Civil Engineer

Overview

Who is Civil Engineer?

As one of the most ancient branches of engineering, this broad field of Civil Engineering is concerned with the design, planning, construction, and maintenance of large-scale infrastructure and facilities, such as highway and tunnel construction as well as bridge and sewage system construction as well as airport and water supply facilities, as well as schools and hospitals, among other things. Civil Engineers have made significant contributions to the physical and urban environments of our civilisation over the course of millennia. Civil engineers are responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of constructed shared settings. These professionals, who have in-depth understanding of the sector, are essential to creating infrastructures from their inception all the way through to completion.

Engineering specialisations in this branch include environmental engineering, earthquake engineering, Coastal and Ocean Engineering (including tidal waves and ocean currents), hydraulic engineering, municipal and urban engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, irrigation engineering, and water resources engineering (to name a few). The need of enhancing existing infrastructure, as well as the necessity to safeguard public and environmental health, is emphasised in their work. They provide a good contribution to the development of strong economies and have a long-term positive influence on society via their job.

Typical day at work

What does Civil Engineer do?

Civil engineers design, build, manage and sustain the infrastructure of modern society. Roads, railways, tunnels, buildings, bridges, airports, mines, dams, ports and harbors, water and sewer systems, and flood mitigation works are all shaped by civilian engineers.

The responsibilities of a civil engineer comprise of the following tasks:

• To prepare permit documents for projects and ensure compliance to the safety practices on the project site is according to the state/national laws
• To conduct risk analysis while considering the potential environmental hazards and the costs 
• To analyze the data such as maps, reports, tests, drawings from onsite investigations to guide the projects
• To construct blueprints with regards to technical specifications, plans, and schedules 
• To supervise and manage the process of repairing and maintaining infrastructure as well as replacement of the same
• To conduct tests and collect topographical and geological data
• To develop detailed designs for projects using design software upon studying reports, aerial photographs, soil composition etc
• To evaluate the economical feasibility of the project by calculating the costs of labour, materials, equipment etc.
• To direct, manage, and supervise the construction at the site of the project
• To produce technical documentation regarding the project as required
• To ensure project is feasible by evaluating the structural integrity and the practicality of the design continually
• To present their findings to the stakeholders regarding bid proposals, property descriptions, environmental impact statements.

Abilities & aptitude needed

What are the skills, abilities & aptitude needed to become Civil Engineer?

Civil engineers should have a set of abilities that enable them to work on a wide range of projects. Here are some of the qualities that good civil engineers have:

Civil engineers are in charge of projects of varied sizes and need decision-making abilities. They must make judgments throughout the development of a project, such as analysing the project's viability in terms of cost and safety criteria. By using best practices and utilising their knowledge and expertise, a successful engineer should be able to make the best judgments possible.

Problem-solving abilities: Civil engineers are in charge of planning, developing, and executing a variety of activities, and they must be able to find efficient solutions to any difficulties that arise. They must be able to examine a project or aspect, foresee all concerns, and come up with appropriate solutions.

Organizational skills: As a civil engineer, you must be able to stay organised. A civil engineer is responsible for overseeing the project's development as well as leading a team of experts and workers. They may also be required to work on many projects at the same time.

Civil engineers may lead or consult a team of other engineers, technicians, surveyors, planners, and labourers in the project's implementation.

Civil engineers must also have a solid grasp of calculus, trigonometry, and any other architectural or construction-related math that may be necessary when working on a project.

A civil engineer must also be capable of monitoring and regulating resources, as well as documenting work. They should be well-versed in IT as well as design/visualization applications such as AutoCAD and Civil 3D. Civil engineers must also be knowledgeable on the laws and policies that apply to their field of work since they must adhere to safety requirements, get permits, and obtain regulatory approvals for their projects.

Courses

Which course I can pursue?