Claims and Disputes in Engineering and Construction Projects
A crash course, by the Engineering Management Technical Committee of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE).
The Engineering Management Technical Committee of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) is proud to announce the inaugural session of our short course series: "Project Claims and Disputes in Engineering and Construction." This half-day course, scheduled for November 18, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST, is designed to accommodate professionals across Canada.
We are honored to have Dr. George Jergeas, as our instructor for this course. Dr. Jergeas is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Calgary's Schulich School of Engineering and serves as Chair of iProjects Inc. With over 45 years of industry and academic experience, he holds an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Construction Management from Loughborough University, UK.
Contractual claims and disputes are prevalent challenges that can lead to adversarial and costly outcomes for all parties involved. This course aims to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to effectively recognize, prepare, and resolve such claims, thereby enhancing project efficiency and reducing potential conflicts.
Snapshots of Construction Claims Magnitude
Major projects claims and disputes have become increasingly significant, reflecting the complex and often unpredictable nature of today’s projects in the construction industry. According to an industry report, the average value of disputes in North America reached an all-time high of $42.8 million in 2022, rising sharply from $30.1 million in 2021 and more than doubling from $18.8 million in 2019. This upward trend highlights the financial stakes involved in these disputes, driven largely by inflation, supply chain challenges, and the growing scale and intricacy of modern construction projects (1).
Despite the rising costs of disputes, the average time taken to resolve them has decreased somewhat, settling at 3.2 months in 2022 compared to 16.7 months in 2021. Over the past decade, dispute resolution has averaged around 15.3 months, indicating a persistent challenge in reaching timely settlements. The high cost of unresolved claims often impacts cash flow and project timelines, underscoring the need for effective strategies to handle disputes swiftly.  The transportation sector—encompassing highways, bridges, mass transit systems, airports, and ports—was identified as the most dispute-prone area in 2022, continuing its trend from previous years. Projects in this sector are particularly vulnerable due to their complexity, regulatory demands, and frequent design alterations, all of which increase the likelihood of costly and prolonged claims (1).
Prof. George Jergeas
We are honored to have Dr. George Jergeas, as our instructor for this course. Dr. Jergeas is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Calgary's Schulich School of Engineering and serves as Chair of iProjects Inc. With over 45 years of industry and academic experience, he holds an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Construction Management from Loughborough University, UK.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Jergeas has focused on improving the efficiency and competency of teams delivering major engineering and construction projects. His expertise encompasses project governance, risk management, contract strategies, and dispute resolution. Notably, his partnering methodology has been successfully implemented on over 180 projects across North America.
This course offers an excellent opportunity for professional development. Participants will receive Professional Development Hours (PDH) certificates upon completion, contributing to their continuous learning and career advancement.
We encourage all professionals in the engineering and construction sectors to attend this insightful course and to share this opportunity with colleagues who may benefit from Dr. Jergeas's extensive knowledge and experience.
References
Arcadis. Construction Disputes Reports 2023: Responding to challenges and adapting for project success. Accessed Online.