CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Site investigation is a crucial and vital part of Civil Engineer’s job. It is a

process of geological examination in a site. It is a responsibility of Civil Engineers

to find geological solution to the problem.

Through site investigation, Civil Engineer’s idea comes out for the

designing and planning of a certain infrastructure. However, some of them

rejected the most important thing in site investigation. This implies big problems

that might lead to a very big damage. Therefore, this study introducing the

natural features that must considered in order lessening error and damages.

One of the parts of site investigations that must be considered is the

“climate” present in the site before, during and after the construction. It is pointed

by Legget and Farrow (1983) that Civil Engineers must design all his structures

in relation to climatic factors such as snow loads on roof, wind loads in all

structures above the ground, rainfall and its disposal, and the possibility of

changing levels of the water table.

There is some situation that the world now experiences the climate

change such as, in the report of Robert Kim Liso (2000) that the hurricane in

north western Norway on New Year’s Day 1992 caused damages to buildings in

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the order of NOK 1.3 billion. In the winter of 1999–2000, heavy loads of snow on

roofs throughout Northern Norway caused several large buildings to collapse.

Eastern and Southern Norway experienced heavy rainfall over long periods last

autumn, causing damage to buildings that were previously unscathed. Although

these unique weather events cannot, of course, be ascribed to global climate

change, they are a clear reminder of how vulnerable wearer to large fluctuations

in climate and extreme weather. (http:www.cicero.cio.no/media.com)

Moreover, in the Geoff Zeiss report (2007) it is stated that the share of

Americans calling global climate change the most important environmental issue

rose from 11 percent in 2003 to 35 percent in 2006 global warming survey. The

construction industry is faced with the challenge to replace or renovate buildings

to minimize environmental impact. This requires new approaches to designing

new buildings and renovating existing buildings.

Furthermore, in the article of Beverly Manago that people commissioning

or managing a large construction project have to pay attention to, which is

climate change. She points out that the relationship between climate change and

a construction project goes both ways. Not only can the project impact climate

but climate change can impact the project particularly in the long termed.

It is added by Robert F. Legget that the operations of the construction

engineer are so obviously determined by climatic factors that it would be tedious

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to describe them, but all with experience in construction know that any major

variation from average climate conditions at a building site interfere with progress

and change an anticipated profit into a serious loss.

Therefore, he emphasizes that climate is one of the natural features that

must be studied in advance of design for all civil engineering works.

This research will serve as the guide and source of information for the

Civil Engineers. It will explore the knowledge and it seeks to answer the

problems that they have encountered in building construction in relation to

climate change.

Objectives of the study

This study will assess the problems that encountered by the Civil

Engineers in building construction in relation to climate change particularly in

the municipality of Naval. It will trace the developments and changes in the field

of construction due to climate change.

Specifically, it will answer the following objectives:

1. Ascertain the problems encountered by Civil Engineers in Building

Construction in relation to climate change here in the Municipality of Naval

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2. Find out strategies and coping mechanisms, employed by the civil

engineers in addressing the problems on building construction in relation

to climate change.

Framework of the study

Conceptual Framework. There are two main variables in this study. The

independent variable which represents the problems brought by climate change

in building construction and the dependent variable which represents by

registered Civil Engineers on how to solve the problems using the techniques in

order to come up a best design in building construction.

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Figure 1 The Conceptual Framework of the study

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Climate Change

Problems

Civil Engineers

Solution to the problems

Building construction

Importance of the Study

The significance of the study determines the satisfactory complexion that

will provide every individual with a sound knowledge of the problems brought by

Climate change in building construction and also the strategies to overcome the

said problem.

The results of this study would be beneficial to the following:

Civil Engineer, they will be aware about the problems brought by climate

change in building construction and they were able to create techniques and

methods for designing and planning.

Civil Engineering student, they will have advance knowledge and aware

about the relationship between climate change and building construction. Hence,

they will seek further more knowledge and solutions to this serious matter.

Future researchers, this study will give them insights to conduct further

study to coup with the changing demand of the society.

Scope and Delimitation of the study

The researchers set boundaries to the topic that will discuss the variables

and include and excluded topics. It also collects all-encompassing frame of

references as well as technical limits.

The coverage of this research focused on the problems encountered by

the Civil Engineers in building construction with regards to the climate change

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and to seek answers and probable solutions to the problem that they have

encountered in their fieldworks. The study covers 15 registered Civil Engineers

who were our respondents. The respondents are those who had an experience

for more than 5 years in the field of building construction here in Naval. Five of

them are mainly the contractors who hold the project and the rest came from

LGU, Provincial Capitol, and DPWH.

The researcher limited this research to avoid the unnecessary topics that

would not support to the title of the research.

Definition of Terms

The following terms are operationally to guide the readers understand the study.

Building construction. The process of adding structure to real property.

Climate. The weather at a particular site over a long period of time.

Climate change. A significant and lasting change in the statistical

distribution of weather patterns over periods.

Site investigation. The geological examination of a potential

development site.

Site Evaluation. Refers to evaluating the site including the management,

development and progression of the site.

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