---
title: "Characteristics of a construction project"
subject: "Construction Management"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_8/construction_management:construction-project-characteristics"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/construction-project-characteristics
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Characteristics of a construction project

Construction Management · Chapter 1: Construction Management Framework

- Asked in: 2071 Bhadra, 4 marks
- Video: [What Is Construction Management?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlIhVHMk788) — Jason Schroeder
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/construction-project-characteristics
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/construction_management/chapter-1

## Question

What are the characteristics of a construction project? Explain.

## Short answer

A construction project is unique, temporary, with a fixed site and defined time, cost and quality objectives. It involves multiple parties under contract, high investment, uncertainty from ground and weather, and labour-intensive sequential trades, requiring strong coordination.

## Answer

A construction project is a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique facility (a building, bridge, road, dam) under a contract. Its main characteristics are:

1. **Unique (one-off):** every project differs in design, site and conditions, so experience cannot be copied exactly.
2. **Definite start and end:** it is temporary with a fixed time frame, after which the team disbands.
3. **Fixed site:** the product is made where it will stay, so weather, soil and access affect the work.
4. **Complex and multi-party:** the client, consultant, contractor, subcontractors, suppliers and authorities are involved.
5. **Limited resources:** a fixed budget, with a limited supply of labour, materials and machines.
6. **High cost and long duration:** large investment, with long periods before a return.
7. **Uncertainty and risk:** ground conditions, weather, price changes and design changes.
8. **Contract-based:** governed by contract documents, specifications and law.
9. **Defined objectives:** time, cost, quality and safety targets.
10. **Labour-intensive and varied organisations**, with many trades working in sequence.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What does 'definite start and end' mean?
   A. The project continues indefinitely
   B. It is temporary with a fixed time frame, after which the team disbands
   C. It has no deadline
   D. It has no budget
   Answer: B. A project is temporary and the team disbands afterwards. (Key point: Temporary)

2. Why does a fixed site matter?
   A. The product is made where it stays, so weather, soil and access affect work
   B. The product is moved after completion
   C. It removes risk
   D. It removes the need for planning
   Answer: A. Site-bound production exposes the work to local conditions. (Key point: Fixed site)

3. Why can experience not be copied exactly?
   A. Each project is one-off, differing in design, site and conditions
   B. Each uses the same design
   C. Contracts forbid it
   D. Labour is identical
   Answer: A. Uniqueness means every project differs. (Key point: Unique)

4. Which are sources of uncertainty and risk?
   A. Fixed drawings only
   B. Ground conditions, weather, price changes and design changes
   C. Only the contract
   D. None
   Answer: B. Ground, weather, prices and design changes bring risk. (Key point: Uncertainty)

## Related in Construction Management

- [Importance of safety in construction](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Asafety-importance-requirements) — Construction Management, chapter 11, asked 7×
- [Communication in a project and its importance](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Acommunication-importance) — Construction Management, chapter 10, asked 5×
- [Scope of CM and project life cycle phases](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Ascope-lifecycle-phases) — Construction Management, chapter 1, asked 4×
- [Typical job layout of a building project](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Atypical-job-layout-building) — Construction Management, chapter 6, asked 4×
- [Function of project management in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Acpm-function-nepal) — Construction Management, chapter 1
- [TCTO, crashing and reducing project duration](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Atcto-crashing-reduce-schedule) — Construction Management, chapter 2

## Related in other subjects

- [Internal risk of Nepalese construction project](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Arisk-internal-construction-nepalese-company) — Project Engineering, chapter 5
- [Road construction equipment and mass haul characteristics](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Amass-haul-diagram-equipment-plants) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 3, asked 3×
- [Define project and its characteristics](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Adefine-project-characteristics) — Project Engineering, chapter 1, asked 4×
- [Project dimensions and characteristics](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aproject-dimensions-characteristics) — Project Engineering, chapter 1