CIVL2108
Principles of Civil Engineering Management
Overview of the Construction Industry
Project life cycle
1. Market Demands and Initial Proposals
A promoter (e.g. the Government) starts a proposal to meet
certain market demands (e.g. goods, services, land supply,
operation capacity)
2. Conceptual Planning and Feasibility Study
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Once a project has been brought forward, feasibility
study is conducted to formalize the project scope and
formulate conceptual plan to assess the practicality of
the plan.
Its main objective is to identify at an early stage
whether there’s a technically, economically and legally
feasible conceptual plan so that the project could be
advanced
to
the
final
engineering
design
and
construction stage.
The promoter will decide whether to proceed to the next
stage.
If
so,
funding
for
subsequent
detailed
investigations and designs would need to be secured.
Once financial and legal requirements are met, the
project would proceed.
3. Design and Engineering
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Relatively detailed engineering designs that could be
adopted for construction are to be developed based on
the recommended conceptual scheme from the feasibility
study.
Tender
documents
including
design
drawings,
specifications, bills of quantities or schedules of
rates will be produced and used for the procurement of
the construction services.
4. Procurement and Construction

After the completion of design and the preparation of
tender documents, the project will enter this stage
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where construction service by a contractor is to be
procured through tendering.
During the tendering process, the contractors invited
would submit a bid, which includes the fee proposal (bid
price) and a technical proposal.
The bid will be assessed by the client or its
representative against various criteria.
The contract will be awarded to the winning contractor
at the end
5. Commissioning
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When the facility comes to substantial completion,
testing and inspection are carried out to ensure the
facility is completed in accordance with specifications
and is ready for occupation or service.
Once the facility has satisfactorily passed all the
tests and inspections required, a Certificate of
Completion of the Works will be issued to the contractor.
The facility will be ready to hand-over to the
client/owner for commissioning.
In case the project involves the construction of
buildings, the application of Occupation Permit is also
required before commissioning.
6. Operation and Maintenance
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The constructed facility would enter the operation and
maintenance stage upon commissioning until the end of
its operation life. Maintenance involves regular
inspections and cleaning, as well as renovations and
alterations
The owner of the facility would typically retain a
facility management operator to provide long-term
operation and maintenance management of the facility.
Some owners may have their own maintenance division to
look after their facilities.
Under the General Conditions of Contract, there’s a
maintenance period (aka Defects Liability Period), which
commences right after the facility is certified for
completion.
The contractor can be recalled to rectify any
construction-related
defects
appeared
during
maintenance period. After that, it would be up to the
owner instead of the contractor to do so.
7. Disposal of Facility
When a facility reaches or surpasses its design life, it would
be necessary to assess its economic value and its ability to
continue serve its intended purposes.
Without economic return and other justification for
keeping the facility, disposal should be considered.
up-
8. Experience and Records
The experience gained and records from different stages of
the project could be used as references for similar projects
in the future. With the use of Building Information Models
(BIM), storing and extracting records and information at all
stages of the projects become easier.
Project Participants
Client/Owner
The client/owner is the stakeholder who procures professional or
construction services for the execution of a project
Roles:
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To define the project scope, i.e., what to be built
To set the timeframe of the project
To set the budget of the project
To finance the project and provide payments for services
rendered
To coordinate the project
Consultants
Architect
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The architect is the leader of the building’s team. They
provide the client with an acceptable and satisfactory
building upon completion.
Their jobs involve proper arrangement of space within the
building, shape, form, type of construction and materials,
environmental controls and aesthetic consideration.
They play a supporting role in civil works projects.
Responsible for the architectural design of the buildings
within the civil works project.
Consultant Engineer and Project Manager
Consultant engineers are responsible for carrying out design,
providing technical consultation, and supervision for the works
within their respective field.
Project managers engage in coordinating and manage progress and
costs for the entire project on behalf of the client.
Quantity Surveyors
Quantity surveyors acts as a measurer, an accountant, and a cost
adviser.
Responsibilities:
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Forecast and evaluate the design in economic terms both on
an initial and life-cycle cost basis
Monitor interim payments and financial progress
Preparation and control of the final expenditure of the
project
Financial Advisors
The client/project manager may also engage as financial advisors
together with surveyors to assess the economic and financial
viability at the early stage of the project. They would also
advice the client on cash flow status and financing options that
could affect the financial decision of the project.
Contractors
They are responsible for carrying out the works. The client would
usually enter into direct contract with a main contractor, who
would typically subcontract separate tasks of the construction
works to different contractors. (the main contractor would usually
not employ a large standing workforce of all trades)
Types of construction trades:
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Scaffolders
Electricians for installing electrical components
Welders
Plant operators
Plumbers for installing drainage systems
Formwork fixer/carpenter for erecting formwork
Steel bar fixers for fixing reinforcement
Concretor for concrete placement and finishing
Contractors
that
are
specialized
in
certain
construction
technologies are known as specialist contractors. The main
contractor would engage them to perform highly specialized works
(e.g., diaphragm wall construction, prestressing)
Regulatory Bodies
Regulatory bodies are those organizations with the power to ensure
the participants or works in a construction project comply with
relevant laws, regulations and standards.
Roles:
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Safeguard public interest in terms of work quality, health
and safety, and environmental protection
Responsible for issuing approvals, conducting inspections and
tests, and enforcing codes and regulations.
Examples:
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Buildings Department
Fire Services Department
Labor Department
Environmental Protection Department