| Civil Engineering (KA5715)
Civil Engineering
Civil engineers build our
quality of life. Civil engineers plan,
design, construct and operate the facilities of modern life, ranging
from buildings to bridges. Civil engineers solve problems, meet challenges, urban
redevelopment and community planning.
Civil engineering skills are needed
throughout the world to make our world a better place to live.
There are several branches of civil engineering as following :
1-
Structural Engineering
Structural engineers face the challenge of designing structures that support
their own weight and the loads they carry, and that resist extreme forces from
wind, earthquakes, bombings, temperature and others. Bridges, buildings,
amusement park rides and many other kinds of projects are included within this
specialty. Structural engineers develop appropriate combinations of steel,
concrete, timber, plastic and new exotic materials. They also plan and design,
and visit project sites to make sure work is done properly.
2-
Environmental Engineering
The skills of environmental engineers have become increasingly important as we
protect our fragile resources. Environmental engineers translate physical,
chemical and biological processes into systems to destroy toxic substances,
remove pollutants from water, reduce no hazardous solid waste volumes,
eliminate contaminants from the air and develop groundwater supplies.
Environmental engineers are called upon to resolve the problems of providing
safe drinking water, cleaning up contaminated sites with hazardous materials,
disposing of wastewater and managing solid wastes.
3-
Geotechnical Engineering
Geotechnical engineering is required in all aspects of civil engineering because
most projects are supported by the ground. A geotechnical engineer may develop
projects below the ground, such as tunnels, foundations and offshore platforms.
They analyze the properties of soil and rock that support and affect the
behavior of these structures. They evaluate potential settlements of buildings,
the stability of slopes and fills, the seepage of ground water and the effects
of earthquakes. They investigate rocks and soils at a project site and determine
the best way to support a structure in the ground. They also take part in the
design and construction of dams, embankments and retaining walls.
4-
Water Resources Engineering
Water is essential to our lives, and water resources engineers deal with the
physical control of water. They work with others to prevent floods, supply water
for cities, industry and agriculture, to protect beaches or to manage and
redirect rivers. They design, construct and maintain hydroelectric power
facilities, canals, dams, pipelines, pumping stations, locks, seaport facilities
or even waterslides.
5-
Transportation Engineering
The quality of a community is directly related to the quality of its
transportation system. Transportation engineers work to move people, goods and
materials safely and efficiently. They find ways to meet our ever-increasing
travel needs on land, air and sea. They design, construct and maintain all types
of transportation facilities, including airports, highways, railroads, mass
transit systems and ports. An important part of transportation engineering is
upgrading our transportation capability by improving traffic control and mass
transit systems, and by introducing high-speed trains, people movers and other
intermodal transportation methods.
6-
Construction Engineering
The construction phase of a project represents the first tangible result of a
design. Using technical and management skills, construction engineers turn
designs into reality on time and within budget. They apply their knowledge of
construction methods and equipment, along with the principles of financing,
planning and managing, to turn the designs of other engineers into successful
facilities.
Urban and Community Planning
Planners are concerned with the full development of a community. They analyze a
variety of information to co-ordinate projects, such as projecting street
patterns, identifying park and recreation areas, and determining areas for
industrial and residential growth. They employ their technical and people skills
to co-ordinate with other authorities to integrate freeways, airports and other
related facilities.
Qualifications and Trends
More and more, those entering the civil engineering field must have skills in
communication, computers, management and foreign languages, as well as advanced
knowledge in a specialty within civil engineering. Students increasingly need
to have knowledge of foreign languages or cultures, because many civil
engineering mega projects are now overseas: Petronas Towers in Malaysia, the
Channel Tunnel in Europe and the new Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan, which is the
longest suspension bridge in the world.
Engineers with geotechnical and environmental engineering expertise remain in
strong demand because environmental concerns touch all infrastructure projects.
Robotics and computer skills are also prized in civil engineering as automation
and information technologies continue to evolve the civil engineering workplace.
Today's engineers will see more specialization, working in teams, globalization,
new materials and increased use of computer applications.
Today, engineers must continue their education long after their bachelor's
degree. Whether through continuing education and professional development
programs, many of which are offered through ASCE, or master's degree programs,
students will need to increase their knowledge base to remain competitive. In
addition, more and more employers are encouraging employees to earn master's
degrees and become licensed professional engineers.
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