Construction Supervision

Resident Engineer

Duties and Responsibilities

The Resident Engineer is responsible for the activities and efficiency of his
staff for the satisfactory execution of the work under his supervision. He
has the responsibility to build and maintain an organization that can
effectively provide the necessary support, testing and inspection to
ensure the project is constructed according to the drawings and
specifications. The Resident Engineer should familiarize himself with the
drawings, specifications, and any Contract amendments to effectively
administer the work.

Some of the principal responsibilities of the Resident Engineer are:-

• Ensure the Contractor’s compliance with the Contract Documents

• Inspect all workmanship and materials.

• Coordinate the supply of vertical and horizontal controls for the

Contractor.

• Make layout checks on lines and grades.

• Coordination with other contractors.

• Maintain all file records on designated forms. These records include

all reports on work force, equipment progress, safety etc.

• Review and approve the contractor’s shop drawings.

• Locate, execute and interpret all soils and material testing

according to the provisions in the Contract Document and Standard
Specifications

• The Resident Engineer is responsible for Contract enforcement and

is not to relieve the Contractor of his responsibilities without the
Employer’s authorization.

• The Resident Engineer is responsible for the final materials

submittals and review.

• Check and verify progress payments to the Contractor.

• Check personnel, equipment and material cost for all Variation

Orders required under the terms of the Contract.

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• Review requests for additional compensation and time extensions.

• Prepar Variation Orders for all “Additional” and “New” works.

• Preparation of the Monthly Progress reports.

• Site Safety Monitoring wherein the monitoring activities, meetings,

reviews, safety violations, rectification measures and accident
reports are included in the Monthly Progress Report.

• When necessary, determine proper costs of additions or credits due

to the Employer and recommend appropriate action.

• Inspect safety conditions and inform the Contractor of construction

safety violations and follow up action to be taken.

• Attend all meetings and prepare written minutes for distribution.

• Review correspondence and send replies.

• Review, update, monitor and report on the Contractor’s work

schedules, CPM-chart and Cash Flow Status.

• Monitor and report on progress of scheduled utility relocation work.

• Provide all photographs before, during and after construction

necessary to provide adequate documentation of changes in site
and adjacent structures.

• Review and approve the Contractor’s plans for protection of existing

buildings and structures.

• Review all construction activities regarding compliance with local

traffic ordinances and public convenience.

• Receive and review complaints and claims of damage and expedite

the Contractor’s investigation into these complaints and damages
claims.

• Approve all restoration or final cleaning work.

• Review and make recommendations on the contractor’s claims.

• Coordination with other contractors, departments and agencies.

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• Provide a “snag list” and carry out final inspection.

• Check and approve “as-constructed” drawings submitted by the

Contractor.

• Check and approve the final quantities submitted by the Contractor.

• Check and approve the final payment valuation submitted by the

Contractor.

The Resident Engineer should select competent personnel and

delegate authority to them. He should also promote training
programmes in each phase of the work to increase the knowledge of
the other project personnel.

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Assistant Resident Engineer

Duties and Responsibilities

The Assistant Resident Engineer is responsible for performing all the

administrative and operational functions necessary for the day to day
operation of the project. In the absence of the Resident Engineer, the
Assistant will assume his duties. The specific duties of the Assistant will be
assigned directly by the Resident Engineer and typically include the
following:-

• Review of Inspector’s Daily Reports.

• Preparation of Engineer’s Daily Diary.

• General oversight of Inspector’s daily activities including work

assignment, on site performance and guidance on the supervision of
the Contractor’s operations.

• Review of the Contractor’s joint measurement and testing requests

and subsequent completed reports.

• Review and approval of the Contractor’s Shop Drawings as

delegated by the Resident Engineer.

• Monitoring the performance of the survey team.

• Review and approval of the Contractor’s proposed materials and

methods as delegated by the Resident Engineer.

• Preparation of Meeting Minutes, as delegated by the Resident

Engineer.

• Coordination with the Contractor’s supervisor’s personnel regarding

schedule sequence and method of work.

• Monitoring conformance with the Contractor’s schedule.

• Continuous Field Inspection of the work in progress and consultation

with both the Engineer’s and Contractor’s supervisory staff.

• Preparation of written and oral reports to the Resident Engineer on

contractual and procedural matters.

• Review of As-Constructed drawings in coordination with inspectors

and surveyors.

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Quantity Surveyor

Duties and Responsibilities

The Quantity Surveyor is charged with the responsibility of correlating

information relating to all financial aspects of the project. He should be
aware of all financial matters and proper maintaining of quantity books
and shall advise the Resident Engineer regarding all financial matters.

He is expected to have a thorough knowledge of the conditions of contract

and other procedures and instructions and efficiently keep all current
project records related to quantity surveying. He should be able, from
these records, to impart any available information to the Resident
Engineer for proper administration of the project.

Principal responsibilities of the Quantity Surveyor consist of the following:-

• Prepare a BOQ summary

• Prepare Monthly Financial Report

• Prepare and maintain interim and final payment valuations

• Check the Contractor’s interim and final pay certificates.

• Evaluate unit rates for new items of work.

• Check joint measurements for interim payments.

• Compute final measured quantities.

• Maintain current as-constructed drawings as the work progresses.

• Maintain a progress schedule and cash flow chart.

• Assist in preparation of Variation Orders.

• Assist in evaluating claims

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Surveyor

Duties and Responsibilities

Surveyors are assigned duties according to their technical abilities such as

Instrument man, Roadman, etc.. Ideally all surveyors should be trained on
the job to gain experience at each position and improve the efficiency and
quality of work performed by the team.

Accuracy and efficiencies are imperative in construction surveying

operations. Each surveyor regardless of assigned duty should
independently check and double check all rod readings, instrument
readings, calculations and measurements as the work progresses.

Material Technician

Duties and Responsibilities

The field laboratory technician is assigned to coordinate the work and

record keeping of the materials testing laboratory on the project and is
responsible to the Resident Engineer. He may receive additional technical
counsel from the Senior Material Engineer where such is assigned to the
project.

Principal responsibilities of the Material Technician are as follows:-

• Field laboratory set-up organization, maintenance and operation.

• Supervision of assistant staff performing sampling and testing of

materials.

• Perform sampling, testing, record keeping and reporting in

accordance with

 Project Drawings and Specifications

 Employer’s Policy and Procedures Directives

 Material Testing Manual

 AASHTO Standard Methods of Sampling and Testing.

 Construction Supervision manual

 Construction Supervision Directives

 Sampling Guide and Certifications Manual.

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 • Copy all test results to the Resident Engineer and the Contractor.

• Report any failing or “borderline” test results immediately to the

Resident Engineer.

• Coordinate with the Inspector in charge of the work for testing and
discuss areas of concern.

• Coordinate with the Contractor on work priorities and schedules.

• Perform sampling and testing as quickly and efficiently as possible

to avoid undue delay to the Contractor’s operations.

• Perform regular checks of material delivered to the project for

conformance with the approved source or supplier.

• Maintain neat accurate records.

• Monitor the frequency and number of tests required for every

operation.

Inspector of Works

Duties and Responsibilities

All Inspectors on construction projects are to report to the Resident

Engineer unless other lines of reporting have been indicated by the
Resident Engineer. Inspectors assigned to various phases of the work
have an important part in assuring the quality of work in the finished
project. They must be completely familiar with the drawings,
specifications, particular specification and construction methods for the
phases of the work to which they assigned. If the Inspector finds that he
does not fully understand any of the items that he has been charged
with , he should seek a clarification of these items from the Resident
Engineer.

Principal responsibilities of the Inspector are as follows:-

• Ensure performance of the work in strict accordance with the

drawings and specifications.

• Maintain a detailed diary of the day’s work activities, issues, work

approved or rejected, hours of operations, labour and equipment
used, etc. and sign at the end of each day.

• Interface with the public ,especially residents and business owners

adjacent to the work to mitigate the construction impacts.

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• Coordinate with the Contractor’s Engineer in charge of the work on
a daily basis to check on the proper execution of the work.

• Coordinate with the Material Technician and arrange for sampling

and testing of satisfactorily completed work and quality assurance
testing of suspect materials.

• Coordinate with the Surveyor to check the line and grade of

completed work for conformance with the plans and specifications.

• Report questionable methods of operation by the Contractor to the

Resident Engineer.

• Report to the Resident Engineer any failure of the Contractor to

conform to drawings and specifications and to provide good
workmanship.

• Process the joint measurement forms and maintain records of their

status.

• Maintain records of completed works for interim and final payments

and as-constructed drawings.

• Maintain detailed records of works performed by the Contractor on a

Day-Works basis.

• Make special notes and document the Contractor’s activities that

may lead to claims.

• Be fair and firm on dealings with the Contractor. Consider

alternatives and consequences carefully before making decisions.

• Issue instructions to the Engineer in charge of the work through the

Resident Engineer and do not argue with the Contractor or his
representatives.

• Notify the Resident Engineer of conditions that render it impractical

or unreasonable to enforce the specifications.

• Report and document any accident that occurs on site and notify
the Resident Engineer immediately.

• Enforce performance of the work in strict accordance with the

approved Safety Plan.

• Check detours and traffic control cones for proper placement of

signs, barricades and lights.

INSPECTOR’S AUTHORITY

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• Assigned by the Resident Engineer based on the Inspector’s
knowledge experience and ability.

• Limited authority for the rejection of materials or portions for the

work.

• May prohibit methods of work that do not conform to the

specifications.

• Advise Contractor of methods that are likely to impair the quality

and conformance of the work to specification requirements. Notify
the Resident Engineer immediately.

• No authority over the Contractor’s management direction or

scheduling of work.

• No authority to alter or relax any drawing or specifications

requirement.

• No authority to issue instructions contrary to the drawings or

specifications.

• May direct stoppage of work where the safety of workmen or the

public is threatened. Notify the Resident Engineer immediately.

• Direct correction of conditions that are hazardous or unsafe.

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