All projects should start with a plan. That’s what the old saying advises. But in no occupation does the truism take on quite the same degree of literal meaning as in the construction industry. Modern project planning in the construction sector has become a very involved and intricate operation in which the old carpenter’s creed to “measure twice, cut once” doesn’t quite cut it anymore as sole safeguard against catastrophe.
Proper project planning primarily involves the selection and evaluation of the site. Rather simplistically put, addressing the site deals with what is being built and where. Considering that all buildings must be constructed to meet the needs of the client, aligning the particular needs and specifications of the client with the limitations of a site can be a challenging task. For example, there can be complex differences in building codes, which vary from location to location and can encompass issues like natural disaster planning, historical preservation, soil and groundwater issues, or environmental conservation (possibly even limiting environmental contamination).
Managing client expectations and architectural realities can be a tightrope walk that, quite frequently, impacts the completion schedule of a project. The inability to keep a schedule, especially in construction, directly translates into additional cost, as misallocation means money wasted on idle workers and equipment. Though dealing with transportation construction as opposed to building construction, a recent Texas A&M University study in conjunction with the Texas Department of Transportation showed that the overall cost of delay on a project can be up to 1% of the total project cost per month. So, for every month of delay on a $100 million project, the project will incur an additional $1 million in expenses.
The aspects of site, timing, and material/labor allocation are assuredly the main tenets of construction planning. However, what drives all of these aspects is communication. Construction and construction planning have now become regional and, indeed, global enterprises that involve many parties.
For larger scale and high profile projects, this means dealing with site officials, sourcing material, and instructing construction crews – each in a separate language. Further adding to the risk of error is the understanding that a language error in a communication to just one group might lead to delays in all departments. The best way to ensure that the construction planning process, especially on an international level, is as smooth and efficient as it can possibly be is by enlisting a language service provider familiar with the specific challenges of the industry.
The construction, structural engineering and architectural translation specialists at EVS Translations have the skills to ensure that even the most complex and challenging texts is accurately translated into the required target language. In house teams of experienced professionals routinely translate RFP materials, design drawings, building codes and similar documents.
Do you have any questions? Interested in a free quote? Our US and UK translation offices will be happy to answer all your architecture / construction translation questions!
Atlanta office: +1 404-523-5560 or send us an email: quoteusa(at)evs-translations.com.
Nottingham office: +44-115-9 64 42 or send us an email: quoteuk(at)evs-translations.com.
