Engineers play a key role in any construction project.
Unfortunately, many people don't realize the vital role that engineers play until they have already started their projects or run into problems they can't handle on their own.
Just about every project in the construction industry will require an engineer's essential skills, especially more complex projects.
In addition to evaluating plans and checking for structural soundness, engineers with project management skills can perform additional duties depending on your project's needs.
In the article below, we will take a look at five reasons engineers are a crucial role in any project.
Article Highlights
- There are a number of different branches of engineering that can improve your project
- From noticing structural damage to project management, engineers provide significant value to projects helping them to get done safely and ensuring that they will meet the goals set at the beginning of the project.
- If you're ready to get started on your project, contact the experienced engineers at CDMG.
Related: Why Is Industrial Engineering Important?
Table of Contents
Branches of Engineering
First, we will talk about some of the different engineering disciplines and the tasks they can perform with formal training.
Structural engineers focus on things like the physical integrity and design of buildings, bridges, and tunnels.
These engineers can help make decisions on a sale, purchase, or building issue. Structural engineering services make sure physical structures maintain their integrity and can handle the loads and forces they encounter.
In civil engineering, engineers work to support infrastructure projects and systems in the public & private sectors. These projects typically include airports, dams, roads, buildings, bridges, tunnels, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment.
Project engineers are highly skilled in project management and manage technical or engineering projects. They will work with stakeholders at every level and have direct responsibility for budgeting, personnel, and project planning. They will ensure that the project scope is managed so that the project is completed on time and in the budget.
Industrial engineering focuses on the analysis, design, & control of production and service operations and systems. While traditionally, industrial engineers were primarily involved in optimizing efficiency for manufacturing technology; modern industrial engineers have a wider scope, encompassing productivity and tackling various technical challenges in production management and control across diverse industries.
Building engineers are structural engineers that specialize in buildings. Any building needs to be able to stand up to the environment and natural elements such as wind, gravity, snow, and natural disasters.
Building engineers consider all of these factors when they design a building to be structurally sound.
Now let's look at why having talented engineers can help ensure successful projects for you.
Why You Need Engineers For Your Project
1. To Notice Structural Damage
During your project, you may notice signs of structural damage to your structure.
Common warning signs of structural damage are cracks in the walls or foundation, sticking doors or windows, uneven or sagging floors, and persistent moisture.
Any of those warning signs could point to an issue with the structural supports or the foundation.
If you notice any of these, you should contact a building or structural engineer if you aren't already working with one.
They will inspect your building and identify the cause of the damage, and give you solutions to fix the problem.
This is especially useful when you're buying or selling a building and discover a structural problem during a building inspection. Your building engineers will verify the damage and offer solutions that will save you money in the long run.
2. To Supervise Construction
An engineer can also supervise the work being done on your project and coordinate with sub-contractors.
This engineer plays a critical role in avoiding oversight that could be costly later on in your project.
Whether it's construction or maintenance, every member of the team should be held accountable for even the smallest tasks.
Every worker has to be proficient with the right tools and should wear all the required equipment according to safety standards, especially when working on construction sites.
Work has to be delegated in a manner that allows each individual to know what they should be doing get the job done safely and correctly.
3. For Building Out or Building Up
Expanding your building is a popular choice among many business owners, and it is made easier with metal buildings.
Expanding your building will add extra space to your structure without the need to relocate your entire business.
It will eat up some of your lot space, but your engineers will help put in the development of the plans to maximize the space available with quality assurance.
Your structural engineer will also plan for things like live load, dead load, and environmental loads such as wind, thermal, and seismic.
Skipping these details can mean the structure may not be structurally sound.
And, if expanding your building sounds like a great idea, but you don't have space for it, there are creative solutions such as expanding up.
Some businesses will add second or third stories instead of expanding out onto their lot.
Your professional engineer will help you design your new level to ensure the floor joists and foundation can take the additional weight.
4. For Project Management
Once you've been given the green light to begin your project and you have your plans in hand, you still have a lot of work to do. Engineers can also take on project management roles to make sure the project requirements are met.
They will play a crucial role for your team throughout the building process and can help ensure that the project goals are being met.
Engineers provide leadership and can supervise the various project teams and ensure legal guidelines, health and safety requirements, and environmental directives are completed.
They can also provide progress reports to any interested parties, such as management or clientele.
5. To Handle Compliance
When your project begins, an engineer will start with property surveys.
Your engineer will handle compliance issues, including zoning, structure setbacks, existing site conditions, utility locations, and more.
Planning permissions have to be done at the beginning, and if any special permissions are required, your engineer will handle them and keep detailed records.
Build With CDMG
Those are just 5 reasons why projects benefit from engineers. There are many more reasons, like leadership skills, the ability to work on a variety of projects, helping your business run smoother with their analytical skills, and many others.
If you're ready to start a new project, you need to be sure to work with an engineer.
Engineers ensure everything is done according to industry standards, that your structure can withstand the elements, and help you with project management from start to finish.
If you're in need of an engineer, CDMG delivers a wide range of multi-discipline engineering services for various heavy industrial projects in the United States.
They have a highly diversified team of engineers that allow them to offer best-in-class designs that will facilitate smooth construction, timely completion of projects on budget, and reliable operations for years to come.
And, when you combine CDMG's engineering services with its management capabilities, CDMG can be your trusted partner for single-source accountability for virtually any industrial project.
To speak with one of the experts at CDMG about your next project, click the button below.
I'm Ben Sparhawk, the Content Writer and Marketing Account Manager for CDMG. I write to showcase the work that CDMG does and everything related to the pre-engineered metal building industry as well as their engineering capabilities. When I'm not working on content, you can find me spending time with my wife and children. You can also find me in the gym, trying to better myself, and I also enjoy spending time outdoors hiking or checking out local parks.