fee. Although the revenue collected is slightly less than the money collected to
manage the system, it is reported that it does help to reduce the number of cars
commuting to London.
Though money pricing does exert some influence, through charges made for
parking and for some “toll” facilities, there is no major example today of a congested
area systematically allocating its space by this method. Yet, there is reason to believe
that money pricing represents by far the best allocation procedure.
7.7 Engineering as Opposed to Construction
Civil engineers distinguish between engineering and construction as follows:
1. Engineering produces a technical solution, prototype or design which is later
implemented through construction or manufacture. Thus, the critical engineering
work is carried out before starting the project construction phase. A feasibility
study for such a project (e.g. road) will include all sorts of technical details and
specifications related to the road surface, its foundations, the materials to be used,
its shape, the road route, and its probable costs and benefits - including the risks
considered in relation to environmental and social impacts. Technical studies
associate the calculations and the projections in a specific expectation mode. The
road (or project) will be designed with respect to its anticipated life span and an
expected life condition (the number of vehicles, their speed and weight, the
repetitive and cumulative stresses on the road surface, the impacts of seasonal
and diurnal cycles, of high and low temperatures, of water, heavy rainfall and
drought). These predictive methods are intangible and based on statistical projection. Modelling possibilities do not, of course, express what is going to
happen. Engineering design nonetheless offers a certain confidence during the
construction process. Although some of the technical data might be volatile, these
studies and design notes help to clarify the agreements among the funders,
consultants, contractor(s) and the client (most often represented by politicians
and/or representatives of diverse public organisations). While the engineering
design addresses questions such as “what sort of road does the client want and/or
expect it to be?” and “will this project be linked to other projects and policies
related to public investment?”, the studies are eventually amalgamated into the
contractual agreements that are prepared to allow project implementation through
the release of funds.
2. When the construction companies start working on the project site, their laboratories start getting busy as well. The key issues to be addressed relate to the
available materials and site conditions that they need to withstand. Sometimes,
materials test results given in contract documents do not reflect results obtained
on site. The construction engineers assess and model the materials properties such
as their weight, porosity or plasticity, or, they estimate the relative advantage of
natural over man-made materials; and they work to find the best compromise
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manage the system, it is reported that it does help to reduce the number of cars
commuting to London.
Though money pricing does exert some influence, through charges made for
parking and for some “toll” facilities, there is no major example today of a congested
area systematically allocating its space by this method. Yet, there is reason to believe
that money pricing represents by far the best allocation procedure.
7.7 Engineering as Opposed to Construction
Civil engineers distinguish between engineering and construction as follows:
1. Engineering produces a technical solution, prototype or design which is later
implemented through construction or manufacture. Thus, the critical engineering
work is carried out before starting the project construction phase. A feasibility
study for such a project (e.g. road) will include all sorts of technical details and
specifications related to the road surface, its foundations, the materials to be used,
its shape, the road route, and its probable costs and benefits - including the risks
considered in relation to environmental and social impacts. Technical studies
associate the calculations and the projections in a specific expectation mode. The
road (or project) will be designed with respect to its anticipated life span and an
expected life condition (the number of vehicles, their speed and weight, the
repetitive and cumulative stresses on the road surface, the impacts of seasonal
and diurnal cycles, of high and low temperatures, of water, heavy rainfall and
drought). These predictive methods are intangible and based on statistical projection. Modelling possibilities do not, of course, express what is going to
happen. Engineering design nonetheless offers a certain confidence during the
construction process. Although some of the technical data might be volatile, these
studies and design notes help to clarify the agreements among the funders,
consultants, contractor(s) and the client (most often represented by politicians
and/or representatives of diverse public organisations). While the engineering
design addresses questions such as “what sort of road does the client want and/or
expect it to be?” and “will this project be linked to other projects and policies
related to public investment?”, the studies are eventually amalgamated into the
contractual agreements that are prepared to allow project implementation through
the release of funds.
2. When the construction companies start working on the project site, their laboratories start getting busy as well. The key issues to be addressed relate to the
available materials and site conditions that they need to withstand. Sometimes,
materials test results given in contract documents do not reflect results obtained
on site. The construction engineers assess and model the materials properties such
as their weight, porosity or plasticity, or, they estimate the relative advantage of
natural over man-made materials; and they work to find the best compromise
200
7 Economic and Social Aspects of Infrastructure