The functions of the civil engineer can be divided into three categories: those performed before construction (feasibility studies, site investigations, and design), those performed during construction (dealing with clients, consulting engineers, and contractors) and those performed after construction (maintenance and research).
1) Feasibility studies
No major project today is started without an extensive study of the objective and without preliminary studies of possible plans leading to a recommended scheme, perhaps with alternatives. Feasibility studies may cover alternative methods.
2) Site investigations
A preliminary site investigation is part of the feasibility study, but once a plan has been adopted a more extensive investigation is usually imperative. Money spent in a rigorous study of ground and substructure may save large sums later in remedial works or in changes made necessary in constructional methods.
3) Design
The design of engineering works may require the application of design theory from many fields—e.g., hydraulics, thermodynamics, or nuclear physics. Research in structural analysis and the technology of materials has opened the way for more rational designs, new design concepts, and greater economy of materials. The theory of structures and the study of materials have advanced together as more and more refined stress analysis of structures. Modern designers not only have advanced theories and readily available design data, but structural designs can now be rigorously analyzed by computers.
4) Construction
The promotion of civil engineering works may be initiated by a private client, but most work is undertaken for large corporations, government authorities, public boards and authorities. Many of these have their own engineering staffs, but for large specialized projects it is usual to employ consulting engineers.
The consulting engineer may be required first to undertake feasibility studies, then to recommend a scheme and quote an approximate cost. The engineer is responsible for the design of the works, supplying specifications, drawings, and legal documents in sufficient detail to seek competitive tender prices. The engineer must compare quotations and recommend acceptance of one of them. Although not a party to the contract, the engineer’s duties are defined in it; the staff must supervise the construction and the engineer must certify completion of the work.
A phenomenon of recent years has been the turnkey or package contract, in which the contractor undertakes to finance, design, specify, construct, and commission a project in its entirety. In this case, the consulting engineer is engaged by the contractor rather than by the client.
5) Maintenance
The contractor maintains the works to the satisfaction of the consulting engineer. Responsibility for maintenance extends to ancillary and temporary works where these form part of the overall construction. After construction a period of maintenance is undertaken by the contractor, and the payment of the final installment of the contract price is held back until released by the consulting engineer. Central and local government engineering and public works departments are concerned primarily with maintenance, for which they employ direct labour.
6) Research
Research in the civil engineering field is undertaken by government agencies, industrial foundations, the universities and other institutions. Most countries have government-controlled agencies involved in a broad spectrum of research, and establishments in building research, roads and highways, hydraulic research, water pollution and other areas. Many are government-aided but depend partly on income from research work promoted by industry.
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