Civil Engineering Project Management (4th Edition)

1
The development of
construction procedures
1.1 The nature of civil engineering work
Virtually all civil engineering structures are unique. They have to be designed
for some specific purpose at some specific location before they can be constructed
and put to use. Consequently the completion of any civil engineering
project involves five stages of activity which comprise the following:
1. Defining the location and nature of the proposed works and the quality
and magnitude of the service they are to provide.
2. Obtaining any powers and permissions necessary to construct the works.
3. Designing the works and estimating their probable cost.
4. Constructing the works.
5. Testing the works as constructed and putting them into operation.
There are inherent risks arising in this process because the design, and therefore
the estimated cost of the works, is based on assumptions that may later
have to be altered. The cost can be affected by the weather during construction
and the nature of the ground or groundwater conditions encountered. Also the
promoter may need to alter the works design to include the latest technical
developments, or meet the latest changes in his requirements, so that he does
not get works that are already out-of-date when completed. All these risks and
unforeseen requirements that may have to be met can involve additional expenditure;
so the problem that arises is – who is to shoulder such additional costs?
Clearly if the promoter of the project undertakes the design and construction
of the works himself (or uses his own staff) he has to meet any extra cost
arising and all the risks involved. But if, as in most cases, the promoter engages
a civil engineering contractor to construct the works, the contract must set out
which party to the contract is to bear the cost of which type of extra work
required. The risks involved must also be identified and allocated to one or the
other party.