CLASSIFICATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES CLASSIFICATION OF CIVIL

ENGINEERING SERVICES 
CLASSIFICATION OF ENGINEERING SERVICES CLASSIFICATION OF ENGINEERING
SERVICES Services provided by Civil Engineers can be g
Services provided by Civil Engineers can be grouped into seven broad categories:
grouped into seven broad categories:
  Consultations, Consultations, research, research, investigations, and investigations,
and reports reports 
 Design Services for Design Services for
construction projects construction projects

 Construction services Construction services 
 Special services for Special services for
construction projects construction projects

 Engineering support Engineering support
services services

 Academic Services Academic Services 
 Services as employee Services as employee
The types of infrastructure under the domain of
The types of infrastructure under the domain of civil engineering, pursuant to RA 544, as
a mecivil engineering, pursuant to RA 544, as amended include: ended include:

 Streets, bridges, highways and railroads Streets, bridges, highways and railroads 
 Airport and hangars Airport and hangars 
 Port works, canals, river and shore Port works, canals, river and shore improvements,
light houses and dry docks improvements, light houses and dry docks 
 Buildings Buildings 
 Fixed structure for irrigation, flood protection, Fixed structure for irrigation, flood
protection, drainage, water supply and sewerage works drainage, water supply and
sewerage works 
 Tunnels
1.
1. CONSULTATIONS, CONSULTATIONS, RESEARCH, RESEARCH, INVESTIGATIONS
INVESTIGATIONS AND AND REPORTSREPORTS
These services deal primarily with collecting, interpreting, and reporting information,
together with These services deal primarily with collecting, interpreting, and reporting
information, together with formulating conclusions and making recommendations.
Typical services in this category are:
formulating conclusions and making recommendations. Typical services in this category
are:

 Preliminary Preliminary and
Feasibility Investigations Feasibility Investigations and Reports
and Reports

 Planning Studies Planning Studies 
 Appraisals, Appraisals, Valuations
and Rate Studies and Rate Studies

 Assistance in Financial Assistance in Financial
Matters Matters

 Materials Materials Engineering
and Equipment Tests and Equipment Tests

 Direct Personal Services Direct Personal Services

 Research Research and
Development Development

 Special Services Special Services

 Preliminary and Feasibility Investigations and Preliminary and Feasibility Investigations
and Reports
These services usually precede the authorization of a c
These services usually precede the authorization of a capital project and may involve
extensive investigations, capital project and may involve extensive investigations,
analyses of conditions, and comparison of
analyses of conditions, and comparison of several possible plans. several possible plans.

 Planning Studies Planning Studies
This service may include the broad areas of developing the engineering requirements of
master plans for This service may include the broad areas of developing the engineering
requirements of master plans for long-range capital improvement programs;
preparation of preliminary engineering of land development plans, urban long-range
capital improvement programs; preparation of preliminary engineering of land
development plans, urban plans, and regional plans; and investigation of environmental
conditions and preparation of environmental impact plans, and regional plans; and
investigation of environmental conditions and preparation of environmental impact
studies with subsequent engineering planning to improve or maintain exiting condition.
studies with subsequent engineering planning to improve or maintain exiting condition.

 Appraisals, Valuations and Rate StudiesAppraisals, Valuations and Rate Studies
These services may include investigations and analyses of existing conditions; capital
and operating costs; These services may include investigations and analyses of existing
conditions; capital and operating costs; overhead costs and costs of financing; and
revenues as needed to evaluate a property or to recommend overhead costs and costs
of financing; and revenues as needed to evaluate a property or to recommend
establishment of prospective rates.
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 Materials Engineering and Equipment Tests
These services include test of materials and equipment under established codes and
standards, specialized examination of equipment and material used in construction and
industry, and other inspections and monitoring required by a client.
 Direct Personal Services
This includes services such as assistance in preparation for legal proceedings.
Appearances before courts or commissions to render expert opinions and conclusions,
and investigations of technical matters where specialized civil engineering knowledge,
experience, and judgment is required.
 Research and Development
Research is a specialized investigation and gathering data from existing resources or
through laboratory works and processes related to the purpose and object of the
research. Research and Development may cover the following:
(a) Development of new construction materials and methods from concept to
commercialization.
(b) Improvement of construction materials and methods through exhaustive studies to
reduce total construction cost and at the same time improve quality.
 Special Services
a.
Value Engineering
b. Appraisal and valuation c.. Load testing
d. Environmental evaluation e. Traffic Engineering
f. Forensic Engineering for structural and other failures g. Operational assistance
h. Material process design i. Pilot studies
 j. Computer modeling k. Safety engineering
l. Topographic, sounding and boundary survey engineering m. Toxic and hazardous
waste evaluation
n. Permit and application services
0. Expert witness
p. Representation of
municipal or private entities in projects proposed for privatization
2. DESIGN SERVICES FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Civil engineering services are required for e ach phases of a construction project.
 6 Standard Phases of a Construction Project and the Engineering Services needed for
each are:
a. Study and Report Phase
Analysis of the client’s conceptual design, conceptual opinions of probable construction
cost. b. Preliminary Design Phase
Preparations of final design criteria, preliminary drawings, outline specifications, and
preliminary opinions of probable construction cost.
c. Final Design Phase
Preparation of design calculations, construction drawings, specifications, estimated
construction cost, and other contract documents.
d. Bidding or Negotiating Phase
Assistance to the client with the biding or negotiating process for construction of the
project. e. Construction Phase

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f. Operation Phase
Assistance to the client in start-up and o peration of the project, including periodic
inspections. 1. Study and Report Phase
This phase involves determination of project scope and economic and technical
evaluation of feasible alternatives. This includes the ff.:
a. Reviewing available data and consulting with the client to clarify and define the
client’s requirements for the project.
b. Advising the client as to the necessity of providing or obtaining from other additional
data or services and assisting the client in obtaining such data and services. These
additional services may include photogrammetry, reconnaissance surveys, property
surveys, topographic surveys, geotechnical investigations and consultations, seismicity
studies, compilation of hydrological data, traffic studies, materials engineering, assembly
of zoning, deed and other restrictive land use information, and environmental
assessments and impact statements.
c. Identifying and analyzing requirements of governmental authorities having
jurisdiction to approve the design of the project and participating in consultations with
such authorities.
d. Providing analysis of the clients needs, planning surveys, comparative evaluations of
prospective sites and solutions.
e. Providing a general economic analysis of the client’s requirements applicable to
various alternatives. f. Preparing a report and presenting alternative solutions available
to the client with the Civil Engineer’s findings and recommendations. The report may
contain schematic layouts, sketches, conceptual design criteria with appropriate exhibits
to indicate clearly the considerations involve and the Civil Engineers conceptual opinion
of probable costs for the project.
2. Preliminary Design Phase
This phase involves the establishment of the general size and scope of the project and
its location on the selected site. The preliminary design includes:
a. Consulting with the client, reviewing preliminary reports, clarifying and defining the
project requirements, reviewing available data, and discussing general scheduling.
Conferences may also be required with approving and regulatory governmental
agencies and applicable utilities.
b. Advising the client as to whether additional data or services of the type described
under the study and report phase above are required and assisting the client in
obtaining such data and services.
c. Preparing preliminary design documents consisting of final design criteria, preliminary
drawings, outline specifications, and written descriptions of the project.
d. Preparing revised estimates of probable total project costs. e. Providing periodic
status reports.
3. Final Design Phase
This phase of project development is usually undertaken only after the client has
approved the preliminary design material. The basic services for the final design phase
m ay include:
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a. Preparing construction drawings and specifications showing the character and extent
of the project based on the accepted preliminary design documents.
b. Preparing and furnishing to the client a revised estimate of probable total project
costs based on the final drawings and specifications.
c. Furnishing the necessary engineering data and assisting in the application for
regulatory permits from local or national authorities. This is distinguished from and does
not include detailed applications and supporting documents for government grants-in-
aid or planning grants that would be furnished as additional services.
d. Preparing basic documents related to construction contracts for review and approval
by the client. These may include contract agreement forms, bid, instructions to bidders,
insurance and bonding requirements, and other contract-related documents.
e. Furnishing to the client specified number of copies of drawings, specifications and
other documents.
f. Providing final design and construction services for design-build contracts. The
engineer generally serves as a subcontractor to a general contractor during the initial
planning and design phases. Services provided by the engineer may extend through the
construction phase, as appropriate.
g. Providing periodic status reports. 4. Bidding or Negotiating Phase
Services under this phase may include:
a. Assisting the client in advertising for and obtaining bids or negotiating proposals for
each separate prime construction contract, maintaining a record prospective bidders to
whom bidding documents have been issued, attending pre-bid conferences, and
receiving and processing deposits for bidding documents.
b. Issuing addenda as appropriate to interpret, clarify, expand or mend the bidding
documents.
c. Assisting the client in determining the qualifications and acceptability of prospective
contractors, subcontractors and materials suppliers.
d. Consulting with and advising the client as to the acceptability of alternative materials
and equipment proposed by the prospective constructors when substitution prior to the
award of contracts is allowed by the bidding documents.
e. Attending the bid opening, preparing bid tabulation sheets and providing assistance
to the client in evaluating bids or proposals and in assembling and awarding contracts
for construction, materials, equipment and services.
5. Construction Phase
Services under this phase involve consulting with and advising the client during
construction and are usually those associated with service as the client’s representative.
Most Civil Engineers are not willing to assume the responsibilities associated with
construction phase services without providing resident project representative services at
the site. Construction services may include:
a. Reviewing, for compliance with design concepts, shop and erection drawings
submitted by the constructors.
b. Reviewing laboratory, shop, and mill tests reports on materials and equipment.
c. Visiting the project site at appropriate intervals as construction proceeds to observe
and report on the progress and the quality of the executed work.

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d. Providing services during construction by a full-tie resident project representative,
and by supporting staff as required, to enable construction to be accomplished in
conformance to the construction drawings, specifications, and other contract
documents.
e. Issuing instructions from the client to the contractors, issuing necessary
interpretations and clarifications of contract documents, preparing change orders,
requiring special inspections and testing of the work, and making recommendations as
to acceptability of the work.
f. Making recommendations to the client on corrective actions or contractual measures
that may be exercised by the owners.
g. Preparing sketches required to resolve problems due to actual field conditions
encountered.
h. Determining amounts of progress payments due, based on degree of completion of
the work, and recommending issuance of such payments by the client.
i. Observing and assisting performance tests and initial operation of the project.  j.
Preparing record drawings from information submitted by the contractor.
k. Making a final inspection and reporting on completion of the project, including
recommendation concerning final payments to contractors and released of retained
percentage.
6. Operation Phase
At the completion of construction, the Civil Engineer may as a basic service, assist in the
start-up of project operations. The Civil Engineer may be commissioned to prepare a
manual for both operation and maintenance requirements, and may also provide
assistance in adjusting and balancing equipment, identifying deficiencies and assisting
in obtaining corrections, and performing inspection prior to the end of the project
warranty period. The Civil Engineer may assist in operator training, setting up job
classifications and salaries, organizing the purchase of supplies, developing charts for
recording operational data, and observing and reporting on projec t operation.
3. CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
A registered Civil Engineer may engage in construction contracting after being licensed
as a contractor by the Contractors Accreditation Board. It is considered unethical for a
Civil Engineer to allow his license to be used by any other construction company except
his own.
A Civil Engineer may be employed as a construction engineer, resident civil engineer,
project engineer, quality control engineer, cost engineer or engineer inspector in a
project. In accordance with Section 23 of RA 544, only registered civil engineer can take
charge or supervise construction or alteration of any building or structure and any other
civil engineering works mentioned in Section 2 of the mentioned Republic Act. The Civil
Engineer when employed is similarly required to comply with the code of ethics of the
profession as consulting Civil Engineer.
4.SPECIAL SERVICES FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Special services required during the study, design, construction, and operation phases of
a construction project may include investigations, reports, and activities beyond the
scope of the basic services. These services, many of which are also listed earlier in this
section under the category “Consultation, Investigations, and Reports,” may relate to the
client’s decisions as to the feasibility, scope, and location of the project. The research,
compilation of engineering data, and acquisition property may involve professional
specialists in engineering and other fields.
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Special services that may be provided by the Civil Engineer or negotiated with other
firms or subconsultants by the Civil Engineer acting on behalf of the client could include:
 Geotechnical Engineering – including test borings, sampling and analysis, and
recommendations.
 Special studies, tests, and process determinations to establish design criteria or
demonstrate compliance.  Land surveys, establishment of boundaries and monuments,
preparation of easement descriptions, and
related computations and drawings.
 Engineering the topographic surveys for design and construction.  Mill, shop, or
laboratory inspections of the materials and equipment.
 Additional copies of reports, construction drawings, specifications, another documents
as required for
bidding and construction beyond the number specified in the Basic Services agree ment.
 Extra travel and subsistence as defined by the agreement for engineering services.
 Value Engineering – including review of the work of other engineers, either within the
same organization
or in other firms to determine whether a proposed solution is optimum and, if not to
suggest a better approach for meeting the project’s functional and financial criteria.
 Redesign to reflect changes requested by he client or necessitated by the client’s
acceptance of
substitutions proposed by the contractor.
 Assistance to the client as an expert witness in litigation in connection with the project
or in hearings
before approving and regulatory agencies.
 Final investigations involving detailed consideration of operation, maintenance, and
overhead expenses;
preparation of final rate schedules, and earning and expense statements; appraisals,
valuations, and material audits or inventories required for certification of force account
construction performed by the client of for extra work done by the contractor.
 Preparation of detailed applications and supporting documents grants or advances for
public works
projects.
 Plotting, computing, and filing of subdivision plans, staking of lots, and other planning
and partitioning
activities.
 Preparation of environmental assessment and impact statements and other assistance
to the client in
connection with public hearings.
 Additional studies and design efforts to meet special conditions encountered during
construction.
 Assistance to the client in the selection and engagement of architects, other
engineers, contractors and
subcontractors, and observation and approval of their services or work; contacts with
governmental agencies to obtain permits and documents; ant other services related to
project development.
 Assessment of a completed project’s ability to meet its design intent relative to
capacity, maintainability,
operability, or reliability.
 Computer simulation and modeling. 
5. ENGINEERING SUPPORT SERVICES
The professional services discussed above often require engineering support services.
The engineering support services in general civil engineering practice may involve
drafting, land and construction surveying, and other data gathering activities for
specialized purposes. Although persons who are not civil engineers sometimes
accomplished some of this task, the procurement of adequate and correct data usually
requires professional Civil Engineering judgment and guidance. Since soundness of any
engineering decision is dependent upon the accuracy
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and suitability of data obtained in the field and laboratory investigations, these
supporting services must be under the guidance of the Civil Engineer whose dec isions
will be based upon those data.
6. ACADEMIC SERVICES
Those services involve full or part time teaching or training of prospective professionals
and also the upgrading of knowledge and skills of fellow professionals. Academic
services may include:
a. Teaching of civil engineering courses in engineering colleges/universities on part/full
time basis. As per RA 8981, all subjects for licensure examinations shall be taught by
persons who are holders of valid certificates of registration/professional licenses and
professional identification cards, or special temporary permits, or a valid certificate of
competency for the profession issued by the Commission, and who comply with the
other requirements of the CHED.
b. Lecturing in civil engineering courses designed b the Philippine Institute of Civil
Engineers for practicing engineers who want to obtain CPD credits.
c. Conducting tutorials/refresher courses on civil engineering concepts and related
subjects. d. Serving as a Resource Speaker in Technical Session.
e. Writing technical articles and pamphlets. 7. SERVICES AS EMPLOYEE
This is a condition when a Civil Engineer engages to perform work or fulfill duties
regularly for wages or salary being paid by an employer.
A Civil Engineer may be employed for any position or function in any commercial or
institutional organization. Where he is performing civil engineering functions, he is
required to follow the code of ethics for Civil Engineers and comply with the standards
and guidelines of this manual. A licensed Civil Engineers may not allow his license to be
used by the company that employs him without the proper agreement for his
professional services. When the firm he is working for uses his license to sign and seal
the plans, specifications and contract document, the Civil Engineer must charge the
professional fee for said services.
A Civil Engineer in part time employment with a firm is considered to be an employee
and at the same time a consultant of the firm.