A Comprehensive Analysis of Civil Engineering Project Management

This comprehensive assignment delves into various aspects of civil engineering management. It starts with the basics of budgets and financial statements in construction, extending to their practical application in both headquarters and site conditions. The assignment covers health and safety regulations, including the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999, and explores their effectiveness within construction projects. It also examines Human Resource Management (HRM), employment contracts, and factors affecting project duration and costs, such as material costs and site conditions. Furthermore, the assignment explores UK safety laws, safety culture, and the role of ethics in construction management, business, and HRM. It addresses project planning, design, and construction objectives, along with sustainable construction practices, including the UK Climate Change Act 2008 and its implications. The assignment also covers costing elements, the 6 M's of planning, quality gurus, Quality Management Systems (QMS), 6 Sigma, and Total Quality Management (TQM), providing a holistic view of civil engineering project management. Finally, it lists and describes several health and safety laws specific to construction sites.

MANAGEMENT
1.
(a) What really is a budget and a Financial Statement in the context of civil engineering and
construction?
In context of civil engineering the term Budget means a document that provides financial
guidelines for the project and current activity that comprises of financial information for about 2
to 5 years for comparison. On the other hand, the financial statement are basically the reports and
documents which present the actual and accurate financial information and performace of a
project.
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(b) Describe how these can be applied practically to HQ and site conditions in a construction
and consulting firm
The budget and financial statement can be applied practically to HQ and site conditions
through making proper estimation about the cost of project and comparing it with actual
performance to analysis about the overall profit and productivity level of construction and
consulting firm.
2.
(a) State the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999.
Management and health and safety regulation 1999 comprises of requirement to carry out
risk assessment, making arrangements for implementation of necessary measures along with
appointing competent people and appropriate information and training at workplace.
(b) Explain this legislation with respect to construction projects and discuss and evaluate how
effective this has been and stating any recent review if any.
The legislation that affect construction project comprises of:
 Construction Regulations 2015- related with Design and Management
 Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
 Health and Safety Regulations 1996- related with safety of employees and Consultation
with Employees at workplace.
3.
(a) Describe HRM in some detail.
HRM is a functional process that is related with attracting, selecting and retaining
employees along with providing regular training and development program to enhance their
skills and competencies.
(b) Further describe contract of employment and explain further what a written contract of
employment entails with clear succinct examples with respect to civil engineering and
construction projects.
Contract of employment is a written document which comprises of all the rights and
obligation related with a job, in context of construction project, the contract of employment
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comprises of job role and responsibility along with description about safety and protection
measures on construction site.
4.
(a) List the factors affecting the duration and costs of construction projects.
 Construction material costs
 Wage rate of labour
 Construction site conditions
 Management of project schedule
(b) Describe the factors affecting the duration and costs of construction projects
Construction material costs determine the total expense made on raw material and wage
rate comprises of expense made on salary which affect the cost of construction as economical
wage rate and material cost is vital in maintaining adequate cost of construction project. Further,
construction site condition and proper management of project schedule plays a vital role in
managing time duration of project.
5.
(a) List four of these regulations under UK safety law as related to both civil engineering and
construction which have come into force in the last 30 years.
 Construction regulations, 2015
 Health and safety regulation, 1966
 Health and safety at work act, 1974
 LOLER, 1998
(b) Describe these regulations under UK safety law as related to both civil engineering and
construction which have come into force in the last 30 years.
 Construction regulations, 2015- this act is related with design and management of
engineering and construction project.
 Health and safety regulation, 1966- this act aim at providing a safe and healthy
construction site to employees
 Health and safety at work act, 1974- this act aim at reducing the chances of accidents and
other risk at work.
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 LOLER, 1998- this act is associated with taking precautions related with lifting
operations and lifting equipment regulation during engineering and construction project.
6.
(a) Explain clearly and in detail what is meant by Safety Culture.
Safety culture is mainly associated and related with leading out a high level of safety
beliefs, values and attitudes at workplace and construction site.
(b) Give examples from real life in the context of civil engineering construction companies
and their projects.
 Making safety the top priority
 Providing training to workers to ensure safety and reduction in accidents
 Conduction of daily site inspection
 Keeping safety meetings
7.
Define, Describe and Explain the Role of Ethics in:
(a) Construction management- the ethics in construction management comprises of holding
honourable, responsibly, ethically and lawfully at construction site to honour and maintain
the safety and reputation at construction site.
(b) Business- role of ethics in business comprises of taking wise decisions in favour of all
stakeholders comprises of employees, partners, customers, suppliers, etc.
(c) HRM- role of ethics in HRM comprises of taking care of rights and obligations of
employees to provide an ethical and positive workplace environment.
9.
(a) Describe 5 key objectives of the planning, design and construction of civil engineering
project.
 Planning for each activity
 Applying effective construction method
 Planning for construction equipment and machinery
 Procurement of quality material
 Planning for maintaining skills of employees
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(b) Give examples of the above.
The examples of the objective of the planning, design and construction of civil engineering
project comprises of having proper design and drawing along with proper estimates about the
quantity and material of construction to meet clients requirements.
11.
(a) Give five aspects of sustainable constructions.
 Natural environment
 Choice of nontoxic material
 Reduction and reuse of resources
 Waste minimization’
 Use of life cycle cost analysis
(b) With examples included to describe them in a civil engineering and construction context
Choice of nontoxic material in civil engineering and construction comprises of natural
lumber, clay plaster, straw bales and mortar. Further applying 3R’s is an effective way to ensure
reduction and reuses of resources under construction along with effective waste management.
12.
(a) State the UK regulation on Climate Change and what instigated it.
Climate Change Act 2008 is UK regulation for climate change that aim at legally binding
the construction project to reduce the emission of greenhouse gas.
(b) How can construction be tailored using stated examples to accommodate it?
Construction can be tailored to adopt the provisions of climate change act, 2008 through
making use of renewable resources along with having control on carbon emission.
(c) How has the construction industry modified its methods to accommodate this?
Adopting sustainable and eco-friendly ways of construction is the modified method.
13.
(a) What has been enhanced recently in sustainability application?
Use of resources derived from environmentally friendly products along with reducing
environmental impact of construction
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(b) Name and describe the ACT involved with civil engineering.
Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act 2016, is a main act involved with civil
engineering which seek to protect the right of home buyers and employees of real estate industry.
(c) Give examples.
examples of sustainability application comprise of making use of improved method for
disposal of waste products and check on carbon emission.
14.
State the 10 principles of one world living and describe their application in civil engineering
construction.
 Health and happiness- promote good health and wellbeing in civil engineering
construction
 Equity and local economy- creation of bioregional economies which support equity in
contrition engineering site.
 Culture and community- respecting local identity and wisdom to encourage culture
devolve and involvement of people
 Land use and wildlife- making efforts to protecting and restoring biodiversity through
creating natural habitats through good use of land
 Sustainable water- making use of water in efficient manner during construction and
limiting cause of pollution.
 Local and sustainable food- supporting access to healthy and organic resources for
reducing food wastage
 Sustainable materials- using low embodied energy resources made from renewable
resources
 Sustainable transport- reduce the need of traveling and encouraging low and zero carbon
emission transport
 Zero waste- reduce waste at construction site
 Zero carbon- making use of energy efficient construction with the help of renewable
technology.
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15.
(a) Describe what is considered the main elements of COSTING of construction projects.
 Indirect costs
 Direct cost
(b) Explain each with respect to construction with examples.
 Indirect cost- not directly accountable to cost like job site costs, wage of support staff,
etc.
 Direct cost- related with construction of project like cost of raw material, machinery cost,
etc.
16.
(a) List in a civil engineering context 6 M’s of planning.
 Man
 Machine
 Material
 Method
 Mother nature
 Measurement
(b) Explain in a civil engineering context 6 M’s of planning.
Civil engineering is basically comprising of the combination of 6M of planning as man i.e
workforce is required to carry out activity, machine is needed for construction, material is
required for building, method derisible the way of construction and mother nature and
measurement is related with physical characteristics of construction site.
(c) Give examples in a civil engineering context 6 M’s of planning.
Examples of men consists of staff and employees, machines comprise of Excavators,
Backhoe and Dragline Excavator.
18.
(a) What and who are Quality Gurus?
1. Dr. W. Edwards deming
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2. Dr. Joseph juran
3. Philip crosby
4. Dr. H. James harrington
5. Dr. Kaoru ishikawa
6. Dr. Walter a. Shewhart
7. Frederick taylor
(b) List and discuss concisely 7 of them.
1. Dr. W. Edwards deming- Best known for reminding management
2. Dr. Joseph juran- quality professional gibes Juran quality theory
3. Philip Crosby- senior quality engineer gives attention to customer requirements and
preventing defects.
4. Dr. H. James Harrington- author and consultant work for process improvement
5. Dr. Kaoru ishikawa- professor of engineering active in quality movement
6. Dr. Walter a. Shewhart- well known statisticians explain process of variability
7. Frederick taylor- kwon as gather of scientific management published the principles of
scientific management
19.
(a) What are the 4 sections of a QMS, list them?
 Quality planning
 Quality assurance
 Quality control
 Quality improvement
(b) Describe them with examples in the civil engineering context.
Quality planning aim at ensuring proper management of quality, quality assurance is
related with ensuring better quality of construction, quality control comprises of check and
monitoring of quality and quality management is related with maintaining quality of overall
project.
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20.
(a) Describe 6 SIGMA.
It provides set of techniques and tools for ensuring improvement in process of construction
by leading defect reduction and improving profits and quality of product.
(b) Explain in detail how it is applied in construction
Concept of 6 Sigma are effectively applied in construction to ensure reduction in amount of
wastage during construction project along with improving morale of employees to have quality
construction and improved profit.
21.
(a) What is TQM and how will it achieve its 5 key aspects?
It is a management approach that is applied to ensure long term success of a project
through ensuring customer satisfaction which comprises of 5 key aspects.
(b) List them.
 Commitment and understanding in employees
 Culture of quality improvement
 Continuous improvement in process
 Focus on customer requirements
 Effective control
(c) Explain how these are applied to civil engineering and construction with examples.
These five aspects are effectively applied in engineering and construction as culture of
quality improvement ensures better quality building based on customer requirements along with
leading effective control to check emission of carbon.
22.
(a) List and Describe 8 Health and safety Laws that you know that relate strictly to
construction sites.
1. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
2. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
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3. The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
4. The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
5. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
6. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
7. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995
8. The Working Time Regulations 1998 (as amended)
(b) How can each of two of them be applied in a civil engineering consultancy and
construction context with examples?
 The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999- helps in making
assessment of risk at construction site along with providing needed information and
training to workers.
 The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992- ensuring proper
ventilation and clean condition at construction site.
23.
(a) What are the key steps in the execution of a typical construction project to meet its
objective?
 Initiation
 Planning
 Implementation
 Performance and monitoring
 Closing
(b) Give an example
Example of initiation comprises of setting out project aim, planning consists of making of
budget and other documents, implantation is associated with execution of planning, performance
and monitoring comprises of actual activity and closing is associated with final documentation of
project.
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24.
What are the key safety and commercial risks involved in providing and establishing a typical
construction project during the whole life cycle of the scheme?
 Labour shortage and productivity issues
 Maintain health and eliminating safety hazards
 Default by subcontractor
 Change in supply and exchange rate of project
25.
(a) What are some key qualities of a good Project Manager with respect to Civil Engineering
Project?
 Effective communication skills
 Strong leadership skills
 Good decision maker
 Technical expertise
 Team building skills
(b) Describe them with examples.
Effective communication us required to reduce chance of chaos and confusion while
strong leadership is needed to provide guidance and direction for workers. Good decision making
is essential to take strategic steps and have effective planning while technical expertise supports
improved quality while team building leads to improved coordination in construction project.
26.
(a) What does Construction practice require from Construction Professionals?
 Good selection of material is required from construction professional to maintain the
good quality concrete and building.
 Sustainable and eco-friendly practises are also required from construction professional
(b) What does society require from the construction practice?
Sustainable construction practises is required by society to ensure reduction in degradation
of natural resources to have improved quality of living along with limiting negative impact on
construction on environment in form of pollution.
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28.
(a) What does the CDM legislation entail?
The CDM legislation entail main set of regulation for managing the health, safety and
welfare during a construction project.
(b) How is it applied to construction Projects.
It effectively applied and entail to construction project in order to provide a safe and
healthy workplace environment to employees at construction site that is free from accidents and
hazardous impacts of construction.
30.
(a) Distinguish between Quality assurance and Quality control.
Quality control is basically a part of quality management that focus on meeting quality
requirements whereas quality assurance is associated with the process which are performed while
construction of a project.
(b) How are they both applied in construction and civil engineering?
Both are applied to construction and civil engineering as quality assurance aim at avoiding
detect during construction whereas quality control aims at identifying and fixing up of the
defects to ensure improved quality of construction.
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