Central Colleges

CE 513

CLASSIFICATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES

PURPOSE OF STUDY
 To learn more about classification of civil engineering services.
 To give us a better knowledge of what are the classifications of civil engineering
services.

What is Civil Engineering Services?

Is a vast domain that extend to the planning, design and construction of infrastructure
such as commercial and residential buildings; transportation infrastructure, including roads,
bridges, railways; water distribution systems, such as dams, sewers, sewage treatment and many
more.

Services provided by Civil Engineers can be grouped into seven broad categories:

 Consultations, research, investigations, and reports

 Design Services for construction projects
 Construction services
 Special services for construction projects
 Engineering support services
 Academic Services
 Services as employee

The types of infrastructure under the domain of civil engineering, pursuant to RA 544, as amended
include:

 Streets, bridges, highways and railroads

 Airport and hangars
 Port works, canals, river and shore improvements, light houses and dry docks
 Buildings
 Fixed structure for irrigation, flood protection, drainage, water supply and sewerage work
 Tunnels

1) CONSULTATIONS, RESEARCH, INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS

These services deal primarily with collecting, interpreting, and reporting information, together
with formulating conclusions and making recommendations. Typical services in this category are:

 Preliminary and Feasibility Investigations and Reports

 Planning Studies
 Appraisals, Valuations and Rate Studies
 Assistance in Financial Matters
 Materials Engineering and Equipment Tests
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 Direct Personal Services

 Research and Development
 Special Services

Preliminary and Feasibility Investigations and Reports

- These services usually precede the authorization of a capital project and may involve extensive
investigations, analyses of conditions, and comparison of several possible plans.

Planning Studies
- This service may include the broad areas of developing the engineering requirements of master
plans for long-range capital improvement programs; preparation of preliminary engineering of
land development plans, urban plans, and regional plans; and investigation of environmental
conditions and preparation of environmental impact studies with subsequent engineering planning
to improve or maintain exiting condition.

Appraisals, Valuations and Rate Studies

- These services may include investigations and analyses of existing conditions; capital and
operating costs; overhead costs and costs of financing; and revenues as needed to evaluate a
property or to recommend establishment of prospective rates.

Materials Engineering and Equipment Tests

- These services include test of materials and equipment under established codes and standards,
specialized examination of equipment and material used in construction and industry, and other
inspections and monitoring required by a client.

Direct Personal Services

- This includes services such as assistance in preparation for legal proceedings. Appearances
before courts or commissions to render expert opinions and conclusions, and investigations of
technical matters where specialized civil engineering knowledge, experience, and judgment is
required.

Research and Development

- Research is a specialized investigation and gathering data from existing resources or through
laboratory works and processes related to the purpose and object of the research. Research and
Development 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
a) Value Engineering
b) Appraisal and valuation
c) Load testing
d) Environmental evaluation
e) Traffic Engineering
f) Forensic Engineering for structural and other failures
g) Operational assistance
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h) Material process design

i) Pilot studies
j) Computer modeling
k) Safety engineering
l) Topographic, sounding and boundary survey engineering
m) Toxic and hazardous waste evaluation
n) Permit and application services
o) Expert witness
p) Representation of municipal or private entities in projects proposed for privatization

2. DESIGN SERVICES FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Civil engineering services are required for each phases of a construction project.

 6 Standard Phases of a Construction Project and the Engineering Services needed for
each are:

a) Study and Report Phase

Analysis of the client’s conceptual design, conceptual opinions of probable construction cost.
b) Preliminary Design Phase
Preparations of final design criteria, preliminary drawings, outline specifications, and preliminary
opinions of probable construction cost.
c) Final Design Phase
Preparation of design calculations, construction drawings, specifications, estimated construction
cost, and other contract documents.
d) Bidding or Negotiating Phase
Assistance to the client with the biding or negotiating process for construction of the project.
e) Construction Phase
Advice and consultation on matters related to his services.
f) Operation Phase
Assistance to the client in start-up and operation of the project, including periodic inspections.

a) Study and Report Phase

This phase involves determination of project scope and economic and technical evaluation of
feasible alternatives. This includes the ff.:

i. Reviewing available data and consulting with the client to clarify and define the client’s
requirements for the project.
ii. Advising the client as to the necessity of providing or obtaining from other additional data
or services and assisting the client in obtaining such data and services. These additional
services may include photogrammetry, reconnaissance surveys, property surveys,
topographic surveys, geotechnical investigations and consultations, seismicity studies,
compilation of hydrological data, traffic studies, materials engineering, assembly of
zoning, deed and other restrictive land use information, and environmental assessments
and impact statements.
iii. Identifying and analyzing requirements of governmental authorities having jurisdiction to
approve the design of the project and participating in consultations with such authorities.
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iv. Providing analysis of the client’s needs, planning surveys, comparative evaluations of
prospective sites and solutions.
v. Providing a general economic analysis of the client’s requirements applicable to various
alternatives.
vi. Preparing a report and presenting alternative solutions available to the client with the Civil
Engineer’s findings and recommendations. The report may contain schematic layouts,
sketches, conceptual design criteria with appropriate exhibits to indicate clearly the
considerations involve and the Civil Engineers conceptual opinion of probable costs for the
project.

b) Preliminary Design Phase

This phase involves the establishment of the general size and scope of the project and its location
on the selected site. The preliminary design includes:

i. Consulting with the client, reviewing preliminary reports, clarifying and defining the
project requirements, reviewing available data, and discussing general scheduling.
Conferences may also be required with approving and regulatory governmental agencies
and applicable utilities.
ii. Advising the client as to whether additional data or services of the type described under the
study and report phase above are required and assisting the client in obtaining such data
and services.
iii. Preparing preliminary design documents consisting of final design criteria, preliminary
drawings, outline specifications, and written descriptions of the project.
iv. Preparing revised estimates of probable total project costs.
v. Providing periodic status reports.

c) Final Design Phase

This phase of project development is usually undertaken only after the client has approved the
preliminary design material. The basic services for the final design phase may include:

i. Preparing construction drawings and specifications showing the character and extent of the
project based on the accepted preliminary design documents.
ii. Preparing and furnishing to the client a revised estimate of probable total project costs
based on the final drawings and specifications.
iii. Furnishing the necessary engineering data and assisting in the application for regulatory
permits from local or national authorities. This is distinguished from and does not
include detailed applications and supporting documents for government grants-in-aid or
planning grants that would be furnished as additional services.
iv. Preparing basic documents related to construction contracts for review and approval
by the client. These may include contract agreement forms, bid, instructions to bidders,
insurance and bonding requirements, and other contract-related documents.
v. Furnishing to the client specified number of copies of drawings, specifications and other
documents.
vi. Providing final design and construction services for design-build contracts. The engineer
generally serves as a subcontractor to a general contractor during the initial planning and
design phases. Services provided by the engineer may extend through the construction
phase, as appropriate.
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vii. Providing periodic status reports.

d) Bidding or Negotiating Phase

Services under this phase may include:

i. Assisting the client in advertising for and obtaining bids or negotiating proposals for each
separate prime construction contract, maintaining a record prospective bidder to whom
bidding documents have been issued, attending pre-bid conferences, and receiving
and processing deposits for bidding documents.
ii. Issuing addenda as appropriate to interpret, clarify, expand or mend the bidding
documents.
iii. Assisting the client in determining the qualifications and acceptability of prospective
contractors, subcontractors and materials suppliers.
iv. Consulting with and advising the client as to the acceptability of alternative materials and
equipment proposed by the prospective constructors when substitution prior to the award
of contracts is allowed by the bidding documents.
v. Attending the bid opening, preparing bid tabulation sheets and providing assistance to the
client in evaluating bids or proposals and in assembling and awarding contracts for
construction, materials, equipment and services.

e) Construction Phase

Services under this phase involve consulting with and advising the client during construction and
are usually those associated with service as the client’s representative. Most Civil Engineers are
not willing to assume the responsibilities associated with construction phase services without
providing resident project representative services at the site. Construction services may include:

i. Reviewing, for compliance with design concepts, shop and erection drawings submitted by
the constructors.
ii. Reviewing laboratory, shop, and mill tests reports on materials and equipment.
iii. Visiting the project site at appropriate intervals as construction proceeds to observe and
report on the progress and the quality of the executed work.
iv. Providing services during construction by a full-tie resident project representative, and by
supporting staff as required, to enable construction to be accomplished in conformance to
the construction drawings, specifications, and other contract documents.
v. Issuing instructions from the client to the contractors, issuing necessary interpretations and
clarifications of contract documents, preparing change orders, requiring special inspections
and testing of the work, and making recommendations as to acceptability of the work.
vi. Making recommendations to the client on corrective actions or contractual measures
that may be exercised by the owners.
vii. Preparing sketches required to resolve problems due to actual field conditions encountered.
viii. Determining amounts of progress payments due, based on degree of completion of the
work, and recommending issuance of such payments by the client.
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ix. Observing and assisting performance tests and initial operation of the project.
x. Preparing record drawings from information submitted by the contractor.
xi. Making a final inspection and reporting on completion of the project, including
recommendation concerning final payments to contractors and released of retained
percentage.

f) Operation Phase

At the completion of construction, the Civil Engineer may as a basic service, assist in the start-up
of project operations. The Civil Engineer may be commissioned to prepare a manual for both
operation and maintenance requirements and may also help in adjusting and balancing equipment,
identifying deficiencies and assisting in obtaining corrections, and performing inspection prior to
the end of the project warranty period. The Civil Engineer may assist in operator training, setting
up job classifications and salaries, organizing the purchase of supplies, developing charts for
recording operational data, and observing and reporting on project operation.

3. CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

A registered Civil Engineer may engage in construction contracting after being licensed as a
contractor by the Contractors Accreditation Board. It is considered unethical for a Civil Engineer
to allow his license to be used by any other construction company except his own.

A Civil Engineer may be employed as a construction engineer, resident civil engineer, project
engineer, quality control engineer, cost engineer or engineer inspector in a project. In accordance
with Section 23 of RA 544, only registered civil engineer can take charge or supervise
construction or alteration of any building or structure and any other civil engineering works
mentioned in Section 2 of the mentioned Republic Act. The Civil Engineer when employed is
similarly required to comply with the code of ethics of the profession as consulting Civil Engineer.

4. SPECIAL SERVICES FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Special services required during the study, design, construction, and operation phases of a
construction project may include investigations, reports, and activities beyond the scope of the
basic services. These services, many of which are also listed earlier in this section under the
category “Consultation, Investigations, and Reports,” may relate to the client’s decisions as to the
feasibility, scope, and location of the project. The research, compilation of engineering data, and
acquisition property may involve professional specialists in engineering and other fields.
Special services that may be provided by the Civil Engineer or negotiated with other firms or
subconsultants by the Civil Engineer acting on behalf of the client could include:

 Geotechnical Engineering – including test borings, sampling and analysis, and

recommendations.
 Special studies, tests, and process determinations to establish design criteria or demonstrate
compliance.
 Land surveys, establishment of boundaries and monuments, preparation of easement
descriptions, and related computations and drawings.
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 Engineering the topographic surveys for design and construction.

 Mill, shop, or laboratory inspections of the materials and equipment.
 Additional copies of reports, construction drawings, specifications, other documents as
required for bidding and construction beyond the number specified in the Basic Services
agreement.
 Extra travel and subsistence as defined by the agreement for engineering services.
 Value Engineering – including review of the work of other engineers, either within the
same organization or in other firms to determine whether a proposed solution is optimum
and, if not to suggest a better approach for meeting the project’s functional and financial
criteria.
 Redesign to reflect changes requested by he client or necessitated by the client’s
acceptance of substitutions proposed by the contractor.
 Assistance to the client as an expert witness in litigation in connection with the project or
in hearings before approving and regulatory agencies.
 Final investigations involving detailed consideration of operation, maintenance, and
overhead expenses; preparation of final rate schedules, and earning and expense
statements; appraisals, valuations, and material audits or inventories required for
certification of force account construction performed by the client of for extra work done
by the contractor.
 Preparation of detailed applications and supporting documents grants or advances for
public works projects.
 Plotting, computing, and filing of subdivision plans, staking of lots, and other planning and
partitioning activities.
 Preparation of environmental assessment and impact statements and other assistance to the
client in connection with public hearings.
 Additional studies and design efforts to meet special conditions encountered during
construction.
 Assistance to the client in the selection and engagement of architects, other engineers,
contractors and subcontractors, and observation and approval of their services or work;
contacts with governmental agencies to obtain permits and documents; and other services
related to project development.
 Assessment of a completed project’s ability to meet its design intent relative to capacity,
maintainability, operability, or reliability.
 Computer simulation and modeling.

5. ENGINEERING SUPPORT SERVICES

The professional services discussed above often require engineering support services. The
engineering support services in general civil engineering practice may involve drafting, land and
construction surveying, and other data gathering activities for specialized purposes. Although
persons who are not civil engineers sometimes accomplished some of this task, the procurement of
adequate and correct data usually requires professional Civil Engineering judgment and guidance.
Since soundness of any engineering decision is dependent upon the accuracy and suitability of
data obtained in the field and laboratory investigations, these supporting services must be under
the guidance of the Civil Engineer whose decisions will be based upon those data.

6. ACADEMIC SERVICES
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Those services involve full or part time teaching or training of prospective professionals and the
upgrading of knowledge and skills of fellow professionals. Academic services may include:

i. Teaching of civil engineering courses in engineering colleges/universities on part/full time

basis. As per RA 8981, all subjects for licensure examinations shall be taught by persons
who are holders of valid certificates of registration/professional licenses and professional
identification cards, or special temporary permits, or a valid certificate of competency for
the profession issued by the Commission, and who comply with the other requirements of
the CHED.
ii. Lecturing in civil engineering courses designed by the Philippine Institute of Civil
Engineers for practicing engineers who want to obtain CPD credits.
iii. Conducting tutorials/refresher courses on civil engineering concepts and related subjects.
iv. Serving as a Resource Speaker in Technical Session.
v. Writing technical articles and pamphlets.

7. SERVICES AS EMPLOYEE

This is a condition when a Civil Engineer engages to perform work or fulfill duties regularly for
wages or salary being paid by an employer.

A Civil Engineer may be employed for any position or function in any commercial or institutional
organization. Where he is performing civil engineering functions, he is required to follow the code
of ethics for Civil Engineers and comply with the standards and guidelines of this manual. A
licensed Civil Engineers may not allow his license to be used by the company that employs him
without the proper agreement for his professional services. When the firm he is working for uses
his license to sign and seal the plans, specifications and contract document, the Civil Engineer
must charge the professional fee for said services.

A Civil Engineer in part time employment with a firm is an employee and at the same time a
consultant of the firm.

REFERENCES:
 https://www.scribd.com/document/371257266/Lec2-Classification-of-Civil-Engineering-
Services
 https://www.fleng.org/page/EngineeringServices?
 https://www.flatworldsolutions.com/construction/civil-engineering-services.php