Construction engineers specialise in several fields, right from the construction of small individual homes to large high rise commercial complexes to highways, railroads, airports, bridges, dams, production plants, mines, etc. These engineers require not only the knowledge of engineering but also the additional knowledge of management, economics, business procedures and human behaviour.The functions of a construction engineer are varied. They require to do the basic building design, site layout survey, site testing, cost estimating, planning and scheduling the construction, materials procurement, selection of construction equipment, concrete mix design, selection of other construction materials like glass, etc. and above all safety engineering. The construction engineer should also be fully familiar with the various norms, stipulations, directions, statutes and other governmental regulations that are in force in the area of construction and the engineer should ensure that all these are fully complied with, so that there is no hindrance to building approval.
The work of a construction engineer starts with a survey of the specific land in which the construction is to be undertaken. This includes not just the physical verification of the land but also soil testing, aerial photography, etc. to ensure a safe construction. Next, the engineer should have a detailed discussion with the client to understand the construction needs, tastes and goals. The design of the building would depend on these factors to provide full satisfaction to the client and be completely functional after the construction.
After the approval of the design by the client, the engineer would ensure that all governmental approvals are obtained so that the actual construction work can be started. The engineer has to assemble all the materials required for the construction along with the construction equipment that might be needed. The engineer should also see to it that adequate labour is available in the site on a day-to-day basis for the smooth progress of the construction. It is important that the engineer adheres to the agreed construction schedule so that there is no delay and no cost escalation.
Towards the finishing stages of the construction, the engineer should verify that electrical installations, wood and glass work, etc. are completed according to the schedule and in compliance with the regulations and the original plan. It is the job of the engineer to ensure total quality at every stage of the construction and there is no compromise anywhere for any reason whatsoever. This will ensure that the building is constructed as per the original plan and there are no unwanted hassles either with the client or with the government authorities.
The engineer should also have several key skills like problem solving, decision making, monitoring, understanding human behaviour, etc. This is required to have a smooth and frictionless relationship with the labour force. The engineer should also scrupulously follow all safety standards so that there are no untoward incidents during construction. The engineer should be familiar with the January 2003 amendments to the Building Code of Australia, which specifies various measures and regulations on building construction and the type of building materials that can be used in Australia.
There are several leading expert construction engineers available in Australia. They can be approached by referring to the several trade directories available on construction engineers.