Civil engineering structures are the backbone of any construction project. They are responsible for providing stability and security to a building.
However, designing and implementing these structures effectively can be challenging as every project is different, so it is essential to have a solid civil engineering plan before beginning any civil structures project.
When applied correctly, following a well-structured process can make completing this project much easier and faster. Here are five steps that will help you successfully execute your next civil engineering structures project:
Step 1 - Determine goals and requirements
First of all, you must clearly know the objectives of the project, as well as the requirements requested by the client.
Determining the purpose of the project is essential when determining what type of structural design is necessary, which in turn will help calculate the project budget.
This information will also help to determine the necessary times for the execution of the civil works structures project, as well as the number of workers needed for it.
Knowing the client’s requirements will help ensure the project stays on track and within budget. This information is also crucial in determining the feasibility of the design, as it will help you understand what the client expects from your design. This will avoid the need to redesign the project later.
Step 2 - Define the scope of the project
The next step in executing a civil work infrastructures project is to define the scope of your project.
The project scope is essentially a project breakdown, detailing each aspect in chapters and line items, including the design required, the resources required for the project, the schedule for the project, the budget for the project, etc…
This information is crucial to the project as it will help to effectively plan the project as well as monitor its progress throughout the entire job.
Define the scope of the project correctly and exhaustively will help to determine exactly the resources necessary for it, as well as what is expected of each worker or team of each union. This definition will help reduce any future confusion that may arise throughout the project.
Step 3 - Develop a planning and schedule as accurate as possible
Once the scope of your project has been fully defined, the next step is to develop the planning and schedule as accurate and realistic as possible.
Depending on the type of civil works structure that is brought, the execution of the civil engineering structures project can take from a few days to months or years.
If the project is very complex, such as the construction of a cantilever bridge over water, we may be talking about years of execution. If it is about creating the base of a small structure, it can be done in hours, so, obviously, the realization of the planning will differ enormously as well as its importance in the work.
Regardless of the type of structure being designed, it’s important to have at least a rough estimate and schedule. This will help determine the amount of time it will take to execute the different items or chapters of the project, as well as the number of resources that will be assigned to each of them to complete it.
This information will be crucial for setting the budget and negotiating with the client.
Step 4 - Preparation of the final budget of the work
After developing the scope of the project and the planning to execute it, the next step, and surely one of the most important, is the preparation of the budget.
When the cost of materials and labor for the items is already perfectly clear, along with additional items such as construction sheds, lifting means… you have to prepare the most realistic budget possible.
The budget must be realistic since if it falls short it can represent a serious problem in the development of the work, and if it is excessive it can be unattractive for the client and the project may be rejected or do it with another of the civil works companies.
The client, with the data provided on the design, scope of the project, execution planning and budget, must decide if it is feasible and award it. If the answer is negative, you can always make the necessary adjustments before starting the project to avoid future problems.
Step 5 - Starting, controlling and monitoring the progress of the project
Once the client has accepted the budget based on all the documentation provided, it is essential to start programming the tasks that must be carried out for the execution of the project. with a now real planning of dates. This will allow you to have a clear idea of what work must be done at any given time, the overlapping of trades, as well as the indicated start and end dates of each task.
If the control and monitoring is correct, it will greatly reduce the risk of project delays, and ensure that the project is completed on time.
Once the project of civil works structures has started, it is important to supervise and control all the progress. This will allow any issues or concerns to be identified as they arise, as well as make any necessary adjustments to ensure the project stays on track on the agreed dates.
In addition, all of this information will be of benefit to the structures company for their next project, as it will give them a better idea of the duration of each task, associated costs and problems that may arise. This information allows companies to be more competitive by adjusting prices more and anticipating possible problems that may arise, and which usually lead to economic losses.
At Site and Field we carry out civil works and building structures for both private projects and Public Administrations. With wide experience in different civil works and urbanization structures, our engineering technicians provide solutions, manage and execute according to the steps indicated for optimal execution of each project.
For more information info@siteandfield.com
