What Is Construction Engineering?

It may be helpful to begin with an overview of the role, how it differs from
civil engineering, and what construction engineering professionals do on
job sites.

Construction Engineering Definition

A construction engineer can be defined as a civil engineer who is tasked
with the oversight and management of a large-scale, complex construction
project. Typically, these projects involve both buildings and the
infrastructure that supports them. Construction engineers may collaborate
with other engineers, and also manage building crews, to ensure the
project is successful.

Construction Engineering Projects

A construction engineer may work on many different types of projects.

• Large buildings. A construction engineer may be responsible for the

strategic design and completion of large, complex buildings, such as
airports, commercial facilities, or office complexes.
• Electrical systems. Construction engineers may also manage the
development of large-scale electrical systems to safely and reliably
supply power to buildings or groups of buildings.
• Mechanical systems. Additionally, construction engineers may
oversee the completion of mechanical systems, which can include
elevators, escalators, indoor heating and cooling systems, and
plumbing systems.
• A construction engineer may be tasked with building a new highway
or tunnel, or with ensuring that a new building or group of buildings is
properly connected to main roads, ensuring accessibility.
On-Site Management
It’s important to draw a distinction between the responsibilities of
construction engineers, and those of civil engineers. One of the main
differences is that civil engineers typically focus on a construction project’s
design, analysis, and planning. A construction engineer may participate in
this process, but their responsibilities focus on the on-site management (i.e.
execution) of the project. Construction engineers coordinate, organize, and
manage the day-to-day construction process, ensuring compliance with
designs and plans.
Some general areas of a construction engineer’s responsibility include the
following.

• Creating budgets for the construction process

• Assembling necessary equipment and materials
• Building and supervising a team of construction and engineering
professionals
• Overseeing progress and safety of the building process, and
reporting back to stakeholders
• Using machinery or other advanced tools
• Using computer software to confirm or modify design specifications
Ultimately, the construction engineer manages most of what happens on-
site, and thus plays a critical, hands-on role in the successful completion of
major construction projects.