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References
Pokhara University
M.Sc. in Construction Management
Third Semester
ECM 621: Construction Project Engineering
and Administration
Nec
cps
Construction Project Engineering
• Construction - material or immaterial objects, systems or
organizations,
• comes from Latin constructionem (fromcom- "together"
and struere "to pile up“)
• Construction is used as a verb: the act of building, and a noun:
how a building was built, the nature of its structure.
• Construction is often used as a synonym with building in its verb
tense.
• Construction :
– constructing, altering, erecting, repairing, and demolishing
building, civil engineering, works, and other similar structure.
It also contains assembly and installation on site of
prefabricated component and building engineering services.
– E.g. Building a house, repairing a road, demolishing dams,
erecting bridge, etc
Construction Project Engineering
• Engineering combines the fields of science and maths to solve
real world problems that improve the world around us. What
really distinguishes an engineer is his ability to implement
ideas in a cost effective and practical approach. This ability to
take a thought, or abstract idea, and translate it into reality is
what separates an engineer from other fields of science and
mathematics.
• The American Engineers' Council for Professional
Development (ECPD,) has defined "engineering" as:
• ENGINEERING is the profession in which a knowledge of the
mathematical and natural sciences gained by study,
experience, and practice is applied with judgment to develop
ways to utilize economically the materials and forces of
nature for the benefit of mankind.
• Bhattarai, D. An Introduction to Construction Management
Practice in Nepal: Nepal Engineering College.
• Emad Elbeltagi, Lecture notes on Construction Management,
Mansoura University, Egypt
• Fryer, B. The Practice of Construction Management. London:
Collins
• Gould F.E., & Joyce, N.E. Construction Project Management. New
York: Prentice Hall.
• ILO, Introduction to Work Study, Geneva: ILO Publication.
• Joyce, N.E. & Gould, F.E. Construction Project Management. New
Jersey: Prentice Hall
Construction Project Engineering
• The term “Project” has a wider meaning.
• A project is accomplished by performing a set of
activities of the non-routine nature.
• Each project is unique in the sense that the activities of
a project are unique and non-routine.
• According to the Encylocpaedia of Management,
project is ‘an organized unit dedicated to the attainment
of goal—the successful completion of a development
project on time, within budget, in conformance with
pre-determined programme specifications’.
• According to Little & Mirrless, a project is any scheme
or part of a scheme for investing resources which can be
reasonably analysed and evaluated as an independent
unit.
Construction Project Engineering
• In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined
to incorporate all things civilian as opposed to military
engineering.
• The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was John
Smeaton, who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse.
• In 1771 Smeaton and some of his colleagues formed the
Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers, a group of leaders
of the profession who met informally over dinner.
• In 1818 the Institution of Civil Engineers was founded in
London,
• In 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas Telford became its
first president.
• The institution received a Royal Charter in 1828, formally
recognising civil engineering as a profession.
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Construction Project
Construction Project
Engineering and Management
• Construction engineering is a professional discipline that deals with
Engineering and Administration
the designing, planning, construction, and • Construction management or construction
management of infrastructures such
as highways, bridges, airports, railroads, buildings, dams, and utilities. project management (CPM) is the overall
These Engineers are unique such that they are a cross between civil planning, coordination, and control of a project
engineers and construction managers. from beginning to completion. CPM is aimed at
• Construction engineers learn the designing aspect much like civil meeting a client's requirement in order to
engineers and construction site management functions much like
construction managers. produce a functionally and financially viable
• The primary difference between a construction engineer and a project.
construction manager is that the construction engineer has the ability
to sit for the Professional Engineer license (PE) whereas a construction • Engineering Management is a term that is used
manager cannot. to describe a specialized form of management
• Civil engineering students concentrate more on the design work, that is required to successfully lead engineering
gearing them toward a career as a design professional. This essentially personnel and projects.
requires them to take a multitude of design courses. Construction
engineering students take design courses as well as construction
management courses.

Chapter:- 1 Civil Engineering: Development

Introduction to
Construction Project Engineering • Engineering- aspect of life since the beginnings of
human existence.
• The earliest practice of civil engineering may have
commenced between 4000 and 2000 BC
• Fields of Civil Engineering Contract Works in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq)
• Functions of Construction Management when humans started to abandon
a nomadic existence, creating a need for the
• Successful construction Entrepreneur construction of shelter.
• During this time, transportation became
increasingly important leading to the
development of the wheel and sailing.

Various Fields of Civil Engineering Contract

Civil Engineering: Development
Works
• In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was
coined to incorporate all things civilian as opposed to • Project planning
military engineering.
• The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was John • Project scheduling
Smeaton, who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse.
• In 1771 Smeaton and some of his colleagues formed the
• Project implementation, controlling and
Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers, a group of leaders monitoring
of the profession who met informally over dinner.
• In 1818 the Institution of Civil Engineers was founded in
London,
• In 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas Telford became its
first president.
• The institution received a Royal Charter in 1828, formally
recognising civil engineering as a profession.

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Scope of civil engineering Contract Works
• Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline
that deals with the construction and design of public and
private sector works such as bridges, roads, dams and
buildings.
• General civil engineers work closely with surveyors and
specialized civil engineers to fit and serve fixed projects
within their given site, community and terrain by designing
grading, drainage, pavement, water supply, sewer service,
electric and communications supply and land (real
property) divisions.
• Construction engineers engage in the design of structures
temporary, cost estimating, planning and scheduling,
materials procurement, selection of equipment, and cost
control.
civil engineering construction project: Stages
• Design
• The design stage contains a lot of steps: programming and feasibility,
schematic design, design development, and contract documents. It is the
responsibility of the design team to ensure that the design meets all building
codes and regulations. It is during the design stage that the bidding process
takes place.
• Programming and feasibility: The needs, goals, and objectives must be
determined for the building. Decisions must be made on the building size,
number of rooms, how the space will be used, and who will be using the
space. This must all be considered to begin the actual designing of the
building.
• Schematic design: Schematic designs are sketches used to identify spaces,
shapes, and patterns. Materials, sizes, colours, and textures must be
considered in the sketches.
• Design development (DD): This step requires research and investigation into
what materials and equipment will be used as well as their cost.
• Contract documents (CDs): Contract documents are the final drawings and
specifications of the construction project. They are used by contractors to
determine their bid while builders use them for the construction process.
Contract documents can also be called working drawings.
civil engineering construction project: Stages
2. Pre-construction Stage
• The pre-construction stage begins when the owner gives a notice to
proceed to the contractor that they have chosen through the bidding
process. A notice to proceed is when the owner gives permission to the
contractor to begin their work on the project. The first step is to assign
the project team which includes the project manager (PM), contract
administrator, superintendent, and field engineer.
• Project manager: The project manager is in charge of the project
team.
• Contract administrator: The contract administrator assists the
project manager as well as the superintendent with the details of the
construction contract.
• Superintendent: It is the superintendent's job to make sure
everything is on schedule including flow of materials, deliveries, and
equipment. They are also in stage, a site investigation must take
place.
• Field engineer: A field engineer is considered an entry-level position
and is responsible for paperwork.
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Scope of civil engineering Contract Works
• Contract Documentation for Civil Engineering contract
works:-
1. Conditions of contract –a written agreement intended to be
enforceable by law to bind the appointed contractor with
the employer based on an agreed conditions.
2. Contract Drawings – technical / detailed construction
drawings for measurement / costing by QS / engineers –
prepared by architect / engineers.
3. Specification / Preambles - A concise description of materials
and workmanship, standard or quality of workmanship. It
must convey the architect and engineer’s requirements.
4. Bill of Quantities – prepared by Quantity Surveyor based on
measurement from the construction drawings / building
plans This document were itemized all the quantities for
each categories of works applied in constructing the
buildings. E.g. building works, mechanical, electrical works,
civil, structural works, infrastructure works, etc. The
contractor will priced /estimate all the works associated in
completing the buildings during pre-construction stage.
civil engineering construction project: Stages
1. Procurement Stage
• The procurement stage is when labor, materials and
equipment needed to complete the project are purchased.
• This can be done by the general contractor if the company
does all their own construction work.
• If the contractor does not do their own work, they obtain it
through subcontractors.
• Subcontractors are contractors who specialize in one
particular aspect of the construction work such as concrete,
welding, glass, or carpentry.
• Subcontractors are hired the same way a general contractor
would be, which is through the bidding process. Purchase
orders are also part of the procurement stage.
civil engineering construction project: Stages
3. Construction Stage
• The construction stage begins with a pre-construction
meeting brought together by the superintendent.
• The pre-construction meeting is meant to make
decisions dealing with work hours, material storage,
quality control, and site access.
• The next step is to move everything onto the
construction site and set it all up.
• At this stage, construction monitoring and supervision is
of great importance to ensure that a project is
completed on time and on budget, while meeting all
relevant regulations and quality standards.
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civil engineering construction project: Stages
• Contractor progress payment schedule
• A Contractor progress payment schedule is a schedule of
when (according to project milestones or specified dates)
contractors and suppliers will be paid for the current progress
of installed work.
• Progress payments are partial payments for work completed
during a portion, usually a month, during a construction
period. Progress payments are made to general contractors,
subcontractors, and suppliers as construction projects
progress. Payments are typically made on a monthly basis but
could be modified to meet certain milestones.
• Progress payments are an important part of contract
administration for the contractor. Proper preparation of the
information necessary for payment processing can help the
contractor financially complete the project.
The functions of construction management
• The functions of construction management typically
include the following:
I. Specifying project objectives and plans including
delineation of scope, budgeting, scheduling, setting
performance requirements, and selecting project
participants.
II. Maximizing the resource efficiency through
procurement of labour, materials and equipment.
III. Implementing various operations through proper
coordination and control of planning, design,
estimating, contracting and construction in the entire
process.
IV. Developing effective communications and mechanisms
for resolving conflicts.
The role of a contractor
• A contractor is assigned to a construction project once
the design has been completed by the person or is still
in progress. This is done by going through
a bidding process with different contractors.
• The contractor is selected by using one of three
common selection methods: low-bid selection, best-
value selection, or qualifications-based selection. this is
the main role of a contractor.
• A construction manager should have the ability to
handle public safety, time management, cost
management, quality management, decision
making, mathematics, working drawings, and human
resources.
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civil engineering construction project: Stages
4.Owner occupancy Stage
– Once the owner moves into the building, a
warranty period begins. This is to ensure that all
materials, equipment, and quality meet the
expectations of the owner that are included
within the contract.
5.Contract Closeout-
– Defects corrections, final payment, PCR etc.
The functions of construction management
• The Construction Management Association of America (a US
construction management certification and advocacy body) says the
120 most common responsibilities of a Construction Manager fall into
the following 7 categories:
1. Project Management Planning,
2. Cost Management,
3. Time Management,
4. Quality Management,
5. Contract Administration,
6. Safety Management, and
7. CM Professional Practice.
CM professional practice includes specific activities, such as defining
the responsibilities and management structure of the project
management team, organizing and leading by implementing project
controls, defining roles and responsibilities, developing
communication protocols, and identifying elements of project design
and construction likely to give rise to disputes and claims.
Becoming a Successful Construction
Entrepreneur
• 1. Love what you do
– The road to success is a hard one.
• 2. Build a team immersed in your vision.
– It's important to demonstrate the type of organization you
want to be.
• 3. Come up with innovative ways to solve problems.
 Necessity really is the mother of invention.
• 4. Create a delightful customer experience.
– Several components come together to win customers, and
everyone at the company needs to know their own role in
retaining customers.
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Becoming a Successful Construction

Entrepreneur
• 5. Quickly learn from your mistakes.
– Mistakes are inevitable. The key is to learn from them
• 6. Rely on people smarter than you.
– You can't know and do everything. You must rely on
others. "Surround yourself with people who know more
than you do.
• 7. Never sacrifice quality.
– "The key to the success of any business is to establish a
philosophy and have everyone in the business buy into
it,”
• 8. Take risks.
– In order to succeed, you must first be willing to fail – and
you must have the courage to go for it anyway.