Construction Methods and Equipment

Course Description

BCN3240 — Construction Methods and Equipment is an upper-division (3xxx) college-credit lecture course in Florida's Bachelor of Science in Building Construction programs at FAU, UF, FIU, and similar SUS institutions. Building on lower-division foundations (BCN2241 or equivalent), this course covers the methods, equipment, and processes used in heavy and commercial construction: site work and earthwork; concrete formwork and placement; structural steel erection; tilt-wall construction; lifting and rigging; productivity analysis; equipment selection and economics. The course bridges materials/methods knowledge with construction operations, equipment, and management decisions.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of BCN3240, students will be able to:

• Apply site work and earthwork methods: clearing and grubbing; excavation; grading; compaction; cut-and-fill calculations; soils awareness.
• Apply concrete construction methods: formwork systems (job-built, gang forms, flying forms); concrete placement (pump, crane and bucket, conveyor); vibration; finishing; curing; cold-weather and hot-weather concreting.
• Apply structural steel erection: shipping and storage; layout; column and beam erection sequence; connections (bolted, welded); plumb and alignment; safety (OSHA Subpart R).
• Apply tilt-wall construction: panel design coordination; casting; lifting hardware; erection sequence; bracing.
• Apply lifting and rigging: crane selection; load charts; rigging techniques; signaling per ASME B30; OSHA crane standard (29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC).
• Apply construction equipment selection and economics: equipment categories (earthmoving, lifting, concrete, finishing); ownership vs. rental; productivity analysis; cost estimating per equipment hour.
• Apply productivity analysis: work sampling; method study; production rates; cycle time analysis.
• Apply construction safety per OSHA 29 CFR 1926: fall protection; scaffolding; excavation; cranes and rigging; PPE.

Optional Outcomes

• Apply BIM/4D scheduling awareness for construction operations.
• Apply introductory lean construction principles (last planner system, just-in-time delivery).

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Site Work: Clearing and grubbing; surveying for construction; excavation methods; trench safety; mass excavation; dewatering; rock excavation.
• Earthwork: Cut-and-fill calculations; compaction (proctor, modified proctor); soil classifications; erosion and sediment control (NPDES SWPPP).
• Concrete Formwork and Placement: Form design loads (ACI 347); job-built vs. system forms (gang, flying); concrete pumping; crane-and-bucket placement; vibration; finishing; curing methods; cold-weather (ACI 306) and hot-weather (ACI 305) concreting.
• Structural Steel Erection: Erection sequence; column splices; beam connections (slip-critical, snug-tight); plumb and alignment; OSHA Steel Erection Standard (29 CFR 1926 Subpart R).
• Tilt-Wall Construction: Panel design; casting bed preparation; embeds; lifting hardware (lift inserts, edge lifters); erection sequence; bracing requirements.
• Lifting and Rigging: Crane types (tower, mobile, crawler); load charts; rigging hardware (slings, shackles, hooks); signal person and rigger qualifications per ASME B30 and OSHA Subpart CC.
• Equipment Economics: Equipment categories; ownership cost calculation; rental vs. own decision analysis; equipment productivity rates; cost per unit of production.
• Productivity Analysis: Work sampling; time studies; cycle time analysis; production rate development; benchmarking.
• Construction Safety: OSHA 29 CFR 1926 (Construction); fall protection (1926 Subpart M); scaffolding (Subpart L); excavation (Subpart P); cranes (Subpart CC); steel erection (Subpart R); PPE (Subpart E).

Resources & Tools

• Frederick Gould and Nancy Joyce Construction Project Management (Pearson); Robert Peurifoy and Garold Oberlender Estimating Construction Costs
• ACI standards (318, 305, 306, 347)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926; ASME B30 (rigging)
• Caterpillar and Komatsu equipment performance handbooks
• Florida Building Code; IBC

Career Pathways

BCN3240 supports upper-division careers in Florida's heavy and commercial construction:

• Field Engineer / Project Engineer at major Florida general contractors.
• Construction Superintendent with field-supervisory responsibility.
• Equipment Coordinator at construction companies and equipment rental firms.
• Construction Estimator with deep knowledge of methods/equipment cost.
• Continuation toward graduate construction management or specialized engineering tracks.

Special Information

Course Format

Typically 3 credits, 45 contact hours (lecture).

Upper-Division Status

BCN3240 is upper-division (3xxx) and intended for students in B.S. Building Construction or B.A.S. Construction Management programs. Students at Florida College System institutions may take this course only when enrolled in an applicable B.A.S. program.