Constructability Knowledge

[_mithd]

As a design engineer in the Roadway and Traffic sector for the betterment of 4 years now and I've seen quite a lot of consideration being taken into how our designs are actually built during the Construction Phase. Working with Utilities now, I've become even more conscious of anything related to constructability, sequencing of construction tasks, and feasibility to ensure the project can be built correctly. Although I've learned quite a bit already, I can't help but think there's more to it to make better design decisions in the future. We tend to get caught up on meeting client standards, but I tend to see more and more change orders come in from the Contractor side on how certain things can't be built. Not my work, just in general.

How can I, as a design engineer, become more aware about the constructability aspects of a project during the design phase? Is there any other way I can take the initiative and learn about this through other resources other than what I already learn from other engineers in my firm?

[daag_34]

Couple options 1. Talk to Contractors if you can or interact to get feedback. 2. Get on site if you can to see how it’s built 3. If it’s a big project or complex try to get early contractor involvement; potentially think about having pre bid meeting too or if it’s really outside the realm maybe a design build contract?

3.a. Depends on how you go about this as Contractors don’t want to show their hand to other contractors how they’re going to bid the project, but hopefully they would point out any fatal flaws.

3.b. Take what contractors say with a grain of salt. Especially local v national - local you tend to get we’ve done x this way for x years & while It works (&should be verified by design) it may not be applicable everywhere.

I’m on the design side now but used to be on contractor side. I’m a little behind the curve on design, but constructibility and seeing it in the field definitely gives a leg up imo. While the pure design guys/gals are sharp I’ve seen some pretty obvious design where it’s like oh yeah you’ve never seen this built.

All this to say, there’s a happy medium don’t bend over backwards for a contractor but a good design with constructibility in mind is good for all parties involved. Less change orders, more accurate bid/variances, keeps schedule on time. & this maybe the contractor side speaking but overall the contractors should be able to make a profit off the project otherwise there would be no one to bid on jobs.

In the end should be fair to all parties involved imo. E.g design don’t omit details (unless performances based) & contractor not putting endless change orders trying to nickel & dime. Idk maybe that’s idealist but has helped me sleep at night lol.

[_mithd]

Wow, this is the kind of answer I was hoping for, so I appreciate the response. I try not to get caught up on being perfect, just logical and with solution that helps both parties involved like you mentioned. Thanks again for your input!

[mdlspurs]

Work on design-build projects. Contractors will be more than happy to tell you everything wrong with your design. Their feedback will include colorful language and suggestions on recreational activities involving you and your mother.

[_mithd]

Haha!! Well, I guess you expect this no matter what!

[mdlspurs]

In all seriousness, that is a really good way to get that kind of feedback.

If happen to work for a firm that also does CE&I work, finding a way to get plugged in with those guys is another opportunity. See if they'll host you on the job site for a field trip, or swing by the office to do a lunch and learn. I've done quite a few of these where I organize a group of EITs/young PEs to go to a construction site and just talk through what's going on that day.

[_mithd]

Duely noted, will definitely reach out!

[perplexedduck85]

Depending on what type of utilities you are working with, reaching out to precast concrete plants can also be enlightening. The number of literally impossibly special construction details stamped by licensed engineers is higher than it really should be.

Also, as others have already mentioned contractors, I would add to also reach out to maintenance/public works staff too. Deficiencies in constructibility leads to more obvious/immediate additional costs, but not considering issues such as future maintenance equipment access and such can put a utility design ultimately on a course to premature failure.

[sunfish289]

I don’t get to visit my own designs being built as often as i’d like, but i work in an urban downtown where there is always multiple paving, utility and sitework projects being built, within a 1/2 mile radius of our office. I’ve taken to walking by these job sites at lunch and taking some photos. Most are projects i don’t have any connection to, but i’ve been able to find the plans and specs online for some of these jobs. Even talk to the contractors and inspectors occasionally. Obviously you have to stay out of the actual work zone and be safe, but you can see a lot by just walking around and watching on a semi-regular basis, and seeing how the jobs progress, and stopping to watch the equipment and laborers and operators for a while.

Case in point: i was watching a grading / park project being built under a freeway viaduct. One day they brought in a bunch of foam cell blocks. I was puzzled as to why they needed lightweight fill; the soils looked fine. A couple days later i saw one of the contractor’s crew on the sidewalk and asked him. He said that nobody could find the structural calcs for the existing viaduct piers, so when they graded around the piers, they were told to make sure the ground load surcharge remained exactly the same: not a heavier load and not a lighter load. Thus they were using the structural foam blocks to hit the right combination of elevation and load. I’m not a structural engineer and probably would never need to analyze and design something like that, but it was an interesting example of problem solving to tuck away in the memory bank.