21 May

A Guide to Civil Engineering

The modern world has a lot to thank the vast field of civil engineering

The modern world has a lot to thank the vast field of civil engineering for. It has gifted us with huge buildings, dams, sewer and water utilities, bridges, just to name a few.

Just looking at these marvels of engineering could possibly evoke a sense of admiration and desire to be in that kind of career. If you are interested in joining this noble profession, here is a brief guide that explains the few sub-disciplines it comprises of:

  1. Environmental

This is the advanced study of how to manage the environment that we live in. It also includes the treatment of thermal, chemical and biological waste, and rehabilitation of contaminated areas.

  1. Construction

The study of the construction process, and how to execute various projects of development that might include different designs.

  1. Materials Science

The study of the characteristics of various materials and their primary properties.  An engineer that specializes in this field designs polymers, ceramics and metals that are incorporated into the construction process. They work with steel, concrete, aluminum, carbon fibres, asphalt, among others.

  1. Surveying

This kind of engineering involves the use of measurements that are later used in the design of construction projects. They carry out surveying for construction to help contractors by providing benchmarks and staking, among other services.

Engineering is a broad topic on its own, but these are just a few of the popular sub-disciplines. Other unique ones such as Structural, Earthquake, Geotechnical, Water Resources, Coastal engineering are among others that make up this fascinating field.