Construction Management Lab at HCCC

Construction Management Lab at HCCC

The Construction Management (CM) program at HCCC has established a state-of-the-art lab facility to train students in both theoretical and practical aspects of construction.

Soil and concrete are integral to the training process. It is crucial for students to understand the essential characteristics of these materials through laboratory testing. Material testing enables students to assess and quantify whether a specific material or treatment is suitable for a particular application.

The lab emphasizes the practical application of construction materials to ensure compliance with standard codes and practices.

Concrete Tests in the Lab

This test determines the workability and consistency of a concrete mix. The right consistency is vital for a project’s success: overly wet concrete can crack, while overly dry concrete is difficult to handle. The slump test assesses the fluidity of the mix, with higher slump ratings indicating more workable mixes.

Equipment Required: Slump cone, base plate, trowels, measuring tape.

Air voids in concrete provide reservoirs for freezing water, preventing damage. This test measures entrained air produced during the mixing process when air-entraining admixtures are used.

Equipment Required: Air meter, mallet, scoops, funnels, brushes, trowels.

Similar to the pressure method, this test quantifies air voids using volumetric equipment.
Equipment Required: Volumetric air meter, funnels, syringe, tamper, calibrated cup, mallet, plastic strike-off bar.
This key test evaluates the ability of concrete to withstand compression, essential for structural design.

Equipment Required: Compression testing machine, testing cylinders, scoop, mallet.
Proper curing enhances concrete's strength and durability by ensuring hydration. This involves maintaining adequate moisture and temperature.

Equipment Required: Concrete curing boxes, tanks, moisture control systems, heater circulator.
Fineness affects concrete mix design by influencing the ratio of fine to coarse aggregates. Lower fineness modulus (FM) generally results in more workable concrete.

Equipment Required: Sieves, balance, sieve shaker.

Soil Tests in the Lab

This test distinguishes soil types (e.g., clay vs. silt) by determining water content at key transition states.

Equipment Required: Liquid limit machine, grooving tools, plastic limit set, mortar and pestle.

Widely used in geotechnical engineering, this test evaluates soil and rock behavior under axial load and confining pressure.

Equipment Required: Triaxial testing apparatus, load frame, dial gauge, triaxial cell, pressure system.

Grain size analysis classifies soil based on the distribution of particle sizes, influencing its engineering properties.

Equipment Required: ASTM test sieves, weighing scale, soil sample containers.
This test assesses the moisture content in soil, crucial for understanding its characteristics.

Equipment Required: Drying oven, balance, moisture cans, desiccator, sample splitters.
Representative sampling is vital to assess aggregate quality and condition.

Equipment Required: Sample splitter.
Specific gravity helps identify material changes or contamination by comparing particle densities.

Equipment Required: Coarse aggregate gravity apparatus.

Surveying Lab

The Surveying Lab is essential for developing practical skills in measuring land, determining boundaries, and interpreting site conditions—foundational tasks for any construction project. It equips students with hands-on experience using tools like total stations, levels, and GPS, ensuring accurate site layout and planning. Surveying supports earthwork, utility alignment, and structural positioning, helping avoid costly errors. It also strengthens decision-making, enhances coordination with design teams, and integrates knowledge from engineering and architecture—making it a vital component of Construction Management education. The surveying lab is equipped with the following equipment:

Combines EDM (distance) and angle measurement; digital and precise

  • Topographic surveys
  • Construction layout
  • Land boundary mapping

Uses satellite signals for determining exact positions on Earth

  • Geodetic control
  • Mapping large areas
  • Infrastructure & route planning

Rugged handheld device that records and manages field data; connects with instruments

  • Field date collection
  • Instrument control

It is a versatile tool in a surveying lab, aiding in

  • Angle Measurement
  • Setting Out Points
  • Topographic Surveying
  • Control Networks
  • Site/Road Alignment
  • Structural Monitoring
  • Triangulation

 

Contact Information

Dr. Azhar Mahmood
Coordinator
263 Academy Street, Room S605C
Jersey City, NJ 07306
(201) 360-4259
amahmoodFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE

School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
263 Academy Street, Room S204
Jersey City, NJ 07306
(201) 360-4265
stemprogramsFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE