Civil Engineering Explanation

Civil engineering is everywhere in the world around us.  It exists in the roads that we drive on, the bridges we take to work, to the building we work in and have class in, and much more.  As you could probably guess my major is civil engineering.  For one to succeed in civil engineering they should have a strong background with math and science.  One must also have a good work ethic and be willing to put in long hours to be successful in civil engineering.  One reason I really enjoy the civil engineering field is that there are so many subcategories in which one could specialize.  The subcategories of civil engineering include environmental, structural, water resources, transportation, geotechnical, and advanced materials.  Personally, I prefer the geotechnical side of civil engineering.  Geotechnical engineering deals with the soil and gives me a better understanding of the foundation work of all the other subcategories.  Before a project may begin, it is common practice to have a civil engineer test the soil to ensure that it is compacted to the proper specification.  The civil engineer will also do some surveying work to make sure that the land is to the correct level and that it is flat, so when the building or project is made that it stands up strait.

NDDOT Webpage Killdeer Roundabout
http://www.nddotdickinson.com

While being an intern for a civil engineering firm that tests construction materials such as soil and concrete, I was given the opportunity to work on some of the projects myself.  It was always exciting because we were going out to the job sites and conducting our tests in the field.  There is paperwork and office work but most of what I experienced was field work which was fun.  We were even given the opportunity to move out to Dickinson and work in a totally different environment.  Personally, I did the testing of the soil to ensure that the ground was compacted enough to place the concrete on.  I also did some tests on the concrete that was placed to make sure that there was the correct amount of fine aggregate to coarse aggregate in the concrete mixture, water to cement ratio, slump, temperature, air, and cylinders for strength.

Civil engineers will always be used on the construction site.  Often, there will be more than just one engineer on the site.  Engineers work as a team often reporting their finding to other engineers that will then determine how to proceed and how to handle the data.  For example, one structural engineer may determine that the steel used in the building is not up to code and then will have to discuss an alternative solution with an advanced materials engineer. 

There is a certain code, the code of ethics, that all engineers must follow.  This code of ethics basically talks about what is allowed and what is not allowed.  This allows the projects to be properly completed.  For an engineer to be able to give the word to start a project and say that it is safe for people to work on requires extensive training.  The civil engineer would have to obtain their professional engineering license.  The professional engineering license is obtained after passing the fundamental engineering exam and completing five years of on the job training.  As you could imagine, this is not an easy task and not many people complete it.  However, those that do are greatly rewarded by given the opportunity to advance in their carriers and actually design the projects.

These are just a few of the things that civil engineers do.  Most of what I talked about was from the geotechnical side of civil engineering but there is still much more that the environmental, water resources, transportation, and advanced materials subdivisions specialize in.  All of these subdivisions are important.  However, I prefer the geotechnical since that is the basis to all the others.  You can’t build a bridge or road without the proper soil qualifications.  Civil engineers will always be an important part in the construction world by solving and fixing problems in all of these subcategories to make the world a better and safer place for us all to live.

A few links to civil engineering webpages.
http://www.civilengineeringcareers.org/
http://www.collegegrad.com/careers/proft11.shtml