Examining the Role of Consulting Engineering in the Management of Construction Projects in Chabahar

Abstract

Construction projects, due to their technical, managerial, and economic complexities, require accurate planning, continuous control, and the utilization of the expertise of various executive factors. One of the important factors contributing to the success of these projects is the presence of consulting engineers as one of the main pillars in managing and controlling the processes of design, implementation, and supervision. This study investigates the role of consulting engineering in the management of construction projects in Chabahar, a strategic port city in southeastern Iran. The research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-survey in terms of data collection method. The statistical population consisted of specialists from construction companies and contractors of construction projects in Chabahar (N=120), with a sample of 92 individuals selected using purposive random sampling. Data were collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with Partial Least Squares (PLS) approach via SmartPLS software. The results indicated that consulting engineering has a positive and significant effect on construction project management (path coefficient = 0.894, T-statistic = 73.625). All dimensions of consulting engineering, including technical expertise and quality, quality supervision and control, provision of consulting services, technical coordination and communication, and the role in contractor selection and evaluation, positively and significantly affected construction project management. Based on the findings, strengthening the position of consulting engineers, utilizing their expertise throughout different stages of the project life cycle, increasing their participation in decision-making processes, and improving communication between consultants and contractors can enhance quality, reduce risks, and improve the performance of construction projects in Chabahar.