---
title: "Structural engineering in early project phases | BBA"
date: 2026-08-17T09:11:00-04:00
author: Maelle Benoit
canonical_url: "https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights/structural-engineering-early-phase-unlocking-value-through-early-decisions"
section: Publications
---
The early phase is crucial for any project, especially industrial, mining and infrastructure projects. From the earliest stages of engineering, decisions about foundations, superstructures, construction methods and interdisciplinary interfaces begin to affect project costs, schedules and risks. Every decision matters, and structural engineering expertise helps teams overcome these obstacles and improve the likelihood of project success.

 

1. ## Defining the appropriate technical inputs
    
    One of the most important drivers of project value is access to high-quality information that meets project needs and is available at the right time. Early project data is often incomplete and may consist of a preliminary layout, rough equipment load estimates, limited geotechnical information or fragmented operational constraints. Involving structural engineering experts early helps identify the required information and supports clients in securing the necessary professional services, particularly for geotechnical studies. Depending on the nature of the project, a geotechnical report should provide usable bearing capacities, acceptable settlement criteria and applicable foundation recommendations. Bringing structural expertise into a project early helps teams assess new information effectively, compare alternatives, refine conservative assumptions and reduce rework and schedule risks.
2. ## Identifying impacts before they become costly
    
    Uncertainty is inherent to the basic engineering phase. The goal isn’t to wait until every detail is finalized. Instead, it’s to determine what work needs to move forward now and what can be further refined in the next phase. This analysis helps identify risk factors that could affect schedules, costs or load fluctuations, layout adjustments or changes to ground conditions or performance criteria. These sensitive assumptions are then monitored closely to identify potential risks and support timely, informed project decisions.
3. ## Verifying options at the right milestones
    
    The basic engineering phase isn’t simply about confirming an initial solution. It should also help in reassessing structural options as project data becomes more accurate. Engineers can then adjust quantities, validate multiple systems, analyze construction methods and explore optimization strategies. For some industrial projects, partially prefabricated components can shorten construction schedules, improve execution quality and reduce certain onsite risks.
4. ## Ensuring interdisciplinary consistency
    
    Structural decisions affect far more than the structural discipline. Foundation types, structural grids and construction methods influence process engineering, mechanical systems, electrical systems, geotechnical aspects, construction and future operations. As a result, structural engineers play an active role in interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure proposed solutions remain aligned with the project’s economic, functional and constructability objectives.
5. ## Laying the groundwork for project success
    
     During the basic engineering phase, asking the right questions, validating assumptions and guiding decisions in real time helps resolve both immediate and future challenges. A well-executed basic engineering phase helps prevent errors, improve estimate accuracy and reliability, guide planning, reduce costs and minimize rework.
6. ## Key takeaways
    
    During the basic engineering phase, structural engineering adds value to a project by:  
    • identifying technical inputs early in the process.  
    • determining which assumptions affect costs, risks and schedules.  
    • ensuring consistency among design, constructability, other disciplines and client requirements.
 
This content is for general information purposes only. All rights reserved ©BBA

 

    1. ![Nicolas Samson](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/197852/Nicolas-Samson.webp)   
    
     Nicolas Samson, P.Eng.
    
    Senior Engineer, Structure
    
         [  ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-samson1/)
 
 

       

  

  

 

    - [  12 Aug 2026 
    
     Four mistakes that can harm the future performance of industrial assets 
    
     
    
     
    
    
    - ![Caroline provost](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/208557/Caroline-provost.webp)   
        
         Caroline Provost P.Eng.
        
        Director, Operational Strategy Implementation
     
       
    
     
    
      ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights/four-mistakes-that-can-harm-the-future-performance-of-industrial-assets "Four mistakes that can harm the future performance of industrial assets")
- [  27 Jul 2026 Mining and Metals  
    
     
    
     Early tailings decisions shape long-term mine performance 
    
     
    
     
    
    
    - ![Geraldine Cosset](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/206707/Geraldine-Cosset.webp)
    - ![Jared Purdy](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/212424/Jared-Purdy.webp)
     
       
    
     
    
      ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights/early-tailings-decisions-shape-long-term-mine-performance "Early tailings decisions shape long-term mine performance")
- [  02 Jul 2026 Mining and Metals  
    
     
    
     Python: A key tool for data analysis in mineral processing 
    
     
    
     
    
    
    - ![Charles Blais](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/211197/Charles-Blais.webp)
    - ![Juan Pablo Vergara](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/211266/Juan-Pablo-Vergara.webp)
     
       
    
     
    
      ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights/python-a-key-tool-for-data-analysis-in-mineral-processing "Python: A key tool for data analysis in mineral processing")
- [  19 Jun 2026 Mining and Metals  
    
     
    
     Speed is earned early in projects 
    
     
    
     
    
    
    - ![Mm employee men jean lheureux retouch web SQ LR BBA](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/204266/mm_employee_men_jean-lheureux_retouch_web_SQ_LR_BBA.webp)
    - ![Mm employee men benoit richard retouch web SQ LR BBA](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/203602/mm_employee_men_benoit-richard_retouch_web_SQ_LR_BBA.webp)
     
       
    
     
    
      ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights/speed-is-earned-early-in-projects "Speed is earned early in projects")
 
 

       

 

 [ See all 

 ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights "Go to Publications listing page") 

 

   

  The early phase is crucial for any project, especially industrial, mining and infrastructure projects. From the earliest stages of engineering, decisions about foundations, superstructures, construction methods and interdisciplinary interfaces begin to affect project costs, schedules and risks. Every decision matters, and structural engineering expertise helps teams overcome these obstacles and improve the likelihood of project success.

 

1. ## Defining the appropriate technical inputs
    
    One of the most important drivers of project value is access to high-quality information that meets project needs and is available at the right time. Early project data is often incomplete and may consist of a preliminary layout, rough equipment load estimates, limited geotechnical information or fragmented operational constraints. Involving structural engineering experts early helps identify the required information and supports clients in securing the necessary professional services, particularly for geotechnical studies. Depending on the nature of the project, a geotechnical report should provide usable bearing capacities, acceptable settlement criteria and applicable foundation recommendations. Bringing structural expertise into a project early helps teams assess new information effectively, compare alternatives, refine conservative assumptions and reduce rework and schedule risks.
2. ## Identifying impacts before they become costly
    
    Uncertainty is inherent to the basic engineering phase. The goal isn’t to wait until every detail is finalized. Instead, it’s to determine what work needs to move forward now and what can be further refined in the next phase. This analysis helps identify risk factors that could affect schedules, costs or load fluctuations, layout adjustments or changes to ground conditions or performance criteria. These sensitive assumptions are then monitored closely to identify potential risks and support timely, informed project decisions.
3. ## Verifying options at the right milestones
    
    The basic engineering phase isn’t simply about confirming an initial solution. It should also help in reassessing structural options as project data becomes more accurate. Engineers can then adjust quantities, validate multiple systems, analyze construction methods and explore optimization strategies. For some industrial projects, partially prefabricated components can shorten construction schedules, improve execution quality and reduce certain onsite risks.
4. ## Ensuring interdisciplinary consistency
    
    Structural decisions affect far more than the structural discipline. Foundation types, structural grids and construction methods influence process engineering, mechanical systems, electrical systems, geotechnical aspects, construction and future operations. As a result, structural engineers play an active role in interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure proposed solutions remain aligned with the project’s economic, functional and constructability objectives.
5. ## Laying the groundwork for project success
    
     During the basic engineering phase, asking the right questions, validating assumptions and guiding decisions in real time helps resolve both immediate and future challenges. A well-executed basic engineering phase helps prevent errors, improve estimate accuracy and reliability, guide planning, reduce costs and minimize rework.
6. ## Key takeaways
    
    During the basic engineering phase, structural engineering adds value to a project by:  
    • identifying technical inputs early in the process.  
    • determining which assumptions affect costs, risks and schedules.  
    • ensuring consistency among design, constructability, other disciplines and client requirements.
 
This content is for general information purposes only. All rights reserved ©BBA