Relationship Between a Civil Engineer, Architect and Quantity Surveyors

Relationship Between a Civil Engineer, Architect and Quantity Surveyors

It is important that we need to understand necessary  information when it comes to construction, in other not to mix their duties up, even though in Nigeria an architect could accept to do the job of a Civil Engineer. So we are going to discuss their duties and activities.

Civil Engineer Job description

I can say Civil Engineering is the mother of all engineering not because I Studied Civil engineering for my first degree but because of its wide professional branches, we have over 15 aspects of Civil Engineering but I would name a few and discuss a few. We have

·         Highway or Transportation Engineering 

·         Foundation or Geeotechnical Engineering

·         Water Resources Engineering

·         Pipeline Engineering

·         Structural Engineering

·         Railway Engineering

·         Building Service Engineer and lots more

I can boldly say Civil Engineers are Nation Builders ( other engineering profession pls don’t be vexed drop your comments and see reasons we are nation builders).

A Civil engineer turns the plans of an architect into reality. They oversee the actual construction on the ground and work in conjunction with consulting engineers.

All Civil engineers need a good understanding of design and construction processes as well as of health and safety issues.

Once plans have been drawn up and approved by the client, an engineering contractor uses their professional expertise to organise human and material resources on site, and ensure the project runs to time and budget and is safe to work on.

Occasionally, contractors will put together a design and build a team themselves. This blurs some of the boundaries between the services they offer and those traditionally provided by consultants.

Typical work activities

The work involves turning the architect plans into reality by actually building them. Civil Engineers ensure that all aspects of the construction project under their responsibility - from ground works and foundations to final finishes - are completed within cost and time constraints and to client specification.

Tasks are likely to include:

·         liaising and working jointly with the design team (Arcitects) to implement refinements;

·         negotiating modifications with architects.

·         dealing skillfully with a diverse range of people including clients, architects, other engineering professionals, sub-contractors and members of the public;

·         taking responsibility for health and safety on site;

·         making judgements and solving problems;

·         supervising construction;

·         dealing with the logistics of supplies;

·         scheduling work;

·         providing appropriate plans for construction;

·         monitoring the provision of materials;

·         liaising with and directing the work of sub-contractors employed on the project;

·         ensuring quality of workmanship.

However, turning designer's plans into reality is never straightforward and other activities are likely to include:

·         finding solutions to overcome unforeseen construction difficulties;

·         scheduling and adjusting each stage of the project to meet time and budget targets;

·         dealing with complaints from local people experiencing disruption due to building works.

You can hire Civil Engineer by the time the Merchant Builders site is being launched. and if you are a Civil Engineer you can forward your cv to merchantrecruiters@gmail.com before launch date is announced indicating your profession  and name/company’s name as the Subject. Follow us on our Facebook fan page: merchantbuilders twitter: merchantbuilders

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS

Structural engineers design structures to withstand stresses and pressures imposed through environmental conditions and human use. They ensure buildings and other structures do not deflect, rotate, vibrate excessively or collapse and that they remain stable and secure throughout their use.

Structural engineers help to design most structures including:

·         houses;

·         theatres;

·         sports venues;

·         hospitals;

·         office blocks;

·         bridges;

·         oil rigs;

·         space satellites;

·         ships;

·         aircraft.

They work in close partnership with architects and other professional engineers.

Structural engineers have to choose appropriate materials, such as concrete, steel, timber, to meet design specifications. When construction has begun, they are often involved in inspecting the work and advising contractors.

They also examine existing buildings and structures to test if they are structurally sound and still fit for purpose. Structural engineers have to make efficient use of funds and materials in order to achieve structural goals.

Typical work activities

Tasks may vary depending on the structure being worked on and size of the team, but can include:

·         analysing configurations of the basic structural components of a building or other structure;

·         calculating the pressures, stresses and strains that each component, such as a beam or lintel, will experience from other parts of the structure due to human use or environmental pressures such as weather or earthquakes;

·         considering the strength of various materials, e.g. timber, concrete, steel and brick, to see how their inclusion may necessitate a change of structural design;

·         liaising with other designers, including architects, to agree on safe designs and their fit with the aesthetic concept of the construction;

·         examining structures at risk of collapse and advising how to improve their structural integrity, such as recommending removal or repair of defective parts or rebuilding the entire structure;

·         making drawings, specifications and computer models of structures for building contractors;

·         working with geotechnical engineers to investigate ground conditions and analyse results of soil sample and in situ tests;

·         liaising with construction contractors to ensure that newly erected buildings are structurally sound;

·         applying expert knowledge of the forces that act on various structures;

·         using computers and computer-aided design (CAD) technology for simulation purposes.

You can hire a Structural Engineer by the time the Merchant Builders site is being launched. and if you are architect you can forward your cv to merchantrecruiters@gmail.com before launch date is announced indicating your profession  and name/company’s name as the Subject. Follow us on our Facebook fan page: merchantbuilders twitter: merchantbuilders

BUILDING SERVIICES ENGINEER

Building services engineers design, install and maintain the services that are needed to allow the building to do what it's designed to. These services include heating, lighting, power and supply, lifts and escalators, health and safety, acoustics and security.   

There is a growing emphasis on sustainability and building services engineers are at the cutting-edge of designing, developing and managing new technologies that help to reduce the carbon emissions of a building. 

While the role increasingly demands a multidisciplinary approach, some building services engineers choose to specialise in a certain area, such as:

·         electrical engineering;

·         facade engineering;

·         mechanical engineering;

·         public health;

·         sustainable and renewable energy.   

Typical work activities

The role of a building services engineer can vary depending on the specialist area of work and employer. In general though, tasks can include:

·         negotiating and developing project contracts and agreeing these with clients if working in consultancy, and putting out tenders;

·         commissioning, organising and assessing the work of contractors;  

·         working with detailed diagrams, plans and drawings;

·         using specialist computer-aided design (CAD) software and other resources to design the systems required for the project;

·         managing and forecasting spend, using whole life cycle costing techniques, ensuring that work is kept to budget;

·         designing site-specific equipment as required;

·         overseeing and supervising the installation of building systems and specifying maintenance and operating procedures;

·         monitoring building systems and processes;

·         making decisions about expired systems equipment and the appropriate location of new equipment;

·         liaising closely with other professionals, including structural engineers, builders, architects and surveyors, and in-house project teams;

·         attending a range of project group and technical meetings;

·         ensuring that the design and maintenance of building systems meets legislative and health and safety requirements;

·         advising clients and architects on energy use and conservation in a range of buildings and sites, aiming to minimise the environmental impact and reduce the carbon footprint;

·         working on a variety of projects within a short period of time.

You can hire a builder by the time the Merchant Builders site is being launched. and if you are architect you can forward your cv to merchantrecruiters@gmail.com before launch date is announced indicating your profession  and name/company’s name as the Subject. Follow us on our Facebook fan page: merchantbuilders twitter: merchantbuilders

SITE ENGINEER

A site engineer works as part of the site management team liaising with and working alongside architects, engineers, construction managers, supervisors, planners, surveyors and subcontractors. They share responsibility for site security, health and safety, and the organisation and supervision of material and human resources

Typical work activities

Work activities vary depending on the type of employers and nature of the project but typically involve:

project but typically involve:

·         acting as the main technical adviser on a construction site for subcontractors, crafts people and operatives;

·         setting out, levelling and surveying the site;

·         checking plans, drawings and quantities for accuracy of calculations;

·         ensuring that all materials used and work performed are as per specifications;

·         overseeing the selection and requisition of materials and plant;

·         agreeing a price for materials, and making cost-effective solutions and proposals for the intended project;

·         managing, monitoring and interpreting the contract design documents supplied by the client or architect;

·         liaising with any consultants, subcontractors, supervisors, planners, quantity surveyors and the general workforce involved in the project;

·         liaising with the local authority (where appropriate to the project) to ensure compliance with local construction regulations and by-laws;

·         liaising with clients and their representatives (architects, engineers and surveyors), including attending regular meetings to keep them informed of progress;

·         day-to-day management of the site, including supervising and monitoring the site labour force and the work of any subcontractors;

·         planning the work and efficiently organising the plant and site facilities in order to meet agreed deadlines;

·         overseeing quality control and health and safety matters on site;

·         preparing reports as required;

·         resolving any unexpected technical difficulties and other problems that may arise.

·         Site engineers apply designs and plans to mark out the site and can be involved in projects ranging from small scale to multi-million pound ventures. This may include civil, road, rail and other infrastructure projects.

·         Site engineers perform a technical, organisational and supervisory role on construction projects, setting out and determining the location for above and underground infrastructural installations involved in construction operations

You can hire a Site Engineer by the time the Merchant Builders site is being launched. and if you are architect you can forward your cv to merchantrecruiters@gmail,com before launch date is announced indicating your profession  and name/company’s name as the Subject

Quantity Surveyor

A quantity surveyor manages all costs relating to building and civil engineering projects, from the initial calculations to the final figures.

Surveyors seek to minimise the costs of a project and enhance value for money, while still achieving the required standards and quality. Many of these are specified by statutory building regulations, which the surveyor needs to understand and adhere to.

A quantity surveyor may work for either the client or the contractor, working in an office or on site. They are involved in a project from the start, preparing estimates and costs of the work.

When the project is in progress, quantity surveyors keep track of any variations to the contract that may affect costs and create reports to show profitability.

A QS can also be referred to as a construction cost consultant. You can hire a QS by the time the Merchant Builders site is being launched. and if you are architect you can forward your cv to merchantrecruiters@gmail,com before launch date is announced

Typical work activities

 Responsibilities vary depending on the nature and stage of the project being worked on, but can include:

·         preparing tender and contract documents, including bills of quantities with the architect and/or the client;

·         undertaking cost analysis for repair and maintenance project work;

·         assisting in establishing a client's requirements and undertaking feasibility studies;

·         performing risk, value management and cost control;

·         advising on procurement strategy;

·         identifying, analysing and developing responses to commercial risks;

·         preparing and analysing costings for tenders;

·         allocating work to subcontractors;

·         providing advice on contractual claims;

·         analysing outcomes and writing detailed progress reports;

·         valuing completed work and arranging payments;

·         maintaining awareness of the different building contracts in current use;

·         understanding the implications of health and safety regulations.

ARCHITECTS

Architects create designs for new projects, alterations and redevelopments. They use their specialist construction knowledge and high level drawing skills to design buildings that are functional, safe, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing. They create designs with the use of softwares such as Revit architecture, Autocad e.t.c. After their design it is the structural engineers that have a full knowledge of where the beams and columns are to be located.( NOTE AM NOT DISPUTING THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERS)

Architects stay involved throughout the construction process, adapting their plans according to budget constraints, environmental factors or client needs. As such, they operate as part of an overall project team; they work closely with a range of construction professionals from quantity surveyors to building services engineers and structural Engineers. You can hire an architect by the time the Merchant Builders site is being launched. and if you are architect you can forward your cv to merchantrecruiters@gmail,com before launch date is announced

Typical Work Activities

• creating building designs and highly detailed drawings both by hand and by using specialist computer-aided design (CAD) applications
• liaising with construction professionals about the feasibility of potential projects
• working around constraining factors such as town planning legislation, environmental impact and project budget
• working closely with a team of other professionals such as building service engineers, construction managers, quantity surveyors and architectural technologists
• applying for planning permission and advice from governmental new build and legal departments
• writing and presenting reports, proposals, applications and contracts
• choosing the materials to be used and specifying the requirements for the project
• adapting plans according to circumstances and resolving any problems that may arise during construction
• making sure the project is running according to schedule and budget
• playing a part in project and team management
• travelling regularly to building sites, proposed locations and client meetings.

So note that everyone works hand in hand together to produce an efficient and quality design nobody is better on his own.

Pls add your suggestions in the comment box below.