The Integrated Civil Engineering Project

The underlying principle of ICEP is that in order to obtain a constructed facility that best meets the specified criteria, it is essential to integrate the components of the project. These components range from project conception to project completion and include establishment of the need of a facility, financing, planning, site investigation, design construction, surveillance, operation, maintenance, and alteration. The execution of ICEP is to evaluate each important prediction made during the course of the project and use this evaluation to improve the economy and performance of the present facility and future facilities. Critical predictions include predictions of dimensions, properties, forces, and performance. Four case studies are presented to illustrate key points in the ICEP approach. They are: (1) Behavior of an earth embankment retaining oil; (2) behavior of floating and pile-supported foundations, and their effects on adjacent structures during construction; (3) the use of a preload to increase the shear strength of a soft site; and (4) a field test to determine the necessity of sand drains in hydraulic fill.