It is quite unfortunate that the services and responsibilities that a consulting engineer renders

are poorly understood while those who seek to engage him have only a vague idea of his
functions. Most graduates of engineering background also have a meagre understanding of
the role he plays. Even some consulting engineers lack adequate comprehension of their
responsibilities and obligations.

This article is presented to address all of the above shortcomings and to make the public at
large appreciate the works of a consulting engineer. I have drawn mostly on my experiences
as a professional engineer who has worked with both governmental and corporate
organizations on various landmark projects.

Consulting is not a field for a person who hesitates to face new challenges. The competent
engineer who likes variety and enjoys the challenge of ever-changing problems can find a
fascinating and rewarding career in a consulting firm.

The profession demands business and management skills in addition to engineering and
professional trainings. It offers a unique opportunity for self-employment and it is perhaps the
only path open to an engineer with the spirit of an entrepreneur who wishes to become his
own boss in full-time engineering practice.

In spite of its importance, challenge and fascination, the profession of consulting engineering
is little recognized and poorly appreciated by members of the public largely due to the fact
that his services are seldom performed for individuals as in the case of other professions like
medicine and law.

What is a Consulting Civil Engineer?

A consulting engineer is simply an independent, professional engineer who performs well-
detailed engineering services for a client based on an agreed sum of money. He must be
registered to practice as a professional engineer in the state or country where he resides and it
is illegitimate for him to have commercial affiliations with manufacturers, material suppliers
and contractors.

Services rendered by a given consulting engineer depend not only on his field of engineering
but also on his choice between special and general practice.

Some consultants confine their activities to a limited field in which they function as
specialists and thereby becoming consultants to other engineers or clients having need of
highly specialized advice and guiding information. Others may prefer to specialize in services
to a certain type of client rather than perform in a broader range.

Most consultants, however, offer broader services or general practice although their activities
may be confined to one or more fields of engineering, or several types of projects. Such
general practitioners are more likely to have several kinds of clients and therefore perform
more varied services as they can handle all aspects of engineering projects.
Roles and Responsibilities of a Consulting Civil Engineer
The types of services performed by consulting engineers are outlined and discussed below.

Consultation

Consultation occurs when a client, who needs an opinion on some engineering problems,
avails himself of the expert knowledge and the experience of a consulting engineer.
Consultations may be brief or extended and may sometimes require considerable travel and a
substantial portion of the consultants time.

Investigation

Most consultations usually require some study and investigation which involve analysis and
simple computations while others may require field trips to observe and inspect equipment or
structures. Still again, they may involve a review of studies, reports, investigations or
communications prepared by other engineers or by the clients management.

Feasibility Reports

These reports are concerned with determining the feasibility of some projects while
presenting the results of surveys, studies and investigation carried out to confirm the
engineering solution to be adopted in line with the financial cost. A feasibility study will
usually include such items as purpose of study, requirements and needs of project, alternate
solutions, estimated construction cost, recommendations and conclusion.

Engineering Design

Engineering design is the process of determining the physical characteristics and dimensions
of a structure or project to be constructed or manufactured. These characteristics and
dimensions are presented graphically on drawings, commonly referred to as blueprints by the
layman. Such drawings, or plans, are supplemented by written documents called
specifications.

Plans and Specifications are used to direct the contractor or the manufacturer on the details of
work expected from him. Frequently, the design process includes the preparation of detailed
lists of materials called bill of quantities which is used to procure all the materials needed for
the construction or manufacturing work.

Procurement

The consulting engineer often assists the client in the selection of contractors or in the
purchase of materials for the award of contracts. Procurement usually involves the receipt of
a proposal from one or more material suppliers and selection is made on a competitive or a
negotiated basis.

On construction projects, particularly for government organizations, contracts are usually

awarded on the basis of competitive bidding while the engineer will normally prepare the
contract documents in addition to drawings and specifications in conjunction with the clients
legal officer.

With the plans, specifications and contract documents, bids are solicited from contractors or
manufacturers through public notices issued in accordance with legal requirements. After the
receipt of all interested tenders, bids are opened publicly, as a rule, read and tabulated by the
consulting engineer who will then makes his recommendations to the client.

Construction Supervision

This activity consists of two parts general supervision and resident supervision. General
supervision involves the following:

a) Periodic visits to site

b) Consultation with the Owner/Client

c) Interpretation of plans and specifications

d) Checking working drawings and data

e) Processing & certification of contractors payment estimates

f) Preparation of amendments to contractors contract

g) Final inspection of project

h) Preparation of as-built drawings

Resident supervision however requires the consulting engineer to send a representative or a

resident engineer to the site of the project. The resident engineer is responsible for detailed
supervision and inspection to ensure that the project is constructed according to the plans and
specifications. In addition, he also coordinates and expedites the activities of the contractors.

Legal Services

Often consulting engineers are requested to function as expert witnesses in the court
proceedings and to advise clients and lawyers on engineering matters involved in legal
procedures.

Other Services

The list of services outlined above is by no means complete and a compilation of a complete
list of services would be a formidable task and would serve no useful purpose. However, the
listings given here adequately cover the range of services performed by a consulting engineer.