Sorry that it took me some time for the next update, but still here's Civil Engineering Inside-Out.
About Civil Engineering
Civil engineering, field of engineering sciences related to design, construction and maintenance of buildings, dams, bridges, tunnels, highways and other structures. It makes use of physical laws, mathematical equations and theories of mechanics. Civil Engineers utilize the available resources (expertise, materials, manpower) to complete the project in the given time span keeping in view the time, expenditure, environmental issues and physical hazards of the project.
Course Duration
4 years BE/ B.Tech
Education Stream
Science
Specialization
Being a broader field Civil Engineering is divided into the following sub-categories and / or fields.
- Geo technical Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Transportation Engineering
- Water Resource engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Earthquake Engineering
- Urban Planning
Below is a brief explanation of all these specializations.
Geotechnical
Geotechnical engineering is required in all aspects of civil engineering, because most projects are supported by the ground. As a geotechnical engineer, one might develop projects below ground, such as tunnels, foundations, and offshore platforms. A Civil Engineer analyzes the properties of soil and rock that support and affect the behavior of these structures. He may evaluate the potential settlements of buildings, the stability of slopes and fills, seepage of ground water and the effects of earthquakes. He investigates the rocks and soils at a project site and determines the best way to support a structure in the ground. He may also take part in the design and construction of dams, embankments, and retaining walls.
Structural
As a structural engineer, a civil engineer faces the challenge of designing structures that support their own weight and the loads they carry, resist wind, temperature, earthquake, and many other forces. Bridges, buildings, offshore structures, space platforms, amusement park rides, and many other kinds of projects are included within this exciting discipline. You will develop the appropriate combination of steel, concrete, timber, plastic, and new exotic materials. You will do the planning and design, as well as visit the project site to make sure the work is done properly.
Transportation
Because the quality of a community is directly related to the quality of its transportation system, a civil engineer role as a transportation engineer will be to move people, goods, and materials safely and efficiently. His challenge will be to find ways to meet the ever-increasing travel needs on land, air, and sea. He will design, construct, and maintain all types of transportation facilities, including highways, railroads, airfields, and ports. An important part of transportation engineering is to upgrade transportation capability by improving traffic control and mass transit systems, and by introducing high-speed trains, people movers, and other new transportation methods
Water Resources
Water is essential to our lives, and as a water resources engineer, a civil engineer deals with issues concerning the quality and quantity of water. He works to prevent floods, to supply water to cities, industry, and irrigation, to treat wastewater, to protect beaches, or to manage and redirect rivers. He might be involved in the design, construction, or maintenance of hydroelectric power facilities, canals, dams, pipelines, pumping stations, locks, or seaport facilities.
Environmental
The skills of environmental engineers are becoming increasingly important as we attempt to protect the fragile resources of our planet. Environmental engineers translate physical, chemical, and biological processes into systems to destroy toxic substances, remove pollutants from water, reduce non-hazardous solid waste volumes, eliminate contamination from the air, and develop groundwater supplies. In this field, a civil engineer may be called upon to resolve issues of providing safe drinking water, cleaning up sites contaminated with hazardous materials, disposing of wastewater, and managing solid wastes.
Construction
The construction phase of a project represents the first tangible result of design. Using his technical and management skills, a civil engineer will turn designs into reality – on time and within budget. He will apply his knowledge of construction methods and equipment, along with the principles of financing, planning, and managing, to turn the designs of other engineers into successful projects.
Urban Planning
As a professional in this area, a civil engineer will be concerned with the entire development of a community. Analyzing a variety of information will help him coordinate projects, such as projecting street patters, identifying park and recreation areas, and determining areas for industrial and residential growth. To ensure your ready access to community, coordination with other authorities may be required to integrate freeways, airports, and other related facilities. Successful coordination of a project will require him to be people-oriented as well as technically knowledgeable.
Will The Course Suit Me?
Civil Engineering requires practical application of science but also requires following attributes in an individual. They are:
- Sharp, analytical and practical mind
- Give attention to details
- Love for buildings and outfields
- Physical stamina
- Good at organizing & solving problems
- Natural curiosity
- Good communication skills
- Ability to work in teams
- Problem solving skills
- Ability to keep calm under work pressures
What Does a Civil Engineer do?
A civil engineer is concerned with planning, analysis, design, construction and maintenance of a variety of facilities such as buildings, highways and railways, airports, waterways and canals, dams and power houses, water treatment and waste water disposal systems, environmental quality control, docks and harbors, bridges and tunnels.
A civil engineer is also required to deal with critical problems of today such as disaster mitigation and management, constructing offshore structures for oil production, flood forecasting and flood control, traffic congestion, transportation planning, use of non-conventional energy resources, for example, wind, tides, waves, etc.
The breadth and diversity of the civil engineering profession make it particularly attractive. Computer Aided Design (CAD) and software development for various civil engineering facilities have become integral parts of civil engineering profession.
The Need For Civil Engineers
To understand what civil engineers do, you need to think about what you do in the first hour after you wake up on a Monday morning.
You clean your teeth using the running water in your bathroom. Have a cup of tea or coffee. You travel to work on a finely constructed network of roads or on a train or underground system. You park your car or grab another cup of coffee at the train station before heading to the office. You might even walk through an underpass or over a bridge before finally settling at your desk. None of this would have been possible without civil engineers.
Civil engineers design and build bridges, roads, railways, and tunnels. They design and build tall structures and large buildings such as multi-storey car parks, train stations, and even the Olympic stadium.
Without civil engineers we wouldn’t have a constant supply of clean water, or sustainable energy to help us save our planet. Without civil engineers the world we live in would be completely unrecognisable.
Many people are confused about the difference between CSE and IT. So I decided to put up this post for those people. I hope this helps. I have also mentioned the source for all this, in case you want to read the actual article.
