First International Masters Program “Precast Concrete ... · Industrializing Construction Experts...

4
NEWS CPI – Concrete Plant International – 6 | 2017 www.cpi-worldwide.com 24 Experience shows that there is a lack of academic study programs focusing on industrialized construction with pre- cast concrete elements. This is true for the field of engi- neering as well as that of architecture. Currently, prefabri- cation is treated as a part of general construction with con- crete so that future designers, builders, or decision makers hardly develop an appropriate appreciation of precast concrete construction as an alternative if they are not aware of all its particular potential right from the formative stage. This was the main reason why ANDECE, the Spanish Precast Concrete Association, together with the STRUC- TURALIA Company, decided in 2014 to establish a training program for engineers in the form of a postgraduate degree entitled “International Master of Precast Concrete Construction Solutions”. This program has since been the first specific training on this subject with Spanish as the medium of instruction, this way addressing around 500 million speakers of this language in 22 countries where the precast concrete technology can expect an enormous growth potential. Industrializing Construction Experts have been pointing out that developments pertaining to the construction sector in the overwhelming majority of countries call for at least a partial transgression from tradi- tional construction processes to industrialized construction. Industrialization implies a shift from on-site activities to facto- ries to increase significantly efficiency, productivity, a better time and cost management, reduced waste, and improved work safety. However, prefabrication as an industrial variation of concrete construction has so far hardly been an issue of ac- ademic education and is currently only instructed in the shape of on-site training. This is shown, for example, by the ap- proach that is followed to instruct concrete structural design where the salient aspects of precast concrete structures, such as planning and development, the detailing of critical con- nections, or other peculiarities of construction, are aspects that are not sufficiently and appropriately addressed. This might be explained by the general lack of knowledge of uni- versity lecturers on the subject-matter or by a lack of aware- First International Masters Program “Precast Concrete Construction Solutions” Online Education Program Alejandro López Vidal, Technical Manager of ANDECE and Director of the Masters Study Program, Madrid, Spain Precast concrete elements stand for modern construction with high quality standards

Transcript of First International Masters Program “Precast Concrete ... · Industrializing Construction Experts...

Page 1: First International Masters Program “Precast Concrete ... · Industrializing Construction Experts have been pointing out that developments pertaining to the construction sector

NEWS

CPI – Concrete Plant International – 6 | 2017 www.cpi-worldwide.com24

Experience shows that there is a lack of academic studyprograms focusing on industrialized construction with pre-cast concrete elements. This is true for the field of engi-neering as well as that of architecture. Currently, prefabri-cation is treated as a part of general construction with con-crete so that future designers, builders, or decision makershardly develop an appropriate appreciation of precast concrete construction as an alternative if they are notaware of all its particular potential right from the formativestage. This was the main reason why ANDECE, the Spanish Precast Concrete Association, together with the STRUC-TURALIA Company, decided in 2014 to establish a trainingprogram for engineers in the form of a postgraduate degree entitled “International Master of Precast ConcreteConstruction Solutions”. This program has since been thefirst specific training on this subject with Spanish as themedium of instruction, this way addressing around 500 million speakers of this language in 22 countries where the precast concrete technology can expect an enormousgrowth potential.

Industrializing Construction

Experts have been pointing out that developments pertainingto the construction sector in the overwhelming majority ofcountries call for at least a partial transgression from tradi-tional construction processes to industrialized construction.Industrialization implies a shift from on-site activities to facto-ries to increase significantly efficiency, productivity, a bettertime and cost management, reduced waste, and improvedwork safety. However, prefabrication as an industrial variationof concrete construction has so far hardly been an issue of ac-ademic education and is currently only instructed in the shapeof on-site training. This is shown, for example, by the ap-proach that is followed to instruct concrete structural designwhere the salient aspects of precast concrete structures, suchas planning and development, the detailing of critical con-nections, or other peculiarities of construction, are aspectsthat are not sufficiently and appropriately addressed. Thismight be explained by the general lack of knowledge of uni-versity lecturers on the subject-matter or by a lack of aware-

First International Masters Program “Precast Concrete Construction Solutions”

Online Education Program

� Alejandro López Vidal, Technical Manager of ANDECE and Director of the Masters Study Program, Madrid, Spain

Precast concrete elements stand for modern constructionwith high quality standards

02-news_018-039_us_Layout 1 09.11.17 15:20 Seite 24

Page 2: First International Masters Program “Precast Concrete ... · Industrializing Construction Experts have been pointing out that developments pertaining to the construction sector

Mobile Moisture Measurement Wireless

MA

DE IN GERMA

NY

· E S T 1 9 7 3 ·

Franz Ludwig GmbH

Pre-calibrated and for instant use

°C

% W/C l/m3

For more information about our products,

www.cpi-worldwide.com CPI – Concrete Plant International – 6 | 2017

ness on the part of the precast industry itself that the transfer of such knowledge isimportant. As a consequence, young graduate technicians can boast a wide rangeof knowledge on concrete construction on site but not on precast concrete designor execution. All this may explain the difficulties when developing and implement-ing precast solutions.

It should be added that there exists a wide variety of applications for precast con-crete elements, for instance, in the case of façades, pavements, sewage and otherpiping networks, bridges or other civil engineering projects. In all these fields, theprefabrication approach can be considered to be a solution in many different ways.ANDECE as an association that intends to foster such solutions has been represent-ing the interest of Spanish precasters for more than 50 years. In doing so, ANDECEhas developed a comprehensive library of technical guides, manuals, and otherdocuments of high technical value, all of which aim at facilitating the activities of in-dividuals and companies in the construction industry to appropriately make use ofprecast concrete elements. This vast body of documents has also been employedto serve as a basis for developing the Masters Program presented here.

Another important prerequisite for developing this program was the close collab-oration of more than 20 experts of the precast industry, most of them employeesworking for members of ANDECE. This collaboration has contributed a vast andsolid professional know-how from the various fields of precast such as design, pro-duction, quality control, or construction. This way, a high-value, state-of-the-art de-gree program has been accomplished.

Prefabrication allows fast and precise on-site construction

02-news_018-039_us_Layout 1 09.11.17 15:20 Seite 25

Page 3: First International Masters Program “Precast Concrete ... · Industrializing Construction Experts have been pointing out that developments pertaining to the construction sector

NEWS

CPI – Concrete Plant International – 6 | 2017 www.cpi-worldwide.com26

Program Contents

The Masters Program comprises a total of 600 credit hours ofstudies. It is composed of 4 courses addressing 34 subjects.Studies may be conducted either as a whole or by individualcourses.

Basic Course – Industrialized and Sustainable Construction with Precast Concrete Elements (200 credit hours)

Main course objective: Students will acquire information onthe basic concepts of prefabrication; will familiarize them-selves with the different types of precast, their applications,the importance of design phases, and the inherent aspectsrelated to production, transport and construction; will studythe main features of precast concrete elements compared toother construction materials; will understand the general regulatory framework, etc.

Subjects:1. General overview2. Field applications3. Construction elements4. Design basics using precast elements 5. Production6. Transport7. Construction8. Maintenance9. Regulatory framework10. Principles of sustainable construction

Design Course (150 credit hours)

Main course objective: Students will learn the general and in-dispensable principles to execute a project using precast either entirely or partially. This course has a strongly practicalfocus.

Subjects: 1. General principles of designing2. Designing building structures3. Slab design4. Facade design5. Modular construction design6. Masonry design7. Structural design of bridges8. Retaining wall design9. Piping network design10. Pavement design

Management Course (150 credit hours)

Main course objective: Students will attain the appropriate ca-pability of adequately managing the numerous day-to-day is-sues which may occur in the factory itself, but also when deal-ing with questions regarding transport, logistics and individ-ual construction stages and even the creation of a precastconcrete company or the increasing importance of perform-ing such an adequate marketing strategy.

Subjects:1. Enterprise creation2. Regulatory framework management3. Facility and production processes4. Materials5. Quality control 6. Transport and logistics 7. Construction8. Maintenance and correction of constructive errors9. Marketing

Sustainable construction with precast concrete elements (100 credit hours)

Main course objective: Students will be able to analyze theadvantages of construction with precast concrete elements

Clean and optically attractive designs with precast concrete elements

02-news_018-039_us_Layout 1 09.11.17 15:20 Seite 26

Page 4: First International Masters Program “Precast Concrete ... · Industrializing Construction Experts have been pointing out that developments pertaining to the construction sector

HOW FLEXIBLE CONCRETE CAN BE

Runnenbergweg 11 - 8171 MC Vaassen

The Netherlands - T +31 (0)578 - 576677

F +31 (0)578 - 576546 - www.humarbo.com

Semi- or fully automatic manufacturing systems for both dry cast and wet cast concrete products

Dry cast & wet cast moulds for the precast industry

Concrete Machinery and MouldsNEWS

www.cpi-worldwide.com CPI – Concrete Plant International – 6 | 2017

from the viewpoint of sustainability, taking into account that most of the regulatoryand technical initiatives come about to fulfill this approach. Various examples areincluded, emphasizing the increasing importance of environmental product decla-rations and the assessment of sustainability schemes.

Subjects:1. General principles of industrialized and sustainable

construction with precast concrete elements2. Regulatory framework for sustainable construction3. Environmental product declarations 4. Environmental assessment at construction levels 5. Social and economic assessments of construction

with precast concrete elements

Methodology and Future Trends

On account of the fact that the Masters Program is conducted in the Spanish lan-guage, a wide geographical area can be served. In addition, enormous opportuni-ties for this study program are, of course, provided by the new technologies andthe internet, which enable prospective students to enter into distance learning viaonline channels and through a round-the-clock open platform that can be accessedvirtually from anywhere and at any time. For each subject, comprehensive materialis available, in some cases audiovisual. All these materials are structured in such afashion that students are able to follow the course contents easily. Furthermore, we-binars are frequently organized to address specific issues so as to make the trainingmore dynamic and to enhance student motivation.However, the Masters Program has been conceived in such a way that in the futureit can also develop into becoming a part of study programs, training courses, andsubjects within universities themselves to be conducted as regular on-campusclasses. An example for this policy would be the case of the Universidad Politécnicade Madrid (Spain) which recently agreed to include the Masters Program into itssyllabus. It is hoped and even expected that other international academic entitiescould be interested in adapting this approach.This pioneer initiative also has a strategic component in that the Masters Programmay help the industry generate an increased demand in precast concrete solutionsor to further expand a professional network of skilled professionals to satisfy thispresumably increasing market. The currently existing network of expertise has beencreated by the precast industry itself and could thus be supplemented. More than 30 students from 11 Spanish-speaking countries have started with theMasters Program so far, with five completing it last July.The most important Latin American precast, concrete and cement organizations arecooperating in the attempt to foster the Masters Program, among them ASOCRETO(Colombia), AMIC y ANIVIP (Mexico), INECYC (Ecuador), ICCYC and CACR (CostaRica), CPII and AIE (Argentina), ICGG (Guatemala), AVECRETO (Venezuela), CAPIHE(Paraguay), and AIU (Uru guay). This broad interest shows that precast concrete con-struction has a bright future and the Masters Program will contribute its share to thisdevelopment. �

[email protected], www.capacitacionprefabricados.com, www.andece.org/master.html

FURTHER INFORMATION

02-news_018-039_us_Layout 1 09.11.17 15:20 Seite 27