INTRODUCTION

Earthwork is the process that involving excavate, transported and compacted the surface of

the earth at another location. There are four main process in earthwork that is excavation,

transportation, unloading and compaction. Earthwork mainly carried out at earlier stage of

construction. Completion of earthwork within the prescribed proggramme time is often the

key to the completion on time of the whole project, that means the earthwork is the

importance work in construction project. In earthwork there are three type of work:

a) Site clearance

The work that removal of light scrub, trees, existing structure and topsoil

b) Excavation of trenches and foundation

The small size of excavation happen when large bulk earthmoving plant cannot be

used

c) Bulk excvation

The excavation that make the larger excavation work such as cut and fill, shallow cut

and fill and also basement excvation.

Planning of the earthwork is important before the project will start. The planning of the

eartwork can give the contractor positive result to their profit and quality of the project.

Whereby, while planning the earthwork they should analysis the work to be carried out and

determined the types and numbers of plant that would be most suited to the sequence of

operations and from this analysis, the cost can be determined.. the planning shoul be carried

out at tender stage and construction stage.

1 | P a g e

1.0 CASE STUDY

The task given is to study about the earthworks at residential project. Based on the

case study, earthworks is done can be identified. Earthworks machineries also

identified. There are also problems that arise during the earthworks done.This case

study is lacated at Seksyen U13, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan. The

project name is Cadangan Membina Dan Menyiapkan 10 Unit Rumah Berkembar 3

Tingkat Di Atas Sebahagian PT 7718 (FASA 1). The cost for this project is RM

26,681,078.10. This project is handling by a Ibrahim Mian Sdn. Bhd. and the client is

PKNS. This project is by contractor class A. This project started from 9hb November

2012 and the date of end project is 19hb November 2013. Ibrahim Mian Sdn.Bhd. is

spearheaded by the Group Executive Chairman, Dato' Md. Ibrahim Mian. Though 20

years of it's chairman excellent leadership and dynamic entrepreneur skills, the group

has moved into a new paradigm and has excelled significantly on property

development and the construction business.

Pitcure 1.1: case study photo

2 | P a g e

Diagram 1.1: site plan

Diagram 1.2: Location plan

3 | P a g e

Site project

1.1 Earthworks

Type earthworks and their machineries

For this case study, earthworks like excavation, compaction, transportation and rock

breaking is doing for this project. Rock bracking work done as the soil condition is rocky. So

that, the haudraulic bracker is use for this work. The excavation work is doing for excavate

soil for pad foundation, land leveling , and for slope the hill. The excavator and backhoe is

use for excavation. The compaction work is doing for compact of soil surface like land

leveling and compact a soil after the rock bracking work. Transportation work is done use a

dumper truck.

1.1.1 Excavation

Diagram 1.3: Excavation work

Excavation work is doing on this project to excavate the soil. The excavated soil will be

transferred to trucks or lorry to be changed to another place. In this project, excavator and

backhoe is use to excavate. Excavator is choose because the uneven surface of soil in this

location. Excavator also can have the bucket customized to fit the job needed, because

there are many types of buckets available for construction use. Other than that, excavator is

use for large excavation than backhoe. Backhoe is use for smaller excavation for this site. In

this site, excavator is mostly use because a uneven surface of soil and have a large

excavation work in a hill.

4 | P a g e

1.1.2 Transportation

Diagram 1.5: transportation work

Transportation work is process of transfer the soil to another place. Transportation work

conduct by a dumper truck. Excavator or backhoe will be used to scoop up soil into dumper

truck. The soil will be transfer to another place to buried elsewhere or transferred to the

waste.

1.1.3 Compaction

Diagram 1.6: compaction work

Compactor is use in compaction. Compaction work doing to compact a soil. After the

excavation, buried, and broken rock work done, compactor use to compact the soil to get a

flat surface.

5 | P a g e

1.1.4 Drilling work

Diagram1.7: Drill work

This area is rocky hill. So that, rock broken work must be do. A hydraulic bracker is use. For

this site, demolition is not suitable to use. This is because distributor water tank is nearest

from this site. So that, rock broken work maybe take a long time to finish.

3.0 FACTOR AFFECTING PLANTS AND MACHINERIES

According to the Roy Chudley and Roger Greeno (2004), there are a few factors that

affecting the using of plants and machineries on the site such as general considerations,

economic considerations, plants costing and maintenance considerations.

3.1 General Considerations

General consideration is such a major factors that need to be considered before

planning a work. We can get many benefits if the plan successfully done. Besides

that, they also can avoid the deterioration that they can get if they do not manage the

planning carefully. The benefit that they can get is;

3.1.1 Increased production

Every company sure needs to improve their product in order to generate

money and get more profit. This is because they can use the money for the

next project.

3.1.2 Reduction in overall construction cost

In such project, the contractors surely want to reduce the cost to gain more

profit from that. But the contractor need to make sure that if they reduced the

cost they still can get to fulfill the clients need.

6 | P a g e

3.1.3 Eliminate heavy manual works

In our life now, there is many technology that can be used to make such work

to become more easily. With the technology, they will reducing the fatigue and

as a consequence will increasing the productivity.

3.1.4 Replacing labour

Because of the decreasing of the labour in work, they can replace the labour

where there is a shortage of personnel with the necessary skills.

3.2 Economic Considerations

Commonly, the introduction of plants does not always will get the good result in

economic savings. This is because it may have the extra temporary site works such

as roadwork that need to use the plant to solve the problem.

The planning of the site layout and the circulation may have to be planned around the

plant position or park. It’s rather than planning it around the material and

accommodation such as near the site office or workers house. The plant and

machineries must be fully utilized and not left it standing idle. This is because the

plant or machineries whether hired or owned, it will have to be paid for even if it is

non-productive.

The full utilization of the plant is usually considered to be in the region of 85% of on

the site time. Thus, the good planning of for the plant and machineries need to be

carried out to avoid as far as practicable plant breakdowns which could disrupt the

construction project.

3.3 Maintenance Considerations

Normally, the plant and machineries will not operate smoothly if it is not serviced and

it usually happened to the old plant and machineries. Thus, this problem will disturb

the progress of work. To avoid this problem from happen, there has solution such as

employ a skilled mechanic to be on site.

The mechanic can carry out all the necessary maintenance that need to done daily. It

will prevent the plant from breakdown and if this problem still happened, they can

7 | P a g e

repair the plant or machineries on the site without waste time to get the mechanic

from other placed.

3.4 Plant Costing

The plant and machineries that used in the site can be bought or hired from other

company. But, it not includes the small plant that is usually purchased. With the

purchased of the plant, it will give more benefit to them because for the other project,

they can save cost from hire that plant.

3.4.1 Advantages of Hiring Plant

a) The plant that need to used can be hired for short period.

b) All maintenance and replacement are usually the responsibility of the hire

company.

c) Plant will return to the hire company after there is no used in site, thus it

will prevent the contractor from to get problem because of finding more

work for the plant to justify its purchase or retention.

d) The operator cost, fuel and oil included in the hire rate.

3.4.2 Advantages of Buying Plant

a) Plant availability is totally within the control of the contractor.

b) The hourly cost for the purchased plant is generally less than hired plant

4.0 TYPE OF PLANT AND MACHINERIES

In general, excavation means to loosen and .take out materials leaving space above or below ground. Sometimes in civil engineering term earthwork is used which include backfilling with new or original materials to voids, spreading and levelling over an area. British Standard CP6031 gives standards and recommendation to earthworks covering embarkment and cuttings, levelling and compacting, and the use of earthmoving plants etc (McGraw Hill 1988). Plant and machineries are ranging from small hand held power tool to larger of plant such as mechanical excavator and breaker can be consider for use for one or more of the following reason(Chudley and greeno,2004):

a) increased productionb) reduction in overall construction costc) carry out activities which cannot be carried out by the traditional manual methods in

the context of economicsd) eliminate heavy manual works thus reducing fatigue and as a consequence

increasing productivity.

8 | P a g e

e) replacing labour where there is a shortage of personnel with neccessary skills.f) maintain the high standards required particularly in the context of structural

engineering works.

4.0.1 Advantages of using mechanical plant in excavation (McGraw Hill 1988):

a) work done quicker,

b) avoid dangerous condition of work by human workers, say, existence of ground water or collapse of soil,

c) achieve greater depth,

d) use fewer manpower and work done in lower cost (for larger scale work only)

4.0.2 Disadvantages(McGraw Hill 1988)

a) involve larger running and maintenance costs,

b) require a larger operating area,

c) access provision to working area,

d) less flexible in work planning,

e) idling time increase cost of work

4.1 BREAKER MACHINE

The machine that use to drill or break the hard soil like rock. This is another plan without using bomb in site which can cause high cost using demolation. The breaker machine are combination of hydraulic system and can reduce sound pollution.

4.1.1 Powered Drill

Diagram 4.1:Breaker Machine

The machine that use to cutting of larger boulders or rock. Usually the drill or breaker is pneumatically operated and mounted on tracked base. Oftenly, the breaker machine is convertible to a backhoe with the bucket replaced by the drill to gain

9 | P a g e

flexibility and minimize capital input. On site, the contractor buy a secondhand breaker machine because high cause is renting from another company with the price RM800 per day. The secondhand breaker price is RM40,000. The breaker is from manufacturer case, and the model series is 580. The breaker work with 1.8m2 per minute which use because the site is rock surface. The use of breaker is more efficient than the excavator and demolition work. This us the main machine use in this site.

4.2 EXCAVATING MACHINES

The most famous machineries in earth work project. These are primarily item to excavate and load most types of soil. In this site, theres are several type of excavating machines use to done earth work.

4.2.1 Excavator

Diagram 4.2: Excavator

This machine have a common factor the power unit. The universal power unit is a track ed based machine with a slewing capacity of 360 and by altering the boom arrangement and bucket type different excavating functions can be obtained.( Chudley and greeno,2004). The selected of this machine is for the high output requirement. Excavator operated with hydraulic or cable and mounted on track.Bucket are fitted faces away from the machine and used for loosening, excavating vertical or horizontally.the excavator can excavate any type of soil except rock. In this site, there is one excavator used for the earth work. For this work , the excavator is the contractor ‘s not rent from other developer because to cut cost and increase profit.after breaking work done , the excavator make the removal of spoil. The manufacturer of this excavator is Hitachi, company from Japan. model code of the excavator is ZX180LC-3and the operating weight is between 18 300 kg - 19 400 kg. The bucket capacity is between 0.51 – 1.20m3 the excvator generate in engine rate is 90.2 kW(121 HP).

10 | P a g e

4.2.2 Backhoe.

Diagram 4.3: Backhoe

These machine can perform severals excavating functions having both front and rear attachment with hydraulical controlled, and design to carry out small excvation operation of low output.( Chudley and greeno,2004). Wheeled as base are ideally suited for low excavation plant utilisation requirement.while do operation, using the backacter bucket the machine is raised off its axles by rear mounted hydraulic outriggers or jacks and some models placing the front bucket on the ground.( Chudley and greeno,2004).The variety of the size of the bucket can be attached into this machines. In this project, There are one backhoe used. The backhoe use to make clearance and removal of the piecesof rock.there is case 580 series.The Horse powers range from 79 hp to 108 hp. The Machine weights run from 6350 kg to 9072 kg. Digging depths on the 580 series are almost 4.57 metre and the front bucket capacity is 1.14 metre. Hoe bucket breakout force is 11,334 ft pounds. This is one powerful machine.

4.3 TRANSPORTATION

4.3.1 Dumper truck

Diagram 4.4: Dumper Truck

These are used for horizontal transportation of material and waste on and off construction site( Chudley and greeno,2004). The dumper are available in various of carrying capacities and options for gravity or hydraulic discharge control with front

11 | P a g e

tipping , side tipping , or elevated tipping facilities. These transport ation vehicle are designed for large capacity load to be carried out over a long or short distance on or off site. The normal capacity ranging between 5m3 to 15m3 and the other up to 50m3 or above.Transportation in earthwork from this project is by the dumper truck 10 tonne capacity of load. There is three dumper truck used to transport the soil and rock from the site. The excvator filling up into the dumper tipping. powered by diesel engine giving the maximum speed to 90 km/h, with hydraulic steering control. The dumper also use ten tires to get stability on the site while carrying the load.

4.4 COMPACTION

4.4.1 Roller Compactor

Diagram 4.5: Roller Compactor

Machines that are used for compacting soils in various construction projects like roads, highways and buildings. In soil compacting techniques, energy is applied to loose soil or other material which increases its density and consequently its load-bearing capacity. There are certain advantages of soil compacting which are as follows: Water seepage is minimized, Contraction and swelling of soil is reduced to a certain extent, Prevents damage from frosts and Increases load bearing capacity. The different type of soils, different type of compactor used. Soil compactor plays an important role in many infrastructure projects. They have their applications in the following areas.such as, Soil compactors are useful for compaction in urban areas, roads and highways.They are also utilized for landfill and paving applications. Soil compactors are suitable for compacting mixed soils and cohesive soils in thin and medium layer thicknesses in large areas. They are also applied for landscaping and preparing sites for building construction.They have their great utility in compaction of soils and gravels in trenches, around retaining walls and or any other difficult job site. In site, there use a vibration compactor. After done clearance work and leveling work, a compactor use to compact the site to get the flat surface. They use compactor from manufacturer Caterpillar. The compactor are rent by the main contractor. Cost of rent is RM600 per day. This machine is generate by diesel engine and used hydraulic control in steering and compaction.

12 | P a g e

5.0 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, several factors need to be emphasized to ensure an ongoing project

run smoothly. With this, the contractor can avoid the loss or waste of money to do the repair

work. This is because the repair work will consume more costs to run it than the actual work.

In this case study, we can see that there are some difficulties to be encountered

during the construction process. Among the problems encountered are as rocky hillsides.

Therefore, the correct method should be used that is by using breaker. However, the rental

cost for this equipment may be too expensive and the contractor has decided to buy the

machine.

In addition, the top should also play a role by ensuring that the work done is as

planned. In addition, the problem should be dealt with as soon as possible to avoid wastage

of time and cost. If not, they can be fined for not completing the project within the specified

time as agreed in the contract.

6.0 REFERENCES

J.M. Antill, P. R. (1988). Civil Engineering Construction. Burlington: McGraw Hill.

R. Chudley, R. G. (2004). Building construction Handbook. Burlington: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann.

13 | P a g e