Civil Engineering is the field of engineering which deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of various projects including buildings, bridges, tunnels, dams, and other structures. The field also deals with environmental and water concerns, ensuring that the general public can live in a healthy environment. Civil engineering is commonly broken into several sub-disciplines including structural engineering, transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, water resources engineering, materials engineering, municipal or urban engineering, surveying, and construction engineering. North Dakota State University offers five of these sub-disciplines including structural, transportation, geotechnical, environmental, and water resources.
Structural Engineering
Structural engineers are responsible for the design aspect of all structures. Some of the common projects for this sub-discipline include buildings, bridges, towers, and dams, but can also range from the design of an amusement park to a stadium. Structural engineers need to be able to select the correct type of material to use for a specific project to be able to withstand the applied load in the most cost efficient manner.
Transportation Engineering
Transportation engineers are needed when it comes to the planning, designing, construction, operation, and maintenance of the transportation groundwork. Their projects range from highways to railroads, airports, waterways, bike trails, and sidewalks. Transportation engineers continue to try to improve the transportation systems that are already in place, along with establishing new modes of transportation to meet the increasing demand.
Geotechnical Engineering
Geotechnical engineers’ main purpose is to work with soil. Nearly every Civil Engineering project is supported by the ground. It is the geotechnical engineer’s job to make sure that the soil at the site is able to support the structure that is being put in place. Additionally, they work with environmental engineers to clean up sites that are contaminated and to analyze the seepage of groundwater.
Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineers are responsible for protecting the health and safety of humans, along with protecting the natural environment from pollution. Their duties include planning, designing, operating, and maintaining systems to purify drinking water, remove pollutants from the air and water, and to safely dispose of solid and hazardous wastes. They may also be involved with enforcing environmental regulations in order to preserve a healthy living environment for society.
Water Resource Engineering
Water resource engineers are responsible for everything to do with water. Their job is to determine how much water is needed where, and to figure out a way to transport the water there that is needed. They work with structural engineers to design ways to control the flow of water through projects like canals, dams, levees, and ditches. Water resource engineers also work on projects involved with flood control, hydroelectric power, and protecting beaches from erosion.
What is the Purpose of Civil Engineering?
If you were to erase the world as you know it and imagine a world with no skyscrapers, houses, roads, bridges, dams, or railroads, there wouldn’t be much man-made creation left. It’s hard to picture since we would be left with virtually no infrastructure. Has there ever even been a day in your life when you haven’t stepped foot in a building or on a road? I didn’t think so. Even though most of these projects aren’t completed by Civil Engineers alone, this branch of engineering plays a large role in the everyday life of the majority of society today. Like most other types of engineering, Civil Engineering is designed to improve the lives of people.
Civil Engineering looks to improve life by constantly trying to find a more efficient way to go about a task. Whether the job is trying to clear up traffic congestion, provide clean drinking water, or simply designing a building, we are looking to complete the task in the most time and cost efficient way possible with the safety of the public taking a priority.
Your post was great! I really enjoyed reading about civil engineering and what exactly the career consists of. It was not too in depth where I was unable to understand it, yet it wasn't too "elementary" level to where I knew it already. Next blog you might try to use visuals.
ReplyDeleteYou had a great article Taylor. it was a good explanation of each division and it is nice to know which subdivisions they offer at NDSU. Judging by the first comment, it looks like you recently added visuals. They are great images and add a lot to the post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great post, my father in-law is a civil engineer but I never had a chance to hear what they do because for most of his career he was in sales and management. What kind of hierarchy do you have in the field of Civil Engineering?
ReplyDeleteI was previously unaware of how many sub fields of there were in Civil Engineering. As listed above good job describing each sub division,and taking the time to list the ones offered at NDSU. The only thing I think you could add is to explain which field within Civil Engineering interests you the most and why.
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