Minconsult Sdn Bhd

Minconsult Sdn Bhd

Minconsult Sdn Bhd, a wholly Malaysian majority Bumiputra owned company, traces its beginning to 1962 when it was originally established as Ganendra and Associates, one of the earliest indigenous firms offering independent engineering consultancy services in Malaysia. This firm expanded and practised as Ganendra, Ahmad and Associates until the involvement of PERNAS in 1971 when there were changes in the structure of the firm, together with a name change to Malaysia International Consultants Sdn Bhd, popularly known as MINCO. The promulgation of the Registration of Engineers Act in 1973 necessitated the release of shares held by PERNAS in MINCO to professional engineers working in the firm, and it once again became an independent consulting practice which grew both nationally and internationally to become one of the leading Malaysian consultancy firms. Restructured as Minconsult Sdn Bhd in 1980 to take over the activities of MINCO as a going concern, Minconsult, which is helmed by a dynamic and progressive management team, has continued to grow steadily in strength and capability to become one of the most established and respected firms of independent project managers and consulting engineers in Southeast Asia.

Minconsult, with its multi-disciplinary engineering and project management capabilities offers a wide range of engineering consultancy services in the civil & structural, mechanical, electrical, petrochemical and environmental fields, as illustrated in the following table :-  

* Project Management	Co-ordination, scheduling, quality control and assurance
* Technical Studies	Conceptual, economic, technical investigations, financial/pre-investment and feasibility studies, traffic studies, environmental impact studies and preliminary engineering
* Tender Preparation Review	Cost estimates and comprehensive bid documentation, tender review and contractor selection
* Detailed Engineering Design	Detailed engineering designs and drawings
* Construction Management and    Supervision	Contract administration, monitoring and supervision; environmental, health and safety audits

 Minconsult's in-house expertise, comprising experienced engineers, planners, environmentalists and experts in specialised disciplines, enables the firm to undertake and co-ordinate all aspects of project planning, design and implementation under one roof. Its vast reference library provides access to over 20,000 books, 3,000 International Standards and Codes of Practise, 70 technical journals and periodicals.

The firm has had extensive international exposure on projects overseas, including those financed by the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other international funding agencies and frequently collaborates with internationally -renowned engineering firms to undertake selected projects requiring special skills or expertise. Minconsult is thus, well-positioned to complete any local or international assignment efficiently, successfully and on time, employing the most advanced techniques of surveying, analyzing, monitoring, designing, drafting and reporting.

In its pursuit of engineering excellence, Minconsult has invested heavily in the use of computers and information technology. The firm continually upgrades its computer systems and presently has over 200 computers comprising a mix of Intel-based personal computers and Unix-based computer workstations, together with the supporting peripherals.

To complement the computer hardware available, Minconsult maintains a comprehensive software library which is regularly expanded and updated so that the latest application programmes are available for use in  projects carried out by the firm. The available softwares include AutoCAD, which is used extensively in the firm to produce highly-detailed engineering drawings within short time frames, STAAD Pro and Softdesk. Minconsult was one of the pioneers in Malaysia to utilise MOSS, a powerful computer-based design system which creates 3D models of ground surfaces, for development projects and engineering works. In the ASEAN region, Minconsult pioneered the use of advanced computer and airborne survey technology to produce 3D terrain models for use in master planning, preliminary design and detailed design of infrastructure. This state-of-the-art technology called Digital Video Geographic (DVG) system uses satellites, helicopters and computer-linked laser survey equipments for fast and accurate topographical modelling.   

Download : Tangki NAHRIM (NAHRIM STORAGE TANK)

This software was developed for the Rainwater Harvesting projects. The main purpose of this software is for predicting the size of the rainwater tank to be used for a rainwater harvesting system. This software can generate the amount of rainwater captured, total rainwater volume delivered, reliability of the system (= delivered volume / demand volume), coefficient of rainwater utilization, storage efficiency, percentage time of tank empty. Twenty years of rainfall data for different cities/towns throughout Malaysia are available in this software.

This software is meant to be a guide in estimating the size of the rainwater tank with its respective reliability. The use of this software and the accompanying results thereof are the sole responsibility of the users. NAHRIM will not be held responsible for any consequences arising from its use. 

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TUTORIAL

Tutorial : Sizing your Rainwater Storage Tank

For those who are interested in installing a similar rainwater harvesting system for their homes (Kuala Lumpur area only). Tangki NAHRIM is available for download to size the rainwater storage tank based on daily water usage and daily rainfall.

Step 1:

The software maybe run from the diskette or hard disk. Wherever the software is run from, the command line is "drive name : Tangki NAHRIM 1.0.exe". File "vbrun100.dll" is needed to run Tangki NAHRIM 1.0.exe and both file should be in one folder.

Step 2:

The starting screen (Figure 1) is where the user needs to specify the following parameters:

1. The roof characteristics such as the length and width of roof, the run-off coefficient which depends on the material of the roof and the first flush volume which accounts for the amount of water needed to wash the roof with each rainfall before the remaining rain water can be used.
2. The water usage characteristics which include the number of persons using the water, the volume used per person and the size of storage tank used for the rain water.
3. Rainfall areas: at present, the software only includes data of rainfall for the Kuala Lumpur area as recorded at the DID Ampang station. Rainfall data for other selected areas will be included in future.

Step 3:

In the starting screen, the user have the following options:

1. For simulating with the monthly data, the user may proceed directly to the simulation menu by clicking the "Continue" button or may choose to look at the rainfall data ("View R.F. Data"). The rainfall data is given in a tabulated form for the years 1983-1997.
2. For simulating with the daily data, the "Simulate Daily" button will bring the user to the screen which displays the daily rainfall data. The "Show Data" button will display the data for each month in the table. Repetitively clicking this button will display the data for the following months. Alternatively, the user may specify the particular year, then the data for that year will be displayed in a consecutive manner. Choosing "Continue" will bring the user to the Simulation Menu.
3. The "Display Updates" button is for displaying the latest values specified by the user for each parameter when returning from the Simulation Menu after changes are made to these values which are different to the default values.
4. The "Return" button is for the user to go directly to the Simulation Menu after making changes to the values of the parameters.
5. The "Print Form" button will print this form using the default printer and the "End" button will end the program.

Step 4:

In the Simulation Menu (Figure 2), the user have the following options:

1. To run the software with the monthly data, either choose "Fast Simulation" or "Slow Simulation". Fast simulation is for getting the results quickly while slow simulation is for observing the simulation progress at a slower phase. While the simulation is run, the user is shown the conditions of water in the storage tank plus the following information:
   1. Total rain water volume delivered.
   2. Number of days the demand or usage volume not fully met.
   3. Number of days with no rain at all.
   4. Number of days when there is no rain and the storage tank empty.

Figure 2: The simulation screen

At the end of each simulation run, the following information are provided:

1.  
   1. The reliability ratio.
   2. The percentage of the total time that the storage tank became empty.
   3. The total volume of rainwater collected and delivered to the user.
   4. The average volume of rainwater delivered per day.

The user is also provided with the following analysis results by clicking the respective buttons:

1. The "Analysis Results" button will show the total rainwater captured by the system, the coefficient of rainwater utilization and the storage efficiency.
2. The "Monthly Results" button will display the reliability values for every month from January to December.
3. The "Tank Condition" button will show the percentage of the time that the water level in the tank at the different levels i.e. full, three quarters, half, one quarter and empty.

1.  To run the software with the daily data, the user should choose "Fast Simulation" or "Slow Simulation" button in the "Daily Simulation" frame. Again, fast simulation is for getting the results quickly while slow simulation is for observing the simulation progress at a slower mode.
2. The "Print Results" button is for printing the daily output for the rain water volume delivered, water level in the tank and ratio of water demand met in a month. For this, the user needs to specify the month and year for which the results are required.

Step 5:
When the "Graphic Display" button is chosen, the user is shown the Graphic Display Screen. In this screen, the user can observe the daily fluctuations of the water level in the storage tank for one month at a time for the 15 years period. The following options are available:

1. "Fast Simulation" is for getting quick results with the monthly data.
2. "Slow simulation" is for observing the simulation at a slower phase.
3. "Daily Data" simulation will run the model using the daily rainfall data.
4. "Specific Month" enables the user to specify to view which particular month.
5. "Step Simulation" displays the results for the following month.

Step 6:

The "Change Parameter" button is for going back to the Starting screen where the user may change the values of the parameters for subsequent simulations.

Step 7:

Every form in the software is provided with the "Print" or "Print Form" buttons that enable printing of individual forms to be done. Also, "End" buttons are provided for quick exit from the program.

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What is the difference between hot rolled steel vs cold finish steel?

Cold rolling is a metal working process in which metal is deformed by passing it through rollers at a temperature below its recrystallization temperature. Cold rolling increases the yield strength and hardness of a metal by introducing defects into the metal's crystal structure. These defects prevent further slip and can reduce the grain size of the metal, resulting in Hall-Petch hardening.

Cold rolling is most often used to decrease the thickness of plate and sheet metal.

Cold Formed Steel

The metallurgical process of Hot rolling, used mainly to produce sheet metal or simple cross sections from billets describes the method of when industrial metal is passed or deformed between a set of work rolls and the temperature of the metal is generally above its recrystallization temperature, as opposed to cold rolling, which takes place below this temperature. Hot rolling permits large deformations of the metal to be achieved with a low number of rolling cycles.

The hot-rolled steel shapes are formed at elevated temperatures while the cold-formed steel shapes are formed at room temperature. Cold-formed steel structural members are shapes commonly manufactured from steel plate, sheet or strip material. The manufacturing process involves forming the material by either press-braking or cold roll-forming to achieve the desired shape. Examples of the cold-formed steel are corrugated steel roof and floor decks, steel wall panels, storage racks and steel wall studs.

The differences between cold-formed and hot-rolled steel are not just in the thickness and the shapes. Since cold-formed steel members are formed at room temperature, the material becomes harder and stronger. Its lightweight makes it easier and more economical to mass-produce, transport and install.

One of the main differences between designing with cold-formed steel shapes and with hot-rolled structural shapes is that with the hot-rolled, one is primarily concerned about two types of instability: column buckling and lateral buckling of unbraced beams. The dimensions of hot-rolled shapes are such that local buckling of individual constituent elements generally will not occur before yielding.

This is not the case with cold-formed members. Here local buckling must also be considered because, in most cases, the material used is thin relative to its width. This means that the individual flat, or plate, elements of the section often have width to thickness ratios that will permit buckling at stresses well below the yield point.

Hot Rolled Steel

What is the difference between pad foundation, strip foundation and raft foundation?

Shallow foundation is commonly accepted as foundation with founding level less than 3m from ground surface. In case surface loads or surface conditions could still affect the bearing capacity, the foundation which sits on it is called shallow foundation. 

Pad foundation refers to the foundation which is intended for sustaining concentrated loads from a single point load such as structural columns. 

Pad Foundation

Strip foundation is used to support a line of loads such as load-bearing walls. For instance, closely-spaced columns render the use of pad foundation inappropriate and strip foundation may be a better alternative. 

Strip Foundation

Raft foundation consists of a concrete slab which extends over the entire loaded area so that loads from entire structure are spread over a large area leading to a reduction of the stress of foundation soils is reduced. Moreover, raft foundation serves to avoid differential settlement which otherwise would occur if pad or strip foundation is adopted. 

Raft Foundation

This question is taken from book named – A Closer Look at Prevailing Civil Engineering Practice – What, Why and How by Vincent T. H. CHU.

ADVANTAGES OF INDUSTRIALISED BUILDING SYSTEM (IBS)

According to CIDB (2003), compares to conventional construction method, the
industrialised building system has the following advantages:

i. Less construction time
IBS requires less construction time because casting of precast element at factory
and foundation work at site can occur simultaneously and the work at site is only
the erection of IBS components. This leads to earlier occupation of the building.

ii. Cost savings
The formwork of IBS components are made of steel, aluminium or other materials
that allows for repetitive use and this leads to considerable cost savings.

iii. Saving in labour
When the IBS components are produced in factory, higher degree of utilisation of
machine is permitted and the use of labour will be reduced and lead to saving in
labour cost.

iv. Less labour at site
The use of IBS will reduce the construction process at site and consequently reduce
the number of labour required at site.

v. Optimised use of material
The utilisation of machine during the production of IBS components lead to
higher degree of precision and accuracy in the production and consequently
reduce material wastage.

vi. Higher quality and better finishes
An IBS component have higher quality and better finishes due to the careful
selection of materials, use of advanced technology, better and strict quality
assurance control since production in factory is under sheltered environment.

vii. Construction operation less affected by weather
Faster project completion due to rapid all weather construction. The effects of
weather on construction operation are less due to the fabrication of IBS
components is done in factory while at site is only erection of the components.

viii. Flexibility
IBS provides flexibility in the design of precast element so that different systems
may produce their own unique prefabrication construction methods.

ix. Increase site safety and neatness

Utilisation of IBS components leads to less construction process especially wet
work at site. This will lead to the neater site condition and increase safety.

x. Environmental friendly
The use of IBS will decrease the using of timber formwork on construction
projects.

Awareness Seminar of Professional Practice

The Board of Engineers Malaysia invites all professional in construction
industry, engineering consultancy practice, developers, contractors, local
authorities, agencies and related bodies to participate in the following
event:

Event : 

SEMINAR ON PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE ISSUE & RESPONSIBILITY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY OF STAKEHOLDERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Date  :  Kuala Lumpur, 31st March 2011 (Holiday Inn KL Glenmarie, Seksyen U1, Shah Alam)
            Johor Bahru, 14th April 2011
            Kuala Terengganu, 24 th April 2011
            Kuching Sarawak, 7th May 2011
            Kota Kinabalu Sabah, 9th May 2011
            Penang, 30th May 2011

CPD & PDP :    Professional Engineers - 6 CPD
                          Graduate  Engineers - 6 PDP Points

Fee                :   RM 150.00 per person payable to Lembaga Jurutera     Malaysia or   Board of Engineers  

                          Malaysia

Secretariat :   For further details please contact BEM Secretariat at
03-26967095 / 96 / 97 / 98 or 03-26980590 or 03-26912090;

Email: ppc@bem.org.my; monitoring@bem.org.my

Enclosed  please find the brochure and registration form in PDF and Word
for your further action.

Thank you.
Mishana
03-26902090