CIVIL ENGINEERING FUNCTIONS

The functions of the civil engineer can be divided into three categories: those
performed before construction (feasibility studies, site investigations, and design),
those performed during construction (dealing with clients, consulting engineers, and
contractors), and those performed after construction (maintenance and research).

Feasibility studies

No major project today is started without an extensive study of the objective and
without preliminary studies of possible plans leading to a recommended scheme,
perhaps with alternatives. Feasibility studies may cover alternative methods—e.g.,
bridge versus tunnel, in the case of a water crossing—or, once the method is decided,
the choice of route. Both economic and engineering problems must be considered.

Site investigations

A preliminary site investigation is part of the feasibility study, but once a plan has
been adopted a more extensive investigation is usually imperative. Money spent in a
rigorous study of ground and substructure may save large sums later in remedial
works or in changes made necessary in constructional methods.

Since the load-bearing qualities and stability of the ground are such important factors
in any large-scale construction, it is surprising that a serious study of soil mechanics
did not develop until the mid-1930s. Karl von Terzaghi, the chief founder of the
science, gives the date of its birth as 1936, when the First International Conference on
Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering was held at Harvard University and an
international society was formed. Today there are specialist societies and journals in
many countries, and most universities that have a civil engineering faculty have
courses in soil mechanics.

Design

The design of engineering works may require the application of design theory from
many fields—e.g., hydraulics, thermodynamics, or nuclear physics. Research in
structural analysis and the technology of materials has opened the way for more
rational designs, new design concepts, and greater economy of materials. The theory
of structures and the study of materials have advanced together as more and more
refined stress analysis of structures and systematic testing has been done. Modern
designers not only have advanced theories and readily available design data, but
structural designs can now be rigorously analyzed by computers.

Construction

The promotion of civil engineering works may be initiated by a private client, but
most work is undertaken for large corporations, government authorities, and public
boards and authorities. Many of these have their own engineering staffs, but for large
specialized projects it is usual to employ consulting engineers.
The consulting engineer may be required first to undertake feasibility studies, then to
recommend a scheme and quote an approximate cost. The engineer is responsible for
the design of the works, supplying specifications, drawings, and legal documents in
sufficient detail to seek competitive tender prices. The engineer must compare
quotations and recommend acceptance of one of them. Although not a party to the
contract, the engineer’s duties are defined in it; the staff must supervise the
construction and the engineer must certify completion of the work. Actions must be
consistent with duty to the client; the professional organizations exercise disciplinary
control over professional conduct. The consulting engineer’s senior representative on
the site is the resident engineer.

A phenomenon of recent years has been the turn key or package contract, in which the
contractor undertakes to finance, design, specify, construct, and commission a project
in its entirety. In this case, the consulting engineer is engaged by the contractor rather
than by the client. The contractor is usually an incorporated company, which secures
the contract on the basis of the consulting engineer’s specification and general
drawings. The consulting engineer must agree to any variations introduced and must
approve the detailed drawings.

Maintenance

The contractor maintains the works to the satisfaction of the consulting engineer.
Responsibility for maintenance extends to ancillary and temporary works where these
form part of the overall construction. After construction a period of maintenance is
undertaken by the contractor, and the payment of the final installment of the contract
price is held back until released by the consulting engineer. Central and local
government engineering and public works departments are concerned primarily with
maintenance, for which they employ direct labor.

Research

Research in the civil engineering field is undertaken by government agencies,

industrial foundations, the universities, and other institutions. Most countries have
government-controlled agencies, such as the United States Bureau of Standards and
the National Physical Laboratory of Great Britain, involved in a broad spectrum of
research, and establishments in building research, roads and highways, hydraulic
research, water pollution, and other areas. Many are government-aided but depend
partly on income from research work promoted by industry.

 Human Factors in Construction – addressing the needs and abilities of humans

involved in the construction process
 Advanced Methods and Materials – efficient use of materials, equipment, and
labor to optimize construction operations and project success
 Virtual Design and Construction – utilizing technology to plan, manage,
maintain, visualize, and simulate the project design and construction process
 Management Science – scientific investigation and understanding of the
project delivery and management process
 CIVIL ENGINEERS IN THE PHILIPPINES

What is a Civil Engineer?

 A civil engineer is a professional person which is trained and licensed by the

law to perform the function of designing the civil aspects, specifically
architectural and structural, of the building and supervising the construction or
installation of those items.

 Civil Engineers are in-charge of structural design and the overall supervision
and management of constructions. They are also responsible for safety of the
workers and the public safety during construction. Civil engineers must have
an engineering degree from a school and must pass a Professional Engineer
examination conducted by Professional Regulatory Commission of the
Philippines.

 Due to the nature of their profession, civil engineers are also known for their
great analytical and mathematical capabilities. They are usually responsible
for estimating the required resources needed for the building construction and
also compute its equivalent cost. Civil engineers are also considered to be
good project managers, handling the workflow of construction projects and
allocating the right resources at the right time and at the right place.

 Do You Need a Civil Engineer?

 Yes, you do!

 Civil Engineers are required by law to be present at any kind of construction,

big and small. The main role of the civil engineer is to guarantee that the
building and construction process is safe and conforms to the Philippine code
and regulations.

 Even a construction company is required to have a licensed civil engineer

within their ranks, without which, they cannot be issued a business permit as a
construction company.

 Small home builders and contractors are also required to hire a civil engineer
or to present their works to a civil engineer for approval if they cannot afford
one under full-time employment.

 Failing to hire a civil engineer in your construction projects may save you
some money but the cause will be a lot more. If you hire a foreman to
construct your house without a supervision or consultation from a civil
engineer, then there is no guarantee that your house conforms to the required
structural safety codes and may not be able to withstand strong earthquakes.
Exchanging a little sum of money against the safety of your family and, God
forsake, against their lives is not a wise decision to make.
 Civil Engineers is required by law to be liable for the structural safety of their
projects for up to 15 years. Which means that if your house collapse within
that duration, then the civil engineer is liable under the civil code. If a life was
spared because of that incident, then the civil engineer can also be liable under
the criminal code.

 ENGINEERING FUNCTIONS: 

 The branches indicate what the engineer works with; the functions describe
what he does. In order of decreasing emphasis on science, the major functions
of all engineering branches are the following: 

 Research. The research engineer seeks new principles and processes by

employing mathematical and scientific concepts, experimental techniques, and
inductive reasoning. 

 Development. The development engineer applies the results of research to

useful purposes. Ingenious and creative application of new knowledge may
result in a working model of a new electronics circuit, a chemical process, an
industrial machine, or a gadget of optronics. 

 Design. In designing a structure or a product, the engineer selects methods,

specifies materials, and determines shapes to satisfy technical requirements
and to meet performance specification. 

 Construction. The construction engineer is responsible for preparing the site,

determining procedures that will economically and safely yield the desired
quality, directing the placement of materials, and organizing the personnel and
equipment. 

 Production. Plant layout and equipment selection, with consideration of

human and economic factors, is the responsibility of the production engineer.
He chooses processes and tools, integrates the flow of materials and
components, and provides for testing and inspection. 

 Operation. The operating engineer controls machines, plants, and

organizations providing power, transportation, and communication. He
determines procedures and supervises personnel to obtain reliable and
economic operation of complex equipment. 

 Management and other functions. In some countries (U.S.A.,Japan, etc) and

industries, engineers analyze customer requirements, recommend units to
satisfy needs economically, and resolve related problems. In some industries,
too, engineers decide how assets are to be used. 

ENGINEERING RESPONSIBILITIES. 
 One activity common to all engineering work is problem solution. The
problem may involve quantitative or qualitative factors; it may be physical or
economic; it may require abstract mathematics or common sense. Of great
importance is the process of creative synthesis or design, putting ideas
together to create a new and optimum solution of the problem. Since the
engineer functions at the socio-technological “interface” (with science and
technology on one side and individuals and communities on the other), he
bears a unique responsibility to decide on priorities, establish performance
criteria, select materials and processes, and specify evaluation procedures. 

 Problem solution. Although engineering problems vary greatly in scope and

complexity, the same general approach is applicable. First comes an analysis
of the overall situation and a preliminary decision on a plan of attack. In line
with this plan, the usually broad and vague problem is reduced to a more
categorical question that can be clearly stated. The stated question is then
answered by deductive reasoning from known principles or by creative
synthesis, as in a new design. The answer or design is always checked for
accuracy and adequacy. Finally, the results for the simplified problem as
stated are interpreted in terms of the original problem and reported in an
appropriate form. 

 In his search for solutions to problems, especially new problems, the engineer
is in conflict with a rather intractable environment and often in competition
with predecessors who tried and failed and with contemporary rivals who are
trying to solve the same problem. His success depends on ability to create a
new idea, a new device, a new process, or a new material. 

 Decision making. The engineer not only makes technological advances

available to man but also may be charged with the responsibility to see that
such advances do indeed enhance the welfare of man. By virtue of his
knowledge, his skill, and his unique role in society, the engineer must concern
himself with the results of technological progress such as its effect on the
physical environment and its social and economic impact. A successful
engineer is prepared for decision making on complex problems in broad areas.
He is skilled in the use of sophisticated tools and creative in the development
of new techniques. He has the vision to conceive vast projects, the talent to
analyze them as integrated man-machine-environment systems, and the ability
to predict their technical performance and their human impact.