Introduction to Civil

&Environmental
Engineering

Week 1 Notes
Topics Week 1
Explain the fundamentals of Civil and Environmental
Engineering (CEE) processes and terminology (SLO 1)
Identify the concepts and ramifications of CEE (SLO 2)
Assess various options for Civil Engineering works (SLO 5)

• Design Development
• Project Life Cycle
• Communications between Engineers & other
Professionals
• Specialised Civil Engineering Roles

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

 1 Design Development
Director
CEO
GM
DG

Design Peer
Manager Reviewer

Clients Design CAD & Competitors

Engineers Drafting
& Stakeholders

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.1 Expression of Interest (EOI)

The Client seeks out EOI from practicing engineers.

Typically a small team of engineers lead by a senior and
experienced engineer prepare an EOI report to provide a
solution for the Client. The EOI is an opportunity to show
case their experience and present their ideas. The EOI
report may include the following:
• Experiences and capabilities for similar projects
previously completed.
• Present their understanding of the intended purpose and
the scope of work (what does the Client need? what is
the purpose of the development?),
Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1
2 Project Life Cycle
2.1 Expression of Interest (EOI)

• Identify risks and opportunities,

• Provide solutions,
• Provide alternative and innovative options that take
advantage of uniqueness and avoid constraints which
may impact project delivery.
• Prepare planning level cost estimates.

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.2 Feasibility and Options Study

• The feasibility study further develops the scope of works

and identifies in detail the additional investigations and
missing bits of information that are required to further
progress the development.
• The study may identify that available data such as
previous reports and surveys for example are not
detailed enough to undertake concept development.
• options considered.

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.2 Feasibility and Options Study

• Some simple calculations are carried out to get an

appreciation of the layout, geometry and to determine
quantities to prepare a budgeting cost estimate for the
development. If different options are considered as in an
Options Study then cost estimates need only be of
sufficient details for comparison between the various
options considered.

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.2 Feasibility and Options Study

• costs should also include details of further studies that

are required i.e. Review of Environmental Factors,
Geotechnical investigations, Surveys, etc. or any other
activity that further defines the development.

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.2 Feasibility and Options Study

• Provide alternative and innovative options that take

advantage of uniqueness and avoid constraints which
may impact project delivery. Archaeological, Aboriginal,
cultural and heritage items found in excavations during
the construction for example have the potential to delay
or stop a project. Identifying these early in the project
development will allow smooth project delivery.

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.3 Concept Design

• The Concept Design is a detailed engineering

undertaking where the planning level ideas are realised.
• The Concept Design can involve a single engineer for a
small project or a team of engineers lead by a design
manager where each individual engineer will undertake
concept development for different parts of the project.
• Depending on the project complexity, the project team
may and for large infrastructure project usually
comprises of a multidisciplinary team of professionals.

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.3 Concept Design

• Details of the project location, foundation and the

geometry are developed to a high degree.
• The design manager is responsible for:
 Managing design processes,
 Ensuring the different team members are working
together and communicating design revisions to
achieve the project milestones.
 Project Design Deliverables.

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.3 Concept Design

• The Project Design Deliverables (DD) are:

 Design Drawings (issued for review),
 Technical Specifications (draft),
 Concept Design Report (issued for review),
 Cost Estimate,

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.3 Concept Design

• The cost estimate at the Concept Stage usually has the

following amounts for Contingencies:
• Project Management 10%
• Detail Design 5% - 10%
• Contingencies 30%

The contingencies are there to allow for unforseen issues

with the project that may not be apparent at the concept
stage.
Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1
2 Project Life Cycle
2.4 Detail Design

• Design calculations are undertaken to a high degree of

accuracy and all structural elements are designed for
strength and serviceability requirements. For example
final details of steel reinforcement and position must be
determined and clearly shown,
• The geometry and design details to carry out
construction must be all developed to allow accurate
costing and construction to proceed.

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.4 Detail Design

• The detail design is the final design details for the

project. At this stage of the design development the
latest design revisions are presented. These may have
been due to design changes or design amendments.
• Accurate calculations of Quantities to prepare the
Engineer’s Cost Estimate.
• Project Design Deliverables.

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.4 Detail Design

• The Detail Design Deliverables for the project are:

 Design Drawings (issued for Tender)
 Technical Specifications (issued for Tender)
 Detail Design Report (issued for review)
 Engineer’s Cost
Note: The Engineer’s Cost Estimate needs to be sufficiently
accurate to be within 10% of the Tender Amount.

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.5 Peer Review

• Depending on the size and significance of a project an

independent Peer Reviewer or a Peer Review Team
(PRT) selected with experiences that complement each
other may be involved to undertake peer review of
design calculations and design reports.
• The Peer reviewer or PRT is/are eminent engineer(s)
with extensive experience and provide checks and
balances to the design process, the peer review process
may include the following:

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.5 Peer Review

 Assessing the appropriateness of the design

methodology adopted,
 Check designs against Australian Standards or
Industry Guidelines,
 Provide advise and experience from other similar
completed projects,
 Steer the design process to get the best solution.

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.5 Project Management

• The Project Manager, PM is responsible for

implementing the design intent. The PM is the Client’s
Representative during construction.
• The PM and his team will usually prepare the Tender
Documents.
• The PM will chair Early Tender Involvement (ETI) with
specialist Contracting Firms. This may be useful for
explaining the design intent to Contractors prior to the
formal Tendering process and has the advantage of:

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.5 Project Management

 Better project appreciation

 Minimising contract claims,
 Utilise the Contractor’s expertise to provide
alternative designs,
• Prior to Site Establishment by the successful Contractor
the PM team will review the following and ensure the
Contractor has the following in Place:
 Traffic Management Plan (TMP),
 Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S)

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.5 Project Management

 Environment Management Plan, EMP

 All relevant Licensing Certificate and Permits
 Construction Methodology
• Project Management
• Administer the Contract
• Provide onsite staff to supervise the construction and
liaise between the Contractor and the Designer.

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

2 Project Life Cycle
2.5 Project Management

• Issue Request for Information (RFI)

• Prepare the following:
 Works as Executed Drawings
 Construction Report

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

3 Communications between Engineers &
other Professionals
• Commercial Proposals
• Design Reports These are combined with
General Conditions of
• Technical Specifications Contracts (AS 2124 or GC21)
• Drawings to form the Tender Documents
• Engineering Cost Estimate

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

4 Civil Engineering Specialisations
4.1 Specialised Civil Engineering Roles:

• Design • Advisor: Legal & Policy

• Construction • Contract Administrator
• Consultant • Quality Assurance
• Peer Review • Asset Management
• Project Management

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

4 Civil Engineering Specialisations
4.2 Areas of Practice

• Structural: • Foundations,
 Steel Structures • Traffic & Transport
 Concrete Structures • Flood Mitigation & Urban
o Reinforced Drainage,
o Prestressed • Ports and Harbours,
 Timber, • Coastal & Estuaries,
• Roads & Pavements, • Local & State Government,
• Buildings, • Earthworks,
• Bridges, • Embankments
Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1
4 Civil Engineering Specialisations
4.2 Areas of Practice

• Tunnelling, • Foundations:
• Dams,  Tunnelling,
• Airport Pavements,  Buildings,
• Water Supply & Hydraulics,  Bridges,
 Dams,
• Wastewater,
 Airport Pavements
• Policy Development, and
Asset management.
• Quality Assurance,

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1

4 Civil Engineering Specialisations
4.2 Areas of Practice

• Consultants:  Tunnels, and

 Bridge,  Other Specialists,
 Environmental,
 Geotechnical,
 Geomorphology,
 Roads & Pavements,
 Seismology,
 Structural,
 Traffic & Transport,

Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Notes Week 1