UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

COURSE CODE: CVNG 2010 - CIVIL ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT

UNIT 3 Lecturer: Derek I Outridge

INTRODUCTION

The Construction Industry differs from the manufacturing industry in that the design and the production functions are separate entities.

The design team is generally made up of the person purchasing the object (i.e. the client) and a group of professionally trained people (the
consultants) who carry out the work for a fee. The producer is generally a completely separate person or organization and a group of sub-
contractors and suppliers which erects the engineering works on a budget which includes an element of profit.

The construction industry is very diverse, competitive and made up of series of many small operators in the areas of professional services
(e.g. engineering, architecture, quantity surveying and project/construction/facilities management), contractors, sub-contractors, transport,
material, suppliers and manufacturers. Over 90% of the firms in this industry employ less than 20 persons.

The industry commanded at its peak in 2007 approximately 115,000 employees and it is regrettable that its current employment figure is
in the order of approximately 65,000 employees. The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, therefore, is well endowed with the personnel,
both at the professional and technical levels who are required to continue the construction industry working efficiently and productively at
conditions of demand greater than that which currently exist.

If you are an average individual, you would at least once in your lifetime make a large investment in construction. Such an investment is
likely to be the largest you will ever make. So large in fact that maybe a large proportion of it will be money that would have been
borrowed. The result of your investment will stare you daily in the face and fill you with pride or disappointment or be a constant
reminder of the joy or headaches you encountered. Your sentiment will depend on whether you had properly planned the investment or
not. Repayment of your loan will become a permanent part of your budget, a task which you will have to continue to paddle long after
the investment has lost its beauty and has ceased to function as it should because of a change in the size of your family, circumstances,
usage etc.

An investment in a construction usually takes one of the following forms:-

- the construction of a new building or facility

- the purchase of an existing building or facility;
- the refurbishment, renovation and /or extension of an existing building or facility.

The average person is likely to avoid being faced with considering the adoption of one of these courses of action in an age when all types
of facilities are hard to come by. The requirements of each individual vary to a large extent in the financial constraints, aesthetics or
speed of construction may be one of the main objectives in the investment. One may be constantly bombarded with advertisements in the
media and advice from friends and relatives on procedure which may not even address the main objective and the reality of this aspect
looms at a stage when there is already commitment to an inappropriate course of action.

To the general public, however, the number of persons who play important roles in construction seems endless and thus the question is
often asked: "Who does what in the construction industry?'

An answer in detail to this question would give rise to an elaborate discussion for which limited space would not permit, therefore, only
basic sketch descriptions are given of the major contributors to the industry.
THE CLIENT (EMPLOYER)

The client or employer may be a single person or group of persons or government or financiers who employ the contractors to construct
or execute a project on his property for his benefit and pays him for so doing. He is sometimes referred to as the investor, the employer or
owner who establishes the overall objectives and arranges the financing of the project. The client is the person who creates the demand
which is satisfied by the skilled persons who work in the construction industry.

THE ARCHITECT

The Architect designs building structures such as houses, shops and office blocks, etc., he also advises on the possible re-use of
these structures. He does not usually design roads, tunnels or bridges as this is the job of the civil engineer. Architects usually
work in small private practices, preparing drawings, inspecting building work and meeting with clients, engineer, quantity
surveyors and town planners. They also advise clients about the best constructors to build their designs. Their work involves:

 meeting and negotiating with clients

 preparing detailed drawings and specifications
 choosing building materials
 inspecting work on site.

Architects are very creative people but they are knowledgeable about building materials, the environment and mathematics to
make sure their designs can work in reality. Computer-aided design (CAD) is a vital part of their design armoury as architects
have to find out exactly what the client wants and be able to organise people within their spatial layouts. Architects need to be
great communicators as well.

To become a fully-qualified architect you will need to study for a degree in architecture. The degree usually takes five years to
complete, with several year's work experience in an architect's office.

ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGIST

The Architectural Technologist provides architectural design services and solutions. They are specialists in the science of
architecture, building design and construction and form the link between concept and the actual construction. They are involved
in the construction project and management process from conception through to completion.

They practise on their own account or with fellow Architectural Technologists, architects, engineers, quantity surveyors and
other professionals within the construction industry:

Project inception
Architectural Technologists are recognised as being qualified to negotiate and manage the development of a construction project:
 Assessing the needs of clients and users and agreeing the project brief
 Recognising the significance of the design stage and how it underpins the construction project
 Evaluating and advising upon environmental and regulatory legal requirements affecting the project and obtaining
initial approvals
 Producing and evaluating feasibility studies
 Evaluating resources and assessing environmental impact
 Assessing and managing survey requirements and producing surveys
Project planning
 Developing project briefs and design programmes
 Advising clients on methods of project procurement and forms of contract
 Managing health and safety
 Liaising with and producing documentation for statutory approval authorities
Design process
Architectural Technologists specialise in the application of building science and technology to architectural and construction
projects. They are recognised as having specialist skills enabling them to manage the design process and use their technical
knowledge and expertise to provide innovative solutions:
 Preparing and presenting design proposals using CAD techniques and traditional methods
 Leading the detailed design process and co-ordinating detailed design information
  Managing and co-ordinating the design team and associated professional consultants
 Developing the project design, researching problems and producing, developing and advising upon innovative solutions
 Producing, analysing and advising upon specification, materials selection and detailed design solutions in relation to
performance and production criteria
 Liaising with and producing documentation for statutory approval authorities
 Producing, managing, controlling and integrating design and production information
 Carrying out design stage risk assessments
Contract management
Architectural Technologists are recognised as being qualified to negotiate and manage all aspects of architectural and
construction contracts, whether it is using traditional, partnering or other methods. They recognise the significance of the post
construction aspects of the project:
 Managing or co-ordinating associated professionals
 Obtaining and evaluating tenders and agreeing contracts
 Ensuring continual compliance with design, legal, statutory and professional requirements
 Programming schedules and undertaking stage inspections
 Administering contracts and project certification
 Managing project handover
 Gaining feedback from and de-briefing client and user
 Appraisal of building performance in use and producing, developing and maintaining maintenance management
information systems
 Evaluating and advising upon refurbishment, repair, reuse, recycling and deconstruction of buildings

CIVIL ENGINEER

Civil engineers are involved in the design and construction of bridges, tunnels, roads, railways, dams, pipelines and major
building structures, etc.. All transport, energy, industry and commerce are the result of civil engineering - our society would not
function without civil engineering products.

Civil engineers work for contractors (who traditionally manage the construction work on site); as consultants (who are concerned
with the design and planning of projects and their effect on the environment); or in the public service and state organisations and
utilities (who investigate the need for roads, bridges, tunnels, etc and then maintain and manage the structures once they exist).

Work is available at three different levels: engineering technician, who has a basic knowledge of engineering principles and vital
technical skills; registered engineer, who uses technical knowledge and good management skills to lead project teams; and
chartered engineer, who is an innovator at the forefront of design solutions.

Many civil engineers go on to specialise in a particular specialized sphere:

Highways and transport engineer

Highways and transport engineers are concerned with the design, construction and maintenance of roads of all sizes in all sorts
of locations. They also deal with the structures that support transport networks, such as bridges, tunnels and railway tracks. Their
work can involve:

 ensuring the safety and efficiency of roads and other transport systems
 finding new solutions to transport problems
 using specialist knowledge of the ground or soil conditions to design tunnels, bridges, etc
 planning how to improve passenger comfort
 analysing the effects on the environment.

Marine engineer
This area of civil engineering encompasses all kinds of coastline developments including jetties, piers, harbour work, docks and
flood protection.

Water engineer
Water engineers work with the structures used for carrying, storing or distributing water and wastewater.
Civil engineers must have a good grasp of mathematics and design, and the ability to manage and liaise with a wide variety of
people. They need to be able to think in 3D and communicate ideas effectively to other people. This kind of engineering is suited
to people who are practical with a creative streak. To become an engineer you need to study for an accredited engineering degree
and complete carefully controlled training in the workplace.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

As the name suggests, structural engineers are involved primarily in the design and construction of structures - that is, the shape
and form of buildings, power stations, ports, railways stations and airports. Like civil engineers, they can work for contractors,
consultants and local authorities. Their work involves:

 determining the appropriate structural forms for a project

 making detailed drawings and calculations for the structure in question, whether it's your granny's extension or a tower
block in an earthquake zone
 using computer-aided design technology
 investigating the most suitable materials for a project
 working in a close-knit construction team, including architects, civil engineers and building services engineers
 inspecting, analysing and designing solutions to repair damage, for example, making bomb-damaged buildings safe or
preventing houses from subsiding into an old coal mine.

Both civil and structural engineers need a good grasp of mathematics and design and the ability to manage and liaise with a wide
variety of people. They need to be able to think in 3D and communicate ideas effectively to other people. This kind of
engineering is suited to people who are also practical with a creative streak. To become an engineer you need to study for an
accredited engineering degree and complete carefully controlled training in the workplace.

SERVICES ENGINEER

Services engineers are involved with systems such as water, heating, lighting, electricity and ventilation. They design, install and
maintain all these essential systems, ensuring that our homes, schools and workplaces are healthy and comfortable places to
inhabit. There are jobs available in building services at three levels - engineering technician, registered engineer and chartered
engineer. They can work for large construction companies, engineering consultants, architects' practices or local authorities.
Their work involves:

 designing the systems that keep modern buildings going, either on paper or using sophisticated CAD packages
 advising architects and other engineers on their designs
 repairing and maintaining systems
 making detailed calculations and drawings
 assessing the legal issues associated with building and engineering services
 working with other construction professionals
 helping to protect the environment by keeping energy wastage to a minimum and using wind or solar power.

Services engineers have a flair for design as well as attention to detail. They have a wide interest in science, especially physics,
IT and electronics. They work well with other people and are interested in making a system cost-effective as well as
environmentally friendly and comfortable. At the moment there is a nationwide shortage of skilled services engineers, which
means good graduates from relevant degrees will be highly prized. To become a building services engineering technician you
will need a relevant degree - mechanical engineering or electrical engineering degree.

GEOMATIC ENGINEER/GEOSPATIAL SURVEYOR (LAND SURVEYOR)

Geomatic engineers, also known as surveyors or geospatial engineers, provide information on land being prepared for
construction. They measure land surfaces (including buildings, features and boundaries) and use computer-mapping techniques,
theodolites and satellite images to find out whether it will support structures. They can work for local authorities, specialist
surveying practices and in large construction firms. Their work includes:
  measuring and exploring what's happening under the ground so that structures can be built safely, in the right
place
 looking at data from land, water and environmental surveys
 providing advice and information as construction is in progress
 explaining complex data to other construction professionals so that they can act on it.

Relevant degree subjects may include geographic information science, surveying and mapping science or geospatial engineering.

CONSTRUCTION COMMERCIAL/COST ENGINEER/MANAGER (QUANTITY SURVEYOR)

Otherwise known as construction cost consultants, the role of a quantity surveyor is an expert on the various construction costs
of a project, including materials, time taken and workers' salaries. They make sure that a construction project is as profitable and
efficient as possible. They usually work for either the contractor (ie the company doing the construction work), or the consultant
or private quantity surveyor (ie the firm employed to advise the client). Their work involves:

 advising on the potential of a site and working out what a client can afford to construct
 presenting detailed information on the costs of labour, plant and materials
 organising the giving of work to smaller, more specialised construction companies (known as subcontractors) according
to who offers the best deal,
 advising on the supply chain and procurement.
 dealing with legal matters and dispute resolution
 managing costs to ensure that the initial budget is not exceeded
 arranging project payments and, at the end of a job, settling the final accounts
 acting as financial advisers and monitoring project progress for the client
 advising the client on the cost of maintaining and managing facilities.

Quantity Surveyors are the financial whizz-kids of the construction industry. They are highly numerate and enjoy dealing with
enormous amounts of money. They also know a great deal about engineering and construction legislation, construction materials,
plant and designs. They are highly organised and great negotiators.

You can become a chartered quantity surveyor or a quantity surveyor by a degree. The degree should be approved by the Royal
Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or a similar organization and several years experience in practice.

LAND MANAGER/VALUATION SURVEYOR (VALUER)

The Valuation Surveyor or Valuer is the professional adviser employed as a property consultant. He advises on the purchase or
selling price of land and buildings as well as on the investment potential of alternative sites. He is an expert in real estate matters and
undertakes negotiations on behalf of investor. Buying and selling of property requires the expertise of agents, surveyors, valuers and
land managers:

Advising on value, selling price or purchase price.

Advising on methods of sale-whether by ‘private treaty’, auction or tender.
Marketing the property, including valuation particulars, advertising and selling price..
Negotiating terms of sale.
Property surveys.
Assisting with arrangements for financing and carrying out valuations for loans to purchasers by, for example, banks and
building societies.
Liaison with solicitors in preparation of the contract for sale and the formal conveyance and the formal conveyance and
transfer of the property.

The property market is therefore a complex one which is serviced by a number of experts: agents, valuers, surveyors, solicitors,
mortgage brokers and finance organisations. Valuers normally act as retained professional advisors or agents, or as ‘in-house’
employees of major landowners.
TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNER

Planners manage towns and the countryside on everyone's behalf. They have to encourage development for the purposes of
economic growth while at the same time protecting our environment and architectural heritage. There are also opportunities for
planning support staff, who assist planners in their work. Most planners work for local or national government, although an
increasing number work as private consultants. Their main role is to balance various needs (those of the environment, the local
economy and the local population) and to come up with innovative solutions. Their work involves:

 understanding population trends, thus predicting the demands that will be made on an area, whether urban or rural
 working with other professionals
 liaising with the public and councillors, going to meetings about planning issues
 knowledge of the legal issues associated with land use
 making land use policies
 presenting evidence at meetings
 objectively analysing and evaluating other people's evidence
 preparing reports and plans relating to a variety of projects - from house extensions to international airports.

Town and country planners are great communicators and are interested in how to improve the environment in which people live
and work. To become a town and country planner you can either take a degree in the subject, accredited by the Royal Town
Planning Institute (RTPI), or you can study a relevant degree including architecture, geography, geology, ecology, landscape
architecture, economics, statistics and transportation.

PLANNING ENGINEER/PROJECT PLANNER

Project planners set out precise plans for construction projects and then work with project and construction managers to ensure
that everything runs to those plans. They usually work for contractors and other construction firms that manage construction
projects alongside project managers, estimators and buyers. Their work involves:

 working closely with estimators as part of a team to establish working methods and costs
 planning the most effective use of time, people and machinery
 using their knowledge of the construction process to schedule events in a logical sequence
 if the project fails to go to plan - for example, in the case of bad weather - rescheduling to prevent overall delay
 going out on site to monitor progress.

Project planning requires technical knowledge and business skills and, of course, the ability to communicate with all types of
people. Project planners are highly organised and have a good knowledge of practical mathematics. A degree in the built
environment, site management, construction management or project management can lead to a career in project planning.

PROJECT MANAGER

Project managers take overall responsibility for the planning, management, co-ordination and financial control of a construction
project. They ensure that the client's requirements are met, the project is completed on time and within budget and that everyone
else is doing their job properly. Depending on the project, responsibilities can cover all aspects from the design stage through to
completion. The work involves:

 representing the client's interests

 organising the various professional people working on a project
 making sure that all the aims of the project are met
 making sure quality standards are met by visiting sites and testing out equipment
 using the latest IT applications to keep track of people and progress
 accounting, costing and billing.

Project managers have good organisational and communication skills. They have lots of experience because they need to know
all about the work involved in a building project, the cost and legislation and who's involved.
Most degree courses can lead to a career in project management. It's important to learn about all the practicalities of running a
project as well as economics, cost accounting and computer systems. Information technology is increasingly important for
managers working on site and in the office so building up skills in this area is vital. To develop your management skills you will
probably be expected to take on project work in small groups and get a feel for working in teams and communicating clearly and
effectively with others.

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

They may be described as site manager, building manager or simply construction manager but, whichever term is used, their job
is to run a construction project - or, at least a large part of it. This can be stressful but also highly satisfying when everything
goes smoothly. A construction manager tends to be a very highly regarded, professional person with lots of experience of
engineering and building projects. They usually work for contractors but can also be employed by local authorities and other
construction firms. Their work involves:

 before construction starts, preparing the site and meeting other professionals such as architects, quantity surveyors and
engineers
 planning ahead to solve problems with the delivery and storage of equipment and materials - before they occur
 making safety inspections of the site when work is under way
 overseeing the running of several projects
 using construction management software packages to help work flow smoothly
 communicating with all kinds of people including the public and the workforce.

Construction managers must be good problem-solvers and forward planners. They have great people skills and are good at
presenting and debating ideas in meetings. They have an in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the construction business, are well
organised and have a good head for figures.

Many degree courses can lead to a career in construction management, including building studies, building engineering,
construction engineering management and building technology. Whatever the course, you will cover subjects as diverse as
construction design and technology, commerce, contract law and building materials. You will learn all about management and
the practicalities of running a project, whilst studying the intricacies of economics, cost accounting and computer systems.
Information technology is increasingly important for managers working on site and in the office so building up skills in this area
is vital. To develop your management skills you will probably be expected to take on project work in small groups and get a feel
for working in teams and communicating clearly and effectively with others.

FACILITIES MANAGER

It's the responsibility of facilities managers to make sure that a facility, can be a building, warehouse, factory, process plant etc.,
and its services fulfill the needs of the organisation using it. Once construction is completed, facilities managers are employed to
take care of all the different issues required to make the facility work. This allows people using the property to continue living
and working in it. Their work involves:

 planning how the inside of the facility should be organised

 taking charge of renovations and office moves
 maintaining facilities and ensuring everything is in good working order
 ensuring all IT systems function effectively (eg phones, computers, faxes, photocopiers)
 managing a facility's security
 organising the cleaning and general upkeep of a facility
 negotiating the best possible deals for all of the above.

Facilities managers know lots about how facilities are constructed and what occupiers need them to do. They should be able to
work well with a wide variety of people, including the facilities’ occupiers and those who come to carry out work on it.

Many facilities managers have a relevant undergraduate or postgraduate.

THE CONTRACTOR
The contractor or builder or constructor, is an expert responsible for the physical construction of a project.

SUB-CONTRACTORS
Sub-contractors are specialist firms who are employed by the contractor to carry out particular sections of the construction work.

SUPPLIERS
The suppliers are specialist firms dealing in such items as special materials and plant and equipment, pre-cast and post tensioned
units on engineering jobs, joinery, ironmongery and sanitary fittings on building jobs, whom the contractor specifically requires
to supply particular items of merchandise for use on the job.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND STATUTORY UNDERTAKERS

Work executed by the Local Authorities and Statutory Undertakers can only be done only by them, (i.e. Water and Sewerage
connections to service mains carried out by WASA and electrical connections carried out by T&TEC), and competitive estimates
cannot be obtained.