Guide to Civil Engineering
by Juhi Aggarwal, Meghul Tyagi and Akshat Srivastava
“Civil engineering is not just about constructing structures, it is the means to build a better world.”
Usually, while talking about ‘Civil Engineering’, we limit ourselves to construction, maintenance and designs. Agreed, a civil engineer often has to analyze the site and locations in order to initiate the blueprint of the plan following which she/he scrutinizes the processes for completing the project. The engineer indulges in the accumulation of data and logical analysis to raise the structures we tend to stare with awe. But there is so much more to civil engineering than what it seems.
“There can be little doubt that in many ways the story of bridge building is the story of civilisation. By it we can readily measure an important part of a people’s progress.”
- Franklin D Roosevelt, 1931
According to American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), “ Civil engineers design, build and maintain the foundation for our modern society — roads, bridges, drinking water & energy systems, seaports and airports, and the infrastructure for a cleaner environment. Clearly, civil engineering is not only about construction-site work but much more. It means to create, improve and protect the environment in which we live. That environment includes natural as well as manmade structures and systems.
Now, Civil engineers are basically divided into two types: “Consulting engineers” and “Contracting engineers”. Consultants are responsible for the design aspect of projects considering the economic and atmospheric factors and work predominantly in an office. Contractors then take the designs and implement them during construction. Contractors work on site, managing the construction of the structure. Their primary job is to lay out the plan and oversee the construction work whereas the construction workers actually perform the physically exhaustive task.
The evolution of cutting edge technology has not only reduced the risk involved in construction but also the time required to complete it. For example; 3D Printed Structures and Models. These are now an integral part of Civil engineering. These printers bridge gaps between visual design and construction planning.
Divisions of Civil Engineering:
Broadly there are 6 divisions of civil engineering:
- Hydraulic Engineering- This is the study of transportation of sediment by the river, the interaction of the water with its alluvial boundary, and the occurrence of scour and deposition. The engineers work to develop conceptual designs for the various features that interact with water such as spillways and outlet works for dams, culverts for highways, canals and related structures for irrigation projects, and cooling-water facilities for thermal power plants.
- Geotechnical Engineering- This is the study of the foundations for built structures ranging from streets and buildings to runways and dams. Here, the focus is on how the structures built by civil engineers, such as buildings and tunnels, interact with the earth (including soil and rock).
- Structural Engineering- This is the study of the strength and durability of structures such as buildings, bridges, or dams. Such engineers also rehabilitate structures when they are weakened with time and need reinforcement.
- Transportation Engineering- The study of planning, designing, operating, and maintaining everyday systems handling automobiles, such as streets and highways. These engineers take up and plan upon larger projects, such as airports, ship ports, mass transit systems, and harbours as well.
- Geomatics Engineering- The collection, distribution, storage, analysis, processing, presentation of geographic data or geographic information comes under Geomatics Engineering. Essentially the study of all data that deals with the measurement of the Earth.
- Environmental Engineering- The use of practical knowledge from broader scientific topics like chemistry, biology, ecology, geology, hydraulics, hydrology, microbiology, and mathematics to create solutions that would protect and improve the health of living organisms and the quality of the environment comes under this division of Civil Engineering.
Duties of Civil Engineers
Civil engineers analyze long-range plans, survey reports, maps, and other data to plan and design projects. They consider construction costs, government regulations, potential environmental hazards, and other factors during the planning and risk-analysis stages of a project. They compile and submit permit applications to local, state, and federal agencies, verifying that projects comply with various regulations. They oversee and analyze the results of soil testing to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations.
One of the most interesting duties of a civil engineer involves the use of design software to plan and design transportation systems, hydraulic systems, and structures in line with industry and government standards. Also, they must present their findings to the public on topics such as bid proposals, environmental impact statements, or property descriptions.
“Engineers … are not mere technicians and should not approve or lend their name to any project that does not promise to be beneficent to man and the advancement of civilization”
- John Fowler
Many civil engineers hold administrative positions ranging from supervisor of a construction site to city engineer, public works director, and city manager. As supervisors, they are tasked with ensuring that safe work practices are followed at construction sites.
Preparing permit documents for work on projects in renewable energy is another responsibility of civil engineers. They verify that the projects will comply with federal, state, and local requirements. They conduct structural analyses for large-scale photovoltaic, or solar energy, projects. They also evaluate the ability of solar array support structures and buildings to tolerate stresses from wind, seismic activity, and other sources. For large-scale wind projects, civil engineers often prepare roadbeds to handle large trucks that haul in the turbines.
Civil engineers work on complex projects, and they can achieve job satisfaction in seeing the project reach completion.
Women in Civil — The Winds of Change
According to the Society of Women Engineers, 20 per cent of engineering school graduates are women, yet they make up only 11 per cent of practising engineers, and when we talk about civil engineering, it’s even lower.
It’s not that civil engineering is a field where a woman cannot be successful, throughout history the world has witnessed women achieve feats that have been deemed unfathomable by the society, let alone the construction/design of the marvellous structure that still stands tall today. One such example is the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, New York, which was accomplished by Emily Warren Roebling, a field Civil Engineer. She took over her husband’s (Washington Roebling) duties as the chief engineer of the construction and handled the day-to-day administration, project control, and wrapped it up with admirable commitment.
Having women civil engineers onboard a project adds a new perspective to the same, making the team stronger and better posed to completing the project on time and on budget. It’s quite possible that a positive influx of woman engineers might just be the key to stirring up a new revolution in civil engineering.
The Final Frame
Contrary to the common narrative, civil engineering is a discipline that requires the brightest minds our country has to offer — and the career can be intriguing, challenging and fun. There is a fine line between being ‘classic’ and ‘outdated’ and it is this difference that many fail to realise. The beauty of civil engineering is that virtually every country in the world needs it. Take a look around you- from a well-planned city street to a man-made wonder of the world, civil engineers are vital in creating those sites that will help you leave your mark on this world, forever.
