ABSTRACT
Th e construction industry is one of the main movers behind the economic development of any country. In the United States, in 1997, the construction sector represented 10% of the gross domestic product (GDP) [Allmon et al. 2000]. In the European Union, the construction sector is the largest sector of the economy, contributing approximately 11% of the GDP [Bourdeau 2000]. In Chile this sector has contributed, on average, 8.4% of the GDP for the past seven years. Furthermore, the construction sector requires a large quantity of materials, machinery, and services from other productive sectors, producing a multiplying eff ect in the economy.
