CEPS 560 – CE Laws, Contracts and Ethics

Topics:

 Materials Engineering and Equipment Test

 Direct Personal Services
 Research and Development
 Special Services
 Design Services for Construction Projects
 Study and Report Phase

Materials Engineering and Equipment Test is one of the types of *Consultations, Research, Investigations and Reports
which is under the broad categories of Services provided by Civil Engineers. These services include tests of materials and
equipment under established codes and standards, specialized examination of equipment and materials used in
construction and industry, and other inspections and monitoring required by a client.

Direct Personal Services is also a typical example of services. This includes services such as assistance in preparation for
legal proceedings. Appearance before courts or commissions to render expert opinions and conclusions, and
investigations of technical matters where specialized civil engineering knowledge, experience, and judgement is
required.

Research and Development is a specialized investigation and gathering of data from existing resources or through
laboratory works and processes related to the purpose and object of the research. This 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 are offered by some firm to suit special needs of the client and can include such diverse activities as:

1. Value Engineering
2. Appraisal and valuation
3. Load testing
4. Environmental evaluations
5. Traffic engineering
6. Forensic engineering for structural and other failures
7. Operational assistance
8. Materials process design
9. Pilot studies
10. Computer modelling
11. Safety engineering
12. Topographic, sounding and boundary survey engineering
13. Toxic and hazardous waste evaluation
14. Permit and application services
15. Sales and marketing services
16. Expert witness
17. Representation of municipal or private entities in projects proposed for privatization.

*Design Services for Construction Projects

There are six standard phases of construction project and each of it requires civil engineering services. Although some
times, services in various phases are furnished by different civil engineers, or the client, it is preferable that all services
should be furnished by the same civil engineer for consistency and efficiency.

One of the standard phases of construction project is the Study and Report Phase. This includes analysis of the client
needs, conceptual design, and conceptual opinions of probable construction cost. It also involves determination of
project scope and economic and technical evaluation of feasible alternatives.
Services performed during this phase are:

1. Reviewing available data and consulting with the client to clarify and define the client’s requirements for the
project.
2. Advising and assisting the client with the necessity to provide additional services based on the available data
such as topographic surveys. Geotechnical consultations, etc.
3. Identifying and analyzing requirements of governmental authorities having jurisdiction to approve the design of
the project.
4. Providing analyses of the client’s needs, planning surveys, comparative evaluations of prospective sites and
solutions.
5. Providing economic analysis of the project.
6. Preparing a report and presenting alternative solutions available to the client with the Civil Engineers findings
like schematic layouts, sketches, and the civil engineers conceptual opinion of probable cost for the project.