Meanwhile, people have always attempted to improve upon their environment by developing more efficient types of shelter. Most early attempts were crude, but there are examples of wonderful achievements by people who lived centuries ago, namely, the Egyptians pyramids, the Roman amphitheaters, and the Mayan temples. On the other hand, crafts training in the building trades came to the United States in colonial days with the European settlers, it reflected then, as it does today, a traditional apprenticeship period wherein individuals were indentured to a skilled craft worker, skills were developed through on-the-job training. It was not until the invention of the steam engine in the mid-1800s that Western Europe and the United states made rapid progress in constructing public buildings, roads, and water and sewage systems.
Civil engineer careers and related industry in the United States offers a great number and variety of useful, interesting, and rewarding career opportunities located in all parts of the country. It is the nation's largest industry and its operations extend from border to border and coast to coast. It provides employment for more workers, directly and indirectly, than any other single industry, requires many different kinds of highly developed skills, and pays some of the highest wage rates.
Civil engineering technician jobs involve a detailed and complex industry, dealing with all aspects of building a structure, this includes the clearing of the site and the development of the structure. Construction also covers service equipment that, when installed, becomes an integral part of the structure, such as plumbing, heating, central air conditioning, electrical wiring, lighting equipment, elevators, and escalators. In general, the first step in construction involves bidding for a project. The contractor that bids the lowest price is usually awarded the contract. He or she then hires subcontractors to perform selective projects such as laying the foundation, fireproofing the structure, and installing the ventilation system, after all of the tasks have been coordinated with the subcontractors, the structure is ready to be built.
Furthermore, civil engineering job construction takes many forms and its products vary widely in size, appearance, composition, character, and purpose. These products are divided into major groups or categories, according to their principal characteristics, and each of these is further divided into subcategories. One group includes structures ranging from small homes to huge housing developments, and these are part of what is called residential building construction, it is the largest single category of construction, usually amounting to about one-third of the total annual dollar volume. Another major category is nonresidential building construction, or general building construction. It includes industrial building such as plants and factories; commercial structures ranging from small stores to great skyscrapers; and institutional and other kinds of nonresidential structures such as schools, churches, and hospitals.
Highways and heavy construction is another principal category within the job in civil engineering. Highway work embraces not only networks of interstate highways, but also bridges, local roads, and streets. Airport runway construction is largely done by highway contractors also, since runways and highways involve much the same methods, materials, machines, and skills. Typical heavy projects include dams, big bridges, tunnels, railroads, missile bases, refineries, and waterways such as the Panama Canal, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and river channels. Similar equipment and construction methods are employed for highway and heavy construction. Earthmoving, for example, may be done for a highway project or for an earth-fill dam.
Finally, municipal-utilities contractors' constructors construct the essential services for counties, towns, and cities. Such projects include sewage treatment plants, water purification projects, water and sewer lines, underground utilities, street resurfacing, park and playgrounds construction, and sidewalk construction and maintenance. Further, civil engineer job related construction is divided into two broad classifications – private construction and public construction, private construction is construction work performed for private owners, whether individuals, corporations, or other business firms, organizations or institutions of a nongovernmental character. It is usually paid for out of private funds. Public construction work performed for federal, state, or local agencies of government and usually paid for out of tax money, bonds, or other public funds. The governing distinction between private and public construction, however, is the ownership of the project at the time of construction and not the source of funds used to pay for the project.
