Professions/Terminologies

• Civil engineering process:

  • Planning

  • Design

  • Construction

  • Operation/Maintenance

  • Rehabilitation
• Planning:

  • Find problem areas that need improvement and set the criteria for the design. Gather input from the public.
• Design:

  • Draw plans to show how the problem is going to be fixed.
• Construction:

  • Follow the plans from design to build the solution to the problem.
• Operation/Maintenance:

  • Fix small problems before they become big ones
• Rehabilitation:

  • To fix something back to original condition.
• Civil Engineering Specializations:

  • Construction Engineering and Management

  • Geotechnical Engineering

  • Structural Engineering

  • Transportation Engineering

  • Water Resources Engineering

  • Energy and Environmental Engineering

  Related fields of Engineering:

  • Surveying/ Geodetic Engineering

  • Materials Engineering
• Construction Engineering and Management

  • Management of construction resources: labor, materials, equipment, money, and time.

  • Design formwork, scaffolding, lifting apparatus, etc.
• Geotechnical Engineering

  • Analyze soil and rock that affect the behavior of structures, pavements, underground facilities,

  and containment structures for solid and liquid wastes.

  • Design foundations, retaining walls, roadway cuts, etc.

  • Field and laboratory work along with design.
• Structural Engineering

  • Design and analyze all man-made objects whose primary function is load resistance: buildings,

  bridges, aircraft, transmission towers, radar domes and antennas, drilling platforms, etc.

  • Must also consider the economics, aesthetics and social implications of their creations.
• Transportation Engineering

  • Analyze the movement of persons and goods.

  • Plan, design, construct, maintain and operate various transportation modes (e.g., highway,

  railway, air, water, etc.).

  • Design traffic management systems.
• Water Resources Engineering

  • Develop, use and manage the world’s water resources.

  • Design water distribution systems, wells, reservoirs, canals, locks and dams, port facilities, and

  flood control systems.

  • Analyze the impact of other engineering projects on the natural hydrologic system.
• Energy and Environmental Engineering

  • Apply fluid mechanics, biology, and chemistry to the design and operation of environmental

  control systems, e.g., municipal and industrial wastewater systems.

  • Combine knowledge from the fields of physics, math, and chemistry with economic and

  environmental engineering practices to increase efficiency and further develop renewable

  sources of energy
• Surveying/ Geodetic Engineering

  • Precisely locate and layout engineering projects.

  • GIS (Geographic Information Systems), GPS (Global Positioning Systems), and lasers

  distance measurement devices.

  • Maps and aerial photos.
• Materials Engineering

  • Design, analyze, and construct materials such as: Steel, Concrete, Masonry, Asphalt, &

  Composites
• Civil Engineering and Architecture

  Similarities:

  • Architects and civil engineers must have strong math and technology skills to create accurate and safe construction plans.

  • Both need analytical thinking capabilities to provide cost, risk, and timeline estimates for clients.

  • Architects and civil engineers should have leadership and management skills to oversee construction contracts and monitor building processes.
• What type of projects do civil engineers manage?

  Transportation infrastructure and water systems
• What is the primary focus of architects?

  Buildings
• In which phase are architects more involved compared to civil engineers?

  Pre-construction phases
• What do civil engineers oversee during construction work?

  All phases of construction work
• Who do civil engineers oversee in their work?

  Construction managers, architects, and mechanical engineers
• Where do architects spend most of their time?

  In offices
• How do civil engineers divide their time?

  Between desk work and direct site supervision
• What educational requirement do both civil engineers and architects share?

  A bachelor’s degree
• What additional qualification do civil engineers often pursue?

  Advanced degrees for senior positions
• What is required for both civil engineers and architects besides a degree?

  State licensure