TAMING, Marthur Jr. T.

Civil Engineering Orientation

BSCE – 2C

SECTION 2 (CLASSIFICATION OF ENGINEERING SERVICES)

2.1 GENERAL
Civil engineering services is a vast domain that extend to the planning, design
and construction of infrastructure such as commercial and residential buildings. Civil
engineering firms the meet these needs vary in organizational structure, size, and
capability. Since it is the broadest of all engineering fields, it provides a lot of services
such as consultations, research, investigations, and reports, design services for
construction projects, construction services, special services for construction projects,
engineering support services, academic services as well as the services as employee.
According to RA 544 also knows as the “Civil Engineering Law”, the types of
infrastructure under the domain of civil engineering as amended includes; streets,
bridges, highways and railroads, airports and hangars, port works, canals, river and
shore improvement, light houses and dry docks, buildings, fixed structures for irrigation,
flood protection, drainage, water supply and sewage works and tunnels.
2.2 CONSULTATIONS, RESEARCH, INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS
Consultations, research, investigations and report are essential to find out which
ideas or treatments work better in civil engineering services. It plays an important role in
discovering new ideas, ways, and treatments in the best possible ways. These services
deal primarily with collecting, interpreting, and reporting information, together with
formulating conclusions and making recommendations. Typical services in this category
are: preliminary and feasibility investigations and reports, planning studies, appraisals,
valuations and rate studies, assistance in financial matters, materials engineering and
equipment tests, and direct personal services.
2.2.1 PRELIMANARY AND FEASIBILITY INVESTIGATION AND REPORTS
Before we begin carrying out a divestment or succession plan, we investigate
thoroughly whether the requirements for a successful project or plan. To achieve the
success of the project, we recommend checking whether there may be limitations on
the implementation of the project, it may be involve extensive investigations, analysis of
conditions, and comparison of several possible plans. It also include the impact of a
project upon the environment, sustainable development, operating costs, life cycle
costs, financing considerations, and expected revenues.
2.2.2 PLANNING STUDIES
Having a study plan as a learner is very important as it helps us to maximize and
prioritize the things that are of urgency or importance. Without planning, nothing can be
accomplished. The services in civil engineering includes the broad areas of developing
the engineering requirements of master plans for long – range capital improvement
programs; preparation of preliminary engineering of land development plans, urban and
regional plans. Such planning often requires coordination of the work.
2.2.3 APPRAISALS, VALUATIONS AND RATE STUDIES
In most cases of civil engineering development, a range of alternative schemes
meeting project goals are feasible, so some form of evaluation must be carried out to
select the most appropriate to take forward. Evaluation criteria usually include the
economic, environmental and social contexts of a project as well as the engineering
challenges, so engineers must be familiar with the processes and tool used. Services in
civil engineering may include investigation and analyses of the capital and operating
costs, overhead costs and costs of financing.
2.2.4 ASSISTANCE IN FINANCIAL MATTERS
Civil engineers form an integral and important feature in every community. The
civil engineer may be engaged by a client who is planning to issue bonds, particularly
revenue bonds, to finance a capital project. It includes an evaluation of capabilities of
existing or proposed facilities to meet present and projected future needs, statements of
probable construction costs, and an estimate of annual revenue requirements.
2.2.5 MATERIALS ENGINEERING AND EQUIPMENT TESTS
The quality of a material going into a manufactured product is as important as the
reliability of the production process. Materials testing help us to understand and quantify
whether a specific material or treatment is suitable for a particular application. In civil
engineering services, it requires tests of materials and equipment’s under established
codes and standards as well as the specialized examination of equipment and materials
used in construction and industry.
2.2.6 DIRECT PERSONAL SERVICES
This includes services such as assistance in preparation for legal proceedings.
Appearance before courts or commissions to render expert opinions and conclusions,
and investigations of technical matters where specialized civil engineering knowledge,
experience, and judgement are required.
2.2.7 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Research allow us to investigate and gather data from existing resources or it
can be gather through laboratory works and processes related to the purpose and
object of the research. The aim of this research is to improve the current development
technologies, innovate and improve the construction materials and methods through
experiments and studies.
2.2.8 SPECIAL SERVICES
Civil engineering services offers a lot of services and diverse activities such as
value engineering, appraisal and evaluation, load testing, environmental evaluations,
traffic engineering, forensic engineering for structural and other failures, operational
assistance, material process design, pilot studies, computer modelling, safety
engineering, topographic, sounding and boundary survey engineering, etc. Civil
engineers play a key part in all of this work or services.
2.3 DESIGN SERVICES FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Whether it’s construction, marketing, or even launching a new business, planning
is the foundation for all successful projects. The design phase, or pre – construction
phase, for a construction project is important because we want to ensure that every
decision being made will maximize our investment. With a creative partner we can trust,
this pre – construction phase will help our project up for success. Here are the standard
phases of a construction project and the engineering services that are needed; study
and report phase, preliminary design phase, final design phase, bidding or negotiating
phase, construction phase, and lastly, the operation phase.
2.3.1 STUDY AND REPORT PHASE
This phase involves determination of project scope and economic and technical
evaluation of feasible alternatives. The services performed during this phase may
include; reviewing available data and consulting with the clarify and define the client’s
requirement for the project, advising the client as to the necessity of providing additional
data, identifying and analysing requirements of governmental authorities, providing
analyses of the client’s needs, and preparing a report with presenting the alternative
solutions available to the client with the Civil Engineer’s findings and recommendations.
2.3.2 PRELIMINARY DESIGN PHASE
It actually talks about visiting the site of your work. This phase involves the
establishment of the general size and scope of the project, and its location on the
selected site. The preliminary design services may include; consulting with the client,
reviewing preliminary reports, clarifying and defining the project requirements, advising
the client as to whether additional data or services are required, preparing preliminary
design consisting of final design criteria, preparing also the revised estimates of
probable total project costs, and periodic status reports.
2.3.3 FINAL DESIGN PHASE
This phase of project development is usually undertaken ONLY after the client
has approved the preliminary design phase material. Engineer cannot push the project if
they don’t have an agreement (NOA) between the engineer and the client. The basic
services for the final design phase may include; preparing construction drawings and
specifications, preparing and furnishing to the client a revised estimate of probable total
project costs, furnishing the necessary engineering data and assisting in the application
for regulatory permits from local or national authorities, preparing basic documents
related to construction contracts, furnishing to the client specified number of copies of
drawings and specifications, and providing final design and construction services for
design build contracts, and also providing periodic status reports just like in preliminary
design phase.
2.3.4 BIDDING OR NEGOTIATING PHASE
For this phase, services may include; assisting the client in advertising for and
obtaining bids or negotiating proposals, maintaining a record of prospective bidders,
attending pre – bid conferences, receiving and processing deposits for bidding
documents, issuing addenda as appropriate to interpret or amend the bidding
document, assisting the client in determining the qualifications and acceptability of
prospective contractors, consulting and advising the client to the acceptability of
alternative materials, and preparing bid tabulation sheets.
2.3.5 CONSTRUCTION PHASE
Most civil engineers are not willing to assume the responsibilities associated with
construction phase services without providing resident project representative services at
the site. It is important to consult and seek advice to the professionals like civil
engineers to ensure the safety and quality of the project. Construction phase services
may include; reviewing the design concept, shop and erection drawings, the laboratory,
mill test reports, visiting the project site at appropriate intervals as construction
proceeds to observe and report on the progress, and lastly, making a final inspection
and reporting on completion of the project, including recommendations concerning final
payments to contractors and released of retained percentages.
2.3.6 OPERATION PHASE
Services under this phase are the role of the civil engineer at the completion of
the construction. The civil engineer assist in the start – up of project operations, he/she
may be commissioned to prepare a manual for both operation and maintenance
requirements, and may also provide assistance in adjusting, balancing equipment,
identifying deficiencies, and performing inspection prior to the end of the project
warranty period. He/she may assist in operator, training, set up job classifications and
salaries.
2.4 CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
Civil engineers need a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, in one of its
specialties, or in civil engineering technology. They typically need a graduate degree
and licensure for promotion to senior position. Although licensure requirements vary by
state, civil engineers usually must be licensed if they provide services directly to the
public. A registered civil engineer may engage in construction contracting if he/she
passes the Contractors Accreditation Board. A registered civil engineer may provide the
services of a supporting technical employee as required of a construction company.
According to the Section 23 of RA 544 also known as the “Civil Engineering Law”,
ONLY registered civil engineers can take charge or supervise construction or alternation
of any building or structure and any other civil engineering works.
2.5 SPECIAL SERVICES FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
The need for professional services or special services varies along with the
organizational structure, size, and capability of consulting engineering firms. Many
consulting engineering firms provide comprehensive services, while other firms
specialize in specific areas of engineering. Special services that may be provide by the
civil engineer or negotiated with other firms or sub – consultants by the civil engineer
include; geotechnical engineering, special studies and tests, land surveys, engineering
and topographic surveys, mill, shop, or laboratory inspections, value engineering, and
assistance to the client in the selection and engagement of architects, other engineers,
contractors and subcontractors.
2.6 ENGINEERING SUPPORT SERVICES
The engineering support services in general civil engineering practice may
involve drafting, land and construction surveying, and other data gathering activities for
specialized purposes. It also provides a variety of construction support services to help
identify potential problems, provide effective solutions, evaluate technical and budgetary
alternatives, anticipate or avoid disputes, and generally result in a better design and
budget.
2.7 ACADEMIC SERVICES
After a successful career in the industry, numerous civil engineer professionals
elect to transition into collegiate teaching. With similar salaries offered, this mid – career
switch is attractive to those with the passion for educating the next generation of
engineers. These services involve a full or part time teaching or training of prospective
professionals. Academic services may include; teaching of civil engineering courses in
engineering colleges/universities on part/full time basis, lecturing in civil engineering
courses design by the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), conducting
tutorials/refresher courses on civil engineering, serving as a Resource Speaker in
technical session, and writing technical articles and pamphlets.
2.8 SERVICES AS EMPLOYEE
Civil engineers typically work full time and fulfil duties regularly for wages or
salary being paid an employer. He is required to follow the code of ethics for civil
engineers and comply with the standards and guidelines of the Manual of Professional
Practice for Civil Engineers. A licenced civil engineer may not allow his licensed to be
used by the company that employs him without the proper agreement for his
professional services. A civil engineer in part time employment with a firm is considered
to be an employee and at the same time a consultant of the firm. Lastly, all government
civil engineers employed by the instrumentalities of the government (national and local),
shall be governed by pertinent existing laws and regularities and particularly to those
prescribed by the Civil Service Commission.