| The civil engineering profession involves the design | | | | measurement and monitoring of projects, |
| and construction of numerous infrastructure | | | | producing maps, plans and charts of various |
| facilities that are needed in the modern world. For | | | | aspects of the project. In essence, engineering |
| example, it can range from construction of roads, | | | | surveying is an integral part of civil engineering |
| bridges, and railways to power stations, to water | | | | profession. In many cases, the surveying is |
| supply and sewerage pipes. | | | | known as land surveying. |
| Civil Engineering Surveying is an important function | | | | Engineering surveying involves the following: |
| which is involved in every stage of a project | | | | . Site investigation and selection using |
| from initial conception stage to design and | | | | computerized measuring instruments including |
| construction, to monitoring and evaluation of the | | | | geographic or topographical information, to identify |
| quality and performance of the completed facility. | | | | the best site location or trace to construct roads, |
| Surveying can be separated to two areas such | | | | bridges, tunnels, pipe lines etc. |
| as: 1) Quantity Surveying (Commercial | | | | . Turning out detailed or latest plans for the design |
| Management) and 2) Engineering Surveying | | | | of a project; |
| (Geospatial Engineering). | | | | . Site setting out to locate the exact position and |
| Commercial Management | | | | size of the structure to be built. |
| Under Commercial Management, or quantity | | | | . Continuous monitoring of construction to ensure |
| surveying, more focus is given on to financial | | | | that the structure is constructed at the exact |
| management of a civil engineering project. As | | | | position rather than deviations. Also, noting the |
| such, the Quantity surveyors work closely with | | | | final constructed (as-built) location. |
| other project professionals in preparing the | | | | . Establish control or reference points on dams or |
| contract documents which projects are | | | | bridges to record or monitor any future |
| formulated, proper measuring of the work | | | | movements of the structure due to static and |
| completed or progress on site and ensuring that | | | | dynamic loadings or during the service life of the |
| the contractors involved in the construction are | | | | structure. |
| paid fairly. | | | | The Surveying generally includes the following |
| More specifically the Commercial Management or | | | | areas: |
| Quantity Surveying involves: | | | | . Turning out of maps and plans required for |
| . Preparation of contract documents, including legal | | | | planning and designing of civil engineering |
| documents; | | | | structures. Also, it involves monitoring construction |
| . Selection of various contractors and | | | | to ensure accuracy of dimensions and tolerances. |
| subcontractors through evaluation of bids or | | | | . Hydrographic surveying: mapping and measuring |
| prices received. | | | | of water or ocean surfaces of the earth. |
| . Preparation of detailed cost estimates of the | | | | . Photogrammetry: Use of photographic images on |
| construction project; | | | | the earth surface to prepare a plan of an |
| . Advising project managers and engineers on | | | | identified area; |
| financial issues; | | | | . Geographic Information Systems: Systematic |
| . Continuous monitoring, measuring and costing of | | | | collection geographic information and presenting |
| the construction work carried out; | | | | such information in using computers including |
| . Valuation of the contract periodically during the | | | | predetermined formats. |
| project. | | | | . Cartography/ Visualization: involves two or three |
| Geospatial or Engineering Surveying | | | | dimensional presentation of information using |
| Work in the construction industry involves | | | | precisely prepared maps and plans. |