What is Civil Engineering?
Civil Engineering is considered to be the oldest engineering field. Civil Engineering includes the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of the infrastructure that surrounds us and is the underpinning of our society. Our infrastructure includes roads, airports, railroads, buildings, bridges, water and wastewater treatment plants, sewers, drainage, flood control, water supply, landfills, and many other facilities. Most everything civil engineers do affects our daily lives in many ways.
When you get up in the morning and take a shower and brush your teeth, the water comes from a water treatment plant through a network of pipes, designed by civil engineers. The dirty water leaves your house through a sewer and ends up at a wastewater treatment plant designed by civil engineers where it is treated and released to a nearby stream or river. When you go to school or work, the roads you drive on and bridges you might cross were designed by civil engineers. The inlet drains along the curbs and gutters which carry away rainfall were designed by civil engineers. The structure or skeleton of the building you attend classes in or work in was designed by a civil engineer, as well as its foundation. Even the electricity you use was brought to you over transmission lines, whose towers were designed by civil engineers. The garbage you carried out to the trashcan is transported to a sanitary landfill, which was designed by a civil engineer. There are many more such examples of how civil engineering is involved in our daily lives.
What does it take to be a civil engineer?
In general, engineers are people who enjoy the challenge of solving problems, who like to do things rather than just talk about them. They want to be part of the solution and enjoy working with people as part of a team. For starters, an aptitude for math and science is helpful, but just as important is an ability to work with other people, to speak and write well, and to demonstrate leadership skills. Civil engineers work in teams with other engineers, technicians, and office staff. They may also work with economists, social scientists, geologists, biologists, chemists, and many other professionals. Civil engineers work with the general public to a much greater degree than any other type of engineer. Many projects are publicly funded and require public input, such as meetings and hearings. This means the engineer must learn to clearly communicate technical information to clients and the general public, learn to think on his/her feet, and keep cool under pressure.
Where do civil engineers work?
Most civil engineers work for consulting firms (which design projects and produce plans and specifications for building them) or government agencies (ranging from cities to the federal government). Some might join the military or work for manufacturers (such as pump, pipe, or steel building manufacturers). Initially in their careers, most civil engineers work on design, but generally as they gain more responsibility, they manage projects and do little engineering design. Other areas in which civil engineers work include sales, teaching, and research.
Civil Engineering is considered to be the oldest engineering field. Civil Engineering includes the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of the infrastructure that surrounds us and is the underpinning of our society. Our infrastructure includes roads, airports, railroads, buildings, bridges, water and wastewater treatment plants, sewers, drainage, flood control, water supply, landfills, and many other facilities. Most everything civil engineers do affects our daily lives in many ways.
When you get up in the morning and take a shower and brush your teeth, the water comes from a water treatment plant through a network of pipes, designed by civil engineers. The dirty water leaves your house through a sewer and ends up at a wastewater treatment plant designed by civil engineers where it is treated and released to a nearby stream or river. When you go to school or work, the roads you drive on and bridges you might cross were designed by civil engineers. The inlet drains along the curbs and gutters which carry away rainfall were designed by civil engineers. The structure or skeleton of the building you attend classes in or work in was designed by a civil engineer, as well as its foundation. Even the electricity you use was brought to you over transmission lines, whose towers were designed by civil engineers. The garbage you carried out to the trashcan is transported to a sanitary landfill, which was designed by a civil engineer. There are many more such examples of how civil engineering is involved in our daily lives.
What does it take to be a civil engineer?
In general, engineers are people who enjoy the challenge of solving problems, who like to do things rather than just talk about them. They want to be part of the solution and enjoy working with people as part of a team. For starters, an aptitude for math and science is helpful, but just as important is an ability to work with other people, to speak and write well, and to demonstrate leadership skills. Civil engineers work in teams with other engineers, technicians, and office staff. They may also work with economists, social scientists, geologists, biologists, chemists, and many other professionals. Civil engineers work with the general public to a much greater degree than any other type of engineer. Many projects are publicly funded and require public input, such as meetings and hearings. This means the engineer must learn to clearly communicate technical information to clients and the general public, learn to think on his/her feet, and keep cool under pressure.
Where do civil engineers work?
Most civil engineers work for consulting firms (which design projects and produce plans and specifications for building them) or government agencies (ranging from cities to the federal government). Some might join the military or work for manufacturers (such as pump, pipe, or steel building manufacturers). Initially in their careers, most civil engineers work on design, but generally as they gain more responsibility, they manage projects and do little engineering design. Other areas in which civil engineers work include sales, teaching, and research.