This new series of textbooks responds to changes that are occurring throughout the construction industry and in further education. It focuses on aspects of the curriculum that are common to all professions in the built environment. The principal aim of BEST (the Built Environment Series of Textbooks) is to provide texts that are relevant to more than one course and the texts therefore address areas of commonality. Learning aids in the texts, such as revision notes, questions for self-testing and worked examples, should appeal to all students.