Construction Layout - A Foundation for Success (Part 2 of 2)

Jonathan Terry, P.L.S.

Course Outline

Whether you're a professional engineer, land surveyor, construction layout contractor, entry-level employee working in a construction layout crew, party chief, construction manager, superintendent, architect or engineer, you'll benefit by a fuller understanding of this unique, essential component of any significant construction project.

By walking the reader through a typical, mid-sized project, covering bidding, contract negotiation, paperwork, interpersonal relationships, procedures, documentation, billing, site reconnaissance, geometric computations, and applying specific layout methods, the reader will not just be told about things but will see and experience the broad spectrum of construction layout and related disciplines through the eyes of its author. This approach makes remembering what's presented so much easier.

Tips (maybe even trade secrets) are freely shared - important lessons and experience learned by a surveyor licensed in 7 states, who's been an employee of developers, construction managers, architects, engineers and surveyors since 1963 and possesses a wealth of knowledge gained through founding and operating a successful construction layout business.

Neither fear nor swelling pride fosters success in this unique business. And, both attitudes are more common to providers of layout services than a quiet confidence born of real understanding. This course seeks to establish the latter.

Construction layout is a specialized, demanding function. It deserves study and the sincere respect it seldom gets. Its demands are uniquely complex and its rewards generous. This course is not merely the presentation of technique and processes (though these are included); it's an equipping, enabling source of knowledge and understanding.

This is Part 2 of 2 on Construction Layout - A Foundation for Success. The author strongly recommends that you take both parts of this course to have a complete understanding of the topic.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, licensed engineers and surveyors, their technical and field personnel and contractors performing construction layout will have gained a better appreciation for the unique demands of construction project control and will better manage the business, procedural, technical and relationship aspects of construction layout - and, will hopefully enjoy construction layout as much as I do.

• Learn important "trade secrets" from a person who's successfully founded and operated a business specializing in construction layout and established a construction survey division of a large construction management firm.
• Learn how the professional Team creating new development functions and the place of construction layout on that Team.
• Learn tips, tricks and special pieces of equipment that help you perform your layout more quickly without compromising precision.
• Learn how to confidently ask questions when you really don't understand the plans or know exactly what you should be laying out.
• Learn what plans to believe or not to believe and how to check dimensions when staking a major building.
• Learn how to perform marketing and sales in effective ways without assuming an exaggerated self-importance or high pressure tactics.
• Learn how to level the playing field in a competitive bidding situation.
• Learn effective proposal writing concepts for construction layout.
• Learn how to structure your proposal or bid to limit layout items that might never be requested.
• Learn how to handle the correction of errors you discover in the plans and how to stake those items correctly without assuming liability for the correction.
• Learn the advantages and disadvantages of both small firms and large firms in relation to seeking clients for construction layout contracts and how to promote your strengths when seeking contracts.
• Learn the "full-service" layout requirements for a mid-sized, commercial project and how to structure these in your proposal.
• Learn how your billing relates to your proposal and what documents should accompany your monthly statements to your clients.
• Learn how to easily keep track of set-fee, proposal item billing based on percentage of completion.
• Learn tricks for transferring column lines or offsets to column lines to upper floors on multi-story buildings.
• Learn how to set control for major buildings, so that you can repeat precise layout, even after your building or column offset stakes are destroyed.
• Learn staking requirements for traditional utility construction methods and for pipe construction guided by a laser.
• Learn how to limit liability through your proposal, your contract, your correspondence, forms and private records.
• Learn the importance of receiving full sets of plans early and of attending the pre-construction meeting.
• Learn what digital files you should obtain and why you need both paper and digital plan sets - and why you need to get these early.
• Learn how the construction management firm's employees differ in experience and roles and how to handle your relationships with the persons filling each role.
• Learn why asking questions is critical to your success and know what questions to ask of whom and when.
• Learn why you and your crews must be familiar with your contract/proposal and carry a copy to the site.
• Learn why a project Field Folder must be created, what goes in it, and why it's taken to the site with each visit.
• Learn safety tips and principles unique to an active construction site.
• Learn how to make money "in the rain" (or at least maximize down-time due to weather).
• Learn what the Geometric Plan was historically, what it is today and when to believe or not to believe in the integrity of a digital drawing file.
• Learn tips for selecting the personnel who will perform construction layout and managing crews sent to perform layout.
• Learn tips for adjusting equipment on the fly - or on the job site.
• Learn suggested staking techniques and relative precision typically required for the many different features you're laying out.
• Learn standard ways to mark stakes that get the job done, avoid confusion and protect you from the potential for huge back-charges (Mark a stake improperly and you've bought the farm!).
• Learn proven techniques for preserving your primary control (traverse control points) that are needed throughout the entire project's duration.
• Learn why flagging on stakes should be color-coded.
• Learn how color-coded file folders and certain standard forms give you the upper hand when clients misremember what was said or what actually took place.
• Learn rules of thumb that are useful when performing layout.
• Learn why Conversation Logs are essential records and how they can save you from client disputes and claims against you.
• Learn why Work Orders are necessary, how to use them for work authorization and for getting paid in a timely manner.
• Learn what paper field book documentation is appropriate and what notes belong in a data collector file.
• Learn how a standard rubber stamp impression at the start of each day's notes in the paper field book will train your crew to think like business people.
• Learn how to expedite layout by copying sketches directly to field book pages.
• Learn how and when to write CYA memos, e-mails and letters.
• Learn suggested disclaimers to include in your proposals and grade sheets to minimize disputes and back-charges.
• Learn typical staking and grade sheet preparation for single family residences.
• Learn typical staking and grade sheet preparation for residential driveways.
• Learn typical pattern of layout for curbing and parking lots and what sketches are necessary to avoid confusion over your stakes and to uniquely identify each stake on your grade sheet.

Intended Audience

This course is designed for engineers, land surveyors, architects, contractors, or anyone contracting, providing, reviewing or specifying construction layout services.

Benefit to Attendees

This course teaches both technical and practical skills, contract and business considerations, staking and grade sheets, client relations, functioning in and with the design/build team, and relates countless tips and trade secrets learned only through solid, real-world experience.

Course Author

The author of this course is a Licensed Land Surveyor who's obtained professional registration in eight states and served as assistant construction superintendent, teacher, writer, civil technician, site planner, land surveying department head for mapping firms, civil/consulting firms and developers, created and managed the construction layout division of a large construction management firm, founded and operated a successful construction layout business and separate land surveying business and worked as the employee of civil, surveying, and architectural firms, developers and state government. His career began in 1963.

Such a diverse background is rare and provides a breadth of understanding beyond that normally experienced in any single profession. Construction layout is viewed from many perspectives not commonly experienced by the land surveyor.

Construction layout is like a unique and fascinating jewel having many facets, each unique and worthy of careful study. As an object of study, construction layout must be placed in its proper setting - that is, in its relevance and relationship to the design/build process and the professional team that gets thing built. Understanding construction layout from this overview yields success. This is our goal.

This course provides an overview and perspective of critical value to land surveyors, but it's purposefully aimed at any person working in the disciplines listed below. It's not just for surveyors, but most surveyors should obtain a deeper and broader understanding of this challenging and rewarding discipline. The course will increase knowledge and broaden horizons of understanding.

Course Introduction

Welcome to Part 2. In Part 1, you learned "Foundational Principles for Success." If you're skipping Part 1 thinking it will be too basic, please reconsider. This course assumes you're familiar with the principles and information conveyed in Part 1, and that we'll continue building practical application on the foundational principles presented in earlier material.

In this section we take off the fancy clothes we wore to impress those clients we won over through the procedures taught in Part 1. We've successfully completed our marketing effort, negotiated a contract, and it's time to put on our boots, get out there in the mud and dust and show our clients we really can give them what they need and want.

It can't be overstated: The construction world is different than the culture where design professionals live and breathe, turning out their inspirations. Becoming comfortable and familiar with the unique dynamics and sub-culture of the construction realm is prerequisite to a design professional's or surveyor's success through providing construction layout services.

Many who hire out construction layout experience frustration over unresponsiveness and lack of really understanding the needs. Because this is so common, being truly attuned to your client's needs gives you an edge over your competition. The advantage is huge!

Part 1 set in place a firm foundation. Part 2 constructs on this a habitable, above-ground structure where the visible life takes place. This living space is adorned with considerable detail. It's the place where tools and techniques are essential to craft, where the craft is appropriate to function and function supports the lifestyle. You need the tools to perform the craft; the skill and knowledge to do the craft well; the good sense and sensitivity to make the crafted form appropriate to the function; and function is dictated by purpose. "Purpose" is the element that design professionals and surveyors often fail to perceive.

The best tools in the hands of the most skilled craftsman can turn out useless and functionless items. The finest equipment being used by the most educated, intelligent, technically proficient professional often provide precise and accurate layout that is NOT what the client wants. In the end, everything is about what the client wants and needs. Part 1 offered instruction in how to achieve that fundamental insight. This section teaches how to utilize tools and skills to meet that goal. Also, it relates ways to protect yourself from paying for the faults of others. It advises how to protect yourself from the simple lapses of memory that can cost you big bucks or even those occasional, less noble individuals who might want something for nothing - at your expense.

Course Content

The course content is in a PDF file (1.0 MB) Construction Layout - A Foundation for Success (Part 2 of 2). You need to open or download this document to study this course.

Conclusion

And, that's what this course has been about:

• developing a broad overview of the dynamics and processes of construction layout,
• encouraging participation on the Team - a team is made up of skilled, talented and diverse people. Together, things get done, and that's fun!
• generating even a little excitement over the opportunity to serve in the building of a nation - That's what you're doing, folks; may as well admit it.
• bringing together specialized skill, knowledge of the role it plays, managing the processes and records involved, dealing successfully with those who pay you to do what you do best,
• making sound judgments about what precision is needed and being free to let what is needed be good enough, and
• knowing when to split hairs and get every bit of precision possible, and having the talent and skills to do just that!

I love the construction layout business and activity, the ever changing environment, the down-to-earth people on the site, the opportunity to work in a team of experts in their field and to function as an expert in my own profession. I enjoy learning. When providing construction layout services, learning never ceases.

It's been fun to record for your benefit some of the things I've learned over the past 4 decades. My sincere hope is that you've found this course enjoyable and beneficial. Any feedback on this course work will be gratefully received and thoughtfully considered for future refinement of this material.

Thank you for making the time to take this course.

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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