lecture Hall (E48A)-Briefing

E48 Premise- Report & Dome Pack Submission

Temple- Team Photo and Registration

Dome Site (Site 11)- Errection of Dome

Actor: Mr.1b, All the HBP students, staffs, my group (V FIVE-TAN MEI YEE, NG OOI PIN, LING HARN WEI, LIM SIN YI, LIM CHIN VEE)

Intention: To accomplish the assignment of Real World Construction

To erect the dome in 30 mins

Rule: The dome must be assembled in 30 minutes and only by team members on respective site with the dome showing own identity

Act: Listen to the briefing

Carry the dome along the " Carryability Test Path"

Submit the report, take photo and make registration

Assemble and reinforce the dome

Give brief introduction of my dome to Mr.1b

Take photos during the progression

Product: A completed 2V dome

These are some of the pictures taken on the Domes Day:

omg, haven't get ready~

We were told that we had to assemble the dome at Site 11. After reaching the site, we started our work immediately!

let's get it started..

working hard..

V FIVE- LIM CHINVEE, LIM SINYI, NG OOIPIN, TAN MEIYEE*, LING HARNWEI

Me...with my lovely dome!

For me, this is not a simple assignment. It not only taught me the way to build & construct a dome, at the same time, it taught me the way to cooperate with mates & the best way to communicate with others. Friendship could be tested, leadership could be trained, mental strength could be tortured, handwork skill could be learnt, punctuality could be exercised.... so on & so on.. And because of this little dome, my 1st overnight at HBP school was experienced..!

Finally, thanks to the lecturer, my leader, sweet teammates, and those who helped us in making this dome! Terima kasih, domo arigato gozaimashita..

ASSIGNMENT B: REAL WORLD CONSTRUCTION @ CONSTRUCTION OF DOME

2008-09-21T13:03:00.000-07:00

Few weeks ago, I was asked to build a DOME by Mr.Wan. ??dome?? A word i never heard before.... - THOUGHTS

Okie, never mind..then i formed a group with my friends of 4, i.e. Tan Mei Yee as leader, Lim Chin Vee, Lim Sin Yi & Ling Harn Wei. plus me, Ng Ooi Pin. 5 of us formed a group named V FIVE. V FIVE stands for WE FIVE or VICTORY 5 indicating our friendship and determination to make this assignment a brillant one. -ACTOR

GROUP NAME : V FIVE

LEADER’S NAME: TAN MEI YEE- QUANTITY SURVEY (99833)
MEMBERS’ NAME:

NG OOI PIN- CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT (99773)
LIM CHIN VEE- PLANNING (99730)
LIM SIN YEE- INTERIOR DESIGN (99733)
LING HARN WEI- ARCHITECTURE (99738)

LECTURER’S NAME:MR. WAN BURHANUDDIN WAN ABIDIN

MOTTO: GAMBATEH, V FIVE!

Then, we started our 1st meeting discussing our concept of dome. After the discussion, we decided to build a dome using newspaper which suit with the rules of 'recyclable' & 'zero cost'. We also confident that we can assemble the dome in 30 minutes. Besides that, we going to build a dome of diameter of 4 feet which definitely can accommodate 5 of us and could be carried by 3 people. After all, we started to think our own team identity...-RULE

According to Mr.Wan, the domes will be located at the hill behind HBP building as shown as below:

SITE

To show our group's identity, we have decided to shelter our dome by using transparent waterproof cover &translucent colour papers. It also decorated by our images drawn and coloured by ourselves. Then, we had to think the source of newspaper which really got us into hot water..luckily my dearest teammates managed to get newspaper from rooms, houses even senior. -INTENTION

Next, we started every related calculation by surfing a website named 'Dome Calculation'.

A-2.472 feet

B-2.186 feet

After getting the materials, we found it very difficult to build the stick using newspaper which is very soft. After failure and failure, we decided to change the material. Finally, we used bamboo stick which sponsored by relative of one of our team members, ChinVee.

On the next day, at Tekun Cafe, we began our construction of dome following the steps learnt from Internet. Yet, we felt upset when we once again faced the failure as we realized that the steps shown in net was totally not practicable.. =( That time was 2 in the morning..All of us felt very down yet we never give up. On the next morning, we started our project from the very beginning as we redo it. We faced plenty of difficulites along the process such as sort of materials, arguement among members, mentally & physically fatigue............ -WORK

Time passing, days & nights...finally we have succeed in constructing a dome which having lifespan at least 180 days according to our estimation. -PRODUCT

STRONGEST OPPONENT

2008-09-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

When I first knew that the marks for the Assignment A was released, i rushed to have a look and found that my blog not yet been accessed..omg, only few person get A. after viewing their site, yea they deserved it..i was worry about my marks and immediately I coloured my blog and updated it with the hope can score a better grade..!

At the following night my friend told me that i get an A for my blog. Hooray, I was so glad.. ^^
hmm, anyway, the marks is subjected to change everyday. so, seem like we all have to update it always. just like our study and life, we should access and upgrade ourself everyday to ensure that we are not getting lower in grade. We cann't be lazy even for a single day otherwise we wil get 'overtake' by others...This is life.

Yet i feel that competes with others is tiring. There are saying sounds that, 'The biggest enermy in one's life is self'. (is it sounds so? sorry if i stated it wrongly..but i think u can understand it) Ok..I believe on that, I have to compete with myself but not others. Here the promise made.

LECTURE 2: SITE-SCALE OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

2008-09-04T08:37:00.000-07:00

Case: Level 100 Course Intro To Built Environment, 1997-2007

Scales: Object --> Interior --> Building --> Premise --> Urban --> Regional --> Global

Example:

Object
Interior
Building

PremiseUrban

Regional
Global

Thoughts: Ideologies, Design Theories
Work: Scope of work (development, procedures)
Product: Design of physical objects to physical world
Actor: Industrial Designer-Interior Architect-Architect-Landscape Architect-Urban Designer-Planner-"Governor"('NEW WORLD ORDER')
Rule: Legal aspects of development
Site: From factories to the Internet

Global Scale
How do we look at this world?
Thoughts: Gold, Glory
Work: Design & Build
Product: Destruction
Actor: Earthling, Inhabitant of Earth, Global villager, Designer, Builder, Developer
Rule: Economics
Site: Earth

Q: Why is Earth dying?

A: The Earth is still geologically active, but billions of years from now the Earth will cool and eventually become geologically inactive. When this occurs, the magnetosphere protecting Earth's atmosphere from the solar winds will disappear, and the planet will be stripped of surface life due to the intense bombardment of ultraviolet radiation. Further off still, the sun will eventually burn out, but first enlarging, swallowing up the inner planets in heart and flame, destroying any evidence of our existence, other than far flung spacecraft and radio television signals.

source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_earth_dying

*IATROGENOCIDE: The extermination of a population in a systematic fashion through medical
error.
CANNIBALISME: Kill each other among human being

ASSIGNMENT A: USM 38th CONVOCATION 2008

2008-09-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

On 17th August 2008, I have attended my sister's convocation at USM(SITE). At the same time, i captured a lot of pictures to post on this blog as a product of my assignment.

DATE: 17 AUGUST 2008
SITE: In front of 'Pasar Pelajar' USM
INTENTION: To take photos during the USM 38th Convocation
ACT: Know the rundown of the event, snap photos during the event
RULE: Take the photos of the events from the beginning of the day until the end of the event
ACTOR: Me (the photographer!), Graduated students-Parents-Relatives-Friends, Lecturers, VIPs
PRODUCT: Photo Blog

The surroundings..

Booths were set up by clubs and societies to promote respective products or service.

Exhibition was held

Before the ceremony, crowd could be seen at anywhere

Flowers and gifts...

Traffic jam...

Roadblock by security guards

Food and drinks stalls

Stalls...

Right before the ceremony...

During the ceremony...

After the ceremony..

After the ceremony, I back to hometown with my family...! :P

I felt very proud and glad to attend my sister's convocation at USM.The smile on her face was irreplacable. I wish my big day will come very soon..

LECTURE 1: PRODUCTION MODEL

2008-08-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

13th August 2008

"What is production?" This was the 1st question asked by lecturer in his 1st lecture.
Then, i was taught that there have 6 elements of production, which are PRODUCT, SITE, ACT, ACTOR, INTENTION & RULE.

INTENTION

Intention can be divided into few categories which are explicit or implicit, constructive or destructive & good or bad. Besides that, intention must be companied by knowledge. Knowledge is a product of certain act which involves actors by listening or/and seeing whatever on the Earth. Then, the actors will use their 'head & heart' to process & think the intention.

RULE

In a simple way, rule can be explained as some kind of ideology at which the term usually used wil end up with -isme. We face dilemma when we discuss about rule as there is nothing called RIGHT or WRONG.. For example: Human being are from monkey?Adam? We can not get the 100% correct answer.

There's no right or wrong. - Altruism
Everything is wrong. -Cynicism
Everything is right. -Relativism

And, i was asked "Must we search for the truth?"
If yes, then that is Truth-seekerisme
If no, that is Taoisme as Tao believes that the truth aint need to be looked for, but to throw away the falseness.

* The -isme I am holding is Json-isme which indicates that I only believe in myself from what i have seen, heard, learnt, thought and analysed. I am confident that I am mature enough to differentiate the right and wrong, to clarify the border of truth & falseness. At the same time, I need guidance from God, family, friends and others. But, the final decision always in my hand... I do hope that the -isme I am believing in can always lead me wherever I heading to.

ACTOR

Actor can also be called 'aktor, pelaku, tukang laku, penghasil, tukang hasil'
Actor is the one carries out an act on certain site to produce something.

ACT

There are 2 groups of ACT- individually or in group work.

PRODUCT

The product of an act from certain intentions can be either physically, mentally or spiritually.

SITE

A site is a place where an act is carried out. In the real world, the examples of site are land, floor, table, and paper. On the other hand, the virtual sites are like head, dream and website.

CONCLUSION

After the lecture, we were asked to do a assignment named Virtual Construction ( which i did successfully!)

During the lecture....