''Civil engineering is the profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical and physical sciences gained by study, experience, and practice is applied with judgment to develop ways to utilize, economically, the materials and forces of nature for the progressive well-being of humanity in creating, improving, and protecting the environment, in providing facilities for community living, industry and transportation, and in providing structures for the use of humanity.''
American Society of Civil Engineers, 1961
From the beginning of time there has been a need and a use for Civil Engineers. In 1580 BC the Egyptians constructed the pyramids, in 600 BC the Romans designed Cloaca Maxima, a maze of aqueducts that make a very efficient sewer system, the Great Wall of China in 7th century BC, and in 80 AD the Greeks built the Coliseum. In more recent years we have seen the construction of many fine and outstanding structures, including: the Eiffel Tower (1889), the Moscow Subway System (1935), the Taipei 101 Skyscraper (2004) which has 101 floors and is 1,671 feet high, the Empire State Building (1930), the Golden Gate Bridge (1964), the Panama Canal (1914), The Twin Towers (1970s), The Hong Kong International Airport (1998), the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge (1998) which is the largest suspension bridge in the world spanning 6,529 feet, and even the Stratosphere (1968) in Las Vegas. Leonardo DaVinci, Albert Einstein and Boris Yeltsin are listed as notable Engineers.
So, what does a Civil Engineer do? A Civil Engineer focuses on the design, construction and maintenance of structures involved with public works. Civil Engineers tend to be “left-brained'', as it takes a good deal of math intelligence to be an Engineer. Civil Engineers typically need to have at least a four year degree, and they must have specific certification in some cases. While in college, Civil Engineers will learn qualities that will not only assist them in their future jobs, but also in their day to day and future lives. The problem-solving way an Engineer is taught to think, is not just for employment related purposes, it affects and amplifies a learned person’s entire life. While in undergraduate studies, an Engineering student may have the opportunity for internships, co-ops and summer jobs, all of which enhance the marketability of a student when they are ready to enter the workforce.
Civil Engineers use Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs, such as AutoCad, SolidWorks, and Pro-Engineer (just to name a few) to help them do their work. They may do work designing and maintaining bridges, buildings, highways, tunnels, sewers, roads, dams, water ways, etcetera. They must be able to design structures to meet codes, which may vary in different regions. Civil Engineers must also be good with people, as they may oversee a team as part of their job duties. As a Civil Engineer there may be opportunities to work around the world. Learning a second or third language is a plus to be able to work in the global market.
Civil Engineers may be specialized in certain areas:
Air & Space Engineers work on projects that are literally out of this world. They work on projects such as the space shuttle and satellites that are bound for space.
Architectural Engineers deign aspects of architecture in buildings and structures.
Construction Engineers oversee construction projects and take them from conception to reality. They take a project from the drawing board and make sure all of the processes are done correctly to build the project into a physical structure.
Disaster Reduction Engineers work to survey areas and come up with solutions to make them safer.
Environmental Engineers work on protecting and increasing the natural resources on our planet, which may include cleaning up and managing waste areas.
Geotechnical Engineers work on developing projects underground, such as tunnels and subway systems. They may work to evaluate the soil and the probability of earthquakes.
Structural Engineers work on buildings and work with materials such as concrete, wood, plastic and metal. They ensure that the “bones'' of the building are sound and secure.
Transportation Engineers work on meeting transportation needs including roads, highways, ports, railways and airfields. They do not build the transportation vehicles, rather, they construct the buildings, roads and all the elements included housed in a transportation development.
Urban Planning Engineers work on developing entire communities, including the intertwining of residential, commercial, roadways and parks.
Water Resources Engineers work on water management, including preventing floods, storing and treating water.A Civil Engineer may work for a city, the government, a government contractor or a private contractor. Civil Engineers may be paid well because of the amount of training required to obtain the job. The pay range for a Civil Engineer is $42,300 - $59,000. For a Civil Engineer II the pay range is $50,090 - $74,900, and for a Civil Engineer III it is $60,050 - $89,500. Civil Engineering jobs most usually also include benefits such as healthcare packages, time off, social security, 401K options, disability and bonuses.
Currently, less than 10% of the Engineering workforce is employed with women. Women are equally welcome to become Civil Engineers, but while many women score as high, or higher than their male counterparts in areas of math and science, women do not see Engineering as a field suited for them, as a result there are programs to get women more excited in fields of math and science.
As the population continues to grow, it is estimated that the need for Civil Engineers will also grow as they will be needed to repair existing structures and build new ones. More societies and groups will continue to be built up of more Civil Engineers. Then they can go alongside The American Society of Civil Engineers (www.asce.org) which is the oldest national engineering society, with over 130,000 member, and continue to build up our world.
