Conceptual design - revisited

You will have encountered the conceptual design phase in EG-122 and EGA200. Here I
want to give you a brief reminder of the various components to help provide context
for the rest of this section. I recommend you review your notes from these modules to
make sure you get the most out of this section.

Conceptual design
Conceptual design is the first step of the multiphase process involved in creating a new
structure or product. Whether it’s a building, software application or a bridge.
Following a brief from the client, it is important to come up with a general concept
before proceeding. The conceptual design phase is immediately followed by the
schematic design phase. Conceptual design involves a team with different disciplines
convincing the client that the idea is worth pursuing. Schematic design means ensuring
the concept as sold is feasible.
That does not mean that a team cannot determine feasibility before attempting to sell
the concept. In fact, often design teams are working together from an initial project
brief, and the concept stage involves gathering information and researching the
feasibility with different options. Many project plans now combine the conceptual and
schematic design phases using the term “concept” to describe this stage of project
development.
'As an engineer you are in an interesting place between your experience of doing
something you know which works and doing something which is the right solution for
the site but which may not have been done before, 'he says. 'You try to come up with
something that is on the edge of being possible and then try and prove it. There is
something fantastic about testing an idea and making it work.' – Chris Wise, Up to the
Risk, Architects’ Journal, 2000
 Figure 1 - The birth of London Millennium Bridge - Chris Wise
'Design is a creative work of inspiration. It should not be a work of duplication.' - Be
brave and don't rely on copying what has been done before. Push on in to the unkown.

Project brief
The project brief forms the starting point for conceptual design. Briefing documents
outline the specifications for the new structure to meet the clients requirements. A
project brief will describe the client’s goals for the new structure in the form of a
statement of need. The project brief gives the basic information necessary to make
that decision and potentially move the project forward. The brief may seek to
demonstrate how the project will improve the business or save money long term.
It may include an outline of where it fits in the larger corporate strategy or explore
various alternatives, such as adding on to an existing building or constructing a new
building to serve the business purposes. A project brief should outline the
sustainability goals and environmental considerations.

Conceptual design considerations

• Hazards must be identified, and risks must be designed out or mitigated during the
design process. It is important when we consider the health and safety issue at
conceptual stage. Risks should be designed out. If not possible, risks should be
mitigated and owners of the risks must be informed.
• Client objectives and requirements – This is one of the most important
considerations to include a vision, mission and objectives for what they wish the
project to achieve. This identifies a business need which might result in the
requirement for the project. This is a statement of need, might then be prepared
which is a first attempt to describe the possible requirements of the project.
• Sustainability design – the design should be sustainable in terms of energy saving,
minimise the carbon-dioxide emission, maximise to use the local materials and
labour resources, use of recycle materials, minimise the wastage, good
environmental management plan.
• Consideration of a wide range of options - optioneering is essential to select the
best solution for the interest of client and public.
• Approximate sizing and validation of concept only at this stage; simple analysis
only or comparison with similar structures if possible (design charts, previous
schemes) – analysis later should only confirm or tweak sizes. Usually this will be
done on a slightly conservative and we can reduce the member sizes later at the
detailed design.
• Details should however be considered at this stage because some details may be
critical to the selected option during detailed design stage.
• All variables are correlated- Dimensions and structural type depend on materials
and construction sequence. Experience is necessary to choose appropriate spans,
structural system and appropriate proportions for aesthetics.
• Aesthetics – aesthetics should be considered. Architects will be leading the
aesthetics design for buildings. It is becoming more popular to involve architects
for bridge design, especially for footbridges and gateway structures.
• Construction type and erection method – engineers should consider carefully
about the structure type and buildability at conceptual design stage. This helps to
avoid major changes and problems during the design development.
• Cost – It is one of the major items that the construction and the design costs need
to be updated and the client needs to be informed regularly. Value engineering
phases should also be in place in order to provide the most cost-effective structure.
• Constraints – engineers should identify all constraints during conceptual design
stage. If some constraints cannot be resolved, discussion will be required with the
client and other stakeholders at the early stage.