Engineering that is done in conjunction with construction projects is typically referred to as civil engineering. This important position includes the design, planning, construction and maintenance of infrastructure and commercial projects. These can include bridges, roads, dams, water supply facilities, buildings and other structures.
Importance of Engineering
The significance of engineering knowledge in construction may not be fully appreciated by people who are unaware of their duties and the value they add to the process. Engineers are the primary people who are responsible for the safe and efficient implementation of construction duties. An engineer acts like an overseer who delegates the various tasks and administers the ongoing preservation of established standards. To help understand the know-how that engineers provide to construction projects, an overview on their duties and functions can provide some insight into their significance.
Disciplines Within Engineering
As it applies to construction projects, there are several sub-disciplines that make up the field. All of these various skills and sub-disciplines work together to create a safe, functional structure that complies with local and federal regulations. The different types of construction related engineers include:
Structural Engineering
This area pertains to structure design making them safe, economical and functional to use. Engineers in this field provide analysis and propose designs that classify structural loads, potential stressors and create ways to alleviate the load stress. This is particularly important for bridges, highways, dams, tunnels and buildings located within areas that experience seismic events.
Geotechnical Engineering
Before building a structure, the ground needs to be evaluated to ensure it is safe to build upon. These engineers analyze the geological conditions, including rocks and soils to determine if a solid foundation can be developed.
Water Resource Engineering
While seemingly not directly tied into commercial construction, water engineers play an important part of any project. In addition to rivers, lakes and reservoirs, these engineers analyze the amount and quality of water flowing in and out of a source. This can be particularly important for underground water flows which can affect building site selection.
Environmental Engineering
Another important sub-discipline is environmental engineering. This area focuses on waste management including water, hazardous waste, pollution and ecologies. It primarily relates to industrial and infrastructure projects, but can have broader applications to other commercial properties.
Other Engineering Areas
Other important engineering disciplines include materials science, coastal engineering, earthquake, surveying and transportation engineering.
Typical Duties of an Engineer
During the construction process an engineer serves many different functions and roles. Each one of these are integral to the successful completion of a project. While these duties can vary on different jobs, they generally include the following:
- Create and design construction plans
- Supervise processes used in engineering
- Manage construction projects
- Draft supporting documents
- Communicate with leadership
Dangers of Not Using an Engineer
Sometimes during the course of a build process, companies decide to forgo using an engineer or hire someone with less than superb knowledge and experience in an effort to cut costs. Using a project manager or supervisor in place of an engineer has dangerous consequences. Anyone who takes on the role to supervise construction is subject to liability for the safety and any potential hazards on the job site. Personnel who are not sufficiently trained to recognize proper loads, structural stability and other technical know-how can result in cost overruns to fix errors, building collapses and even the death of a crew member.
The field of engineering plays a vital role for any type of construction project and there is no doubt of the importance of engineering knowledge in construction.
