History of construction industry
Initially a man wasn’t a builder and he only started building comparatively recently.
He used to hunt wild animals and gather fruits for food and living in caves. It was not
until about 1000BC that man discovered agriculture, which necessitated safe and
‘permanent’ habitat to live in and store the agricultural produce.
Peoples like the Incas of Peru, Mayas of South Mexico and Guatemala, the Greeks,
the Egyptians etc slowly and gradually started making buildings despite their shallow
knowledge. To construct ‘permanent’ buildings required tools, materials, skills,
knowledge and means of transport which were a major challenge to man. The discovery
of iron smelting much later quickened the pace at which building developed. The real
breakthrough was in the 5th century when the arch was discovered in South Turkey
because it made it possible to construct tunnels. The development of knowledge in
Mathematics and sciences has further quickened the development of building. Man
developed interest for aesthetics in buildings and even the need to be buried in a tomb, a
monument to be remembered by, a palace to be governed from, and even a building for
holy activities. Religion has particularly brought the greatest diversity of building as it
has given the main impetus to new technical discoveries.
1. History
Recent Developments
The building industry has, over the past few years, entered into a new and challenging
era. Many new materials have been developed and are appearing on the market in an
ever-increasing volume. New techniques in building in the shape of industrialization have
evolved bringing with them new problems in design, organisation and production. Plants
for use by the builder have kept abreast of the industry, enabling an increase in
production without an increase in labour. Few general building contractors now provide
for their own men to complete a project throughout, what with the growth of
specialization (or, as more generally known in the industry, sub-contracts.)
The development of the construction industry may be attributed to the following:
(a) Economic factors: The need by human beings for a building to live in, perform his
duties in and for recreation purposes have resulted to innumerable erection of
buildings, roads, airfields, dams etc. every now and then. Construction of buildings
calls for materials, labour, transport resources, hence calling for the collective
participation of manufacturers, financial institutions, insurance providers, builders,
and building teams and all parties which create jobs for all those sectors, thus
contributing to the economic development of a nation.
(b) Employment: The construction industry is one of the biggest employers of labour in
the country, hence utilizing most of the country’s manpower and helping in
improving the economy of the country.
(c) Fulfillment of human needs: Shelter is one of the basic human needs (food,
clothing, privacy, security and comfort being others) is provided by the building
industry. The development and usage of many new building materials has continued
fulfilling human needs.