Introduction to Civil Engineering

Outline:
• Definition of Civil Engineering
• History
• Specialization in Civil Engineering
• Career Options
• Civil Engineering Benefits
Definition of Civil Engineering
What is Engineering?
The word engineer originates from the
Latin term ingenerare, meaning to invent, to
create or to regulate.
It is the professional art of applying
scientific principles to every day things to help
make life easier.
What is a Civil Engineer?
• One who improves the quality of life through
the production of infrastructure
– Buildings, bridges and other structures
– Highways
– Dams and levees
– Water treatment plants, waste
disposal
• This infrastructure must be safe, functional,
elegant and economically sound
Why We Need Civil Engineers?
• Make sure our human habitat is livable
• Make sure we use resources wisely
– Sustainable development
• Help maintain our competitiveness in the
global economy
– Increase productivity
History

“Engineering has been an

aspect of life since the
beginnings of human
existence.”
Specialization in Civil Engineering
• Construction Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Transportation Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Water Resources Engineering
Structural Engineering
• This is the classic civil engineer, concerned
with designing walls, towers, bridge spans,
dams, or foundations. A knowledge of
construction materials and methods is
combined with analytical techniques that
determine how much weight or mass a
structure is carrying, what forces it must
withstand (such as wind or water) and, in
cases where an architect is involved, how
best to accomplish the architect’s vision.
Structural Engineering
• Design of new structures
• Upgrading existing structures
• Intelligent use of new technologies and
materials to control structural behavior
• Structures include buildings, bridges,
offshore platforms, transmission towers, and
other specialized facilities
• picture
Construction engineer
This engineer works at the construction site,
transforming blueprints and drawings into concrete
and steel reality. Besides understanding the principles
by which a structure was designed, the construction
engineer must manage the actual work. This can
involve elaborate scheduling and planning so that
materials and workers are brought to the site to
complete their purpose in the proper order. Time
pressures and an awareness of the financial elements
of a project are constant objectives. Because the work
is done outdoors, sometimes in very remote areas, one
must be prepared for a life-style of “camping out” in
temporary quarters for long stretches of time.
Construction engineer
• Concepts and designs become reality
• Management skills
• Project cost estimating and scheduling
• Financial planning, labor coordination and
supervision
Geotechnical Engineering
Along with geological engineers, these
engineers help determine the underlying rock
strata and soil conditions that affect roadways,
water reservoirs, bridges, and other large
structures. Earthquake planning and preparation
also fall into this category.
Geotechnical Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering is concerned with
engineering behavior of earth materials
• Geotechnical engineers:
– Investigate existing subsurface conditions
(tunnels excavations, pipelines)
– Determine physical and chemical
properties relevant to project considered
– Assess risks posed by site conditions
– Design earthworks and structural found
• Picture
Transportation Engineering
Highway design is constantly being improved by
making roads safer, and, in urban areas, making plans for
handling increased traffic. Transportation engineers also
oversee the design and construction of mass transit
systems, such as subways, which require tunneling, railway
construction, and research on commuting plans.
A subspecialty within transportation engineering is
the pipeline engineer, who determines the movement of
water, oil, or gas through pipelines. In certain aspects, this
field is comparable to highway design, with the distinction
that a liquid is being conveyed, rather than vehicles.
Transportation Engineering
• Planning, Design, Operation and
Maintenance of safe and efficient
transportation systems
• Incorporating new technologies to improve
system performance
• Intelligent Transportation Systems
• Picture
Environmental Engineering
These engineers specialize in water and
wastewater projects, land remediation, aqueducts,
and solid waste disposal. This field is currently one
of the fastest growing of all engineering specialties.
Billions of dollars are being allocated for water and
wastewater treatment, for methods of processing
solid wastes, and for cleaning up hazardous waste
dumping sites.
Environmental Engineering
• Protect & improve environmental quality
– natural systems
– engineered systems
• Protect human health & well-being
• provide safe drinking water
• waste water treatment systems
• hazardous waste site clean-ups
• Picture
Water Resources Engineering
Utility companies, factories, farms, and river
barges depend on a steady source of water. These
engineers perform the planning, design, construction,
and maintenance to keep supplies available. Dam
design and construction, flood control, and the design
and construction of reservoirs, wells, and aqueducts
are all common projects. It used to be that hydraulic
engineers were concerned with draining swamps and
straightening waterways. These days, they are as likely
to be constructing swamps and estuaries to preserve
the environment and provide reserves for fish and
wildlife.
Water Resources Engineering
• Physical control of water
– public water supply
– flood control
– irrigation, navigation etc.
• Computer modeling of water flow
• Performance requirements for lock and dam
structures
• Picture
Career Options
Civil Engineers have a wide range of career
options from which to choose. Civil engineers work
with construction companies, manufacturing
companies, power companies, and with consulting
engineering firms. Many opportunities for civil
engineering employment exist in city, county, state,
and federal government agencies.
Civil Engineering Benefits
• Solve social problems
• Allows indoor and outdoor work
• Responsible, highly respected job
• Challenging technical career
• Utilize modern technology
• Work with people of various backgrounds
• Well-paid
 Any
Question/s?