MODULE 2

CIVIL ENGINEERING AND SOCIETY AND OTHER

PROFESSION

INTRODUCTION
Civil Engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the
design, construction and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment,
including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewerage system, pipelines
and railways.
There are two major types of engineering roles performed by civil engineers
1. Consultant engineers who focus on design work and generally spend more
time in the office or working with clients
2. Contractors who are more involved in keeping an eye on the physical
construction and are usually based on site.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Define Civil Engineering
2. Understand the duties of a Civil Engineer
3. Learn the Pros and Cons of a Civil Engineer
4. Recognize the different profession for a Civil Engineer

KEY/CONCEPTS:

What is an ENGINEER?

Engineers are problem solvers!

“Engineering is concerned with the implementation of a solution to a practical problem. A

scientist may ask "why?" and proceed to research the answer to the question. By contrast,
engineers want to know how to solve a problem and how to implement that solution. In
other words, scientists investigate phenomena, whereas engineers create solutions to
problems or improve upon existing solutions.
A scientist builds in order to learn. An engineer learns in order to build.”

"Engineering is the application of math and science to create

something of value from our natural resources." The difference between science and
engineering was explained well by Theodore Von Karman, an aerospace engineer. As he
stated: "Scientists discover the world that exists; engineers create the world that never
was."

One way to define engineering is: “how to do new things in new ways” (Win Phillips, 1997)

What is a Civil Engineer?

A civil engineer designs and oversees the construction of public works, such as roads,
bridges, dams, tunnels, buildings, airports, water and sewage systems, and other large
infrastructure projects.

Buildings and bridges are often the first structures to come to mind, because they are the
most obvious engineering creations. But civil engineers are also responsible for less
visible creations and contributions. Every time we open a water faucet, we expect water
to come out, without thinking that civil engineers made it possible, in many cases by
designing systems that transport water to cities from mountain sources that are
sometimes hundreds of miles away.

What is Civil Engineering?

Civil Engineering is the oldest and quintessential engineering profession. It encompasses

a variety of sub-disciplines and jobs. The civil engineering curriculum emphasize the
following major subdisciplines:

• structural

• environmental

• water resources

• geotechnical

• construction

• transportation

Civil engineering is “the modification of nature to create and improve human habitats.”
Civil engineers work toward an ideal that is “a standard of perfection, beauty, or moral
and physical excellence, especially as an aim of attainment or realization.” Civil engineers
strive to “match deep functionality with aesthetics in every manifestation of the
profession.” Engineers should be mindful that there is a “moral compact between the
engineer and world society.”

“Professional engineers should work for the welfare of the public. They are responsible
for observing societal needs, and often have the position and resources to improve
society. As professionals, engineers are expected to set examples in the work field and
to establish themselves as assets to society.”
What is a profession?

A PROFESSION is defined by:

1. Knowledge = requires formal education, judgment and discretion that are not routine
and cannot be mechanized; continuing education required

2. Organization = sets standards for admission to profession, enforces standards of

conduct, establishes codes of ethics

3. Public Good = purpose of service and preservation of public welfare

What does a Civil Engineer do?

The field of civil engineering is one of the oldest branches of engineering, dating back to
when people first started living in permanent settlements and began shaping their
environments to suit their needs.

As populations grew and larger groups of people began living together in towns and cities,
there was an increasing need for reliable sources of clean water, the means to dispose
of waste, a network of streets and roadways for commerce and trade, and a way for
people to defend themselves against hostile neighbors. Early civil engineers, therefore,
were called upon to build walls, roads, bridges, dams, and levees; and to dig wells,
irrigation ditches, and trenches.

Among the most well-known civil engineering projects of ancient times are the roads of
the Roman Empire, the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Giza, Stonehenge, the cliff
dwellings at Mesa Verde; and Mayan ruins at Copan, Palenque, and Tikal. The
construction of many of these wonders by pre-industrial societies remains mysterious and
the names of the engineers who designed them are lost to antiquity.

More recent history is also marked by famous civil engineering marvels including the Eiffel
Tower, named after Gustave Eiffel, the French civil engineer whose company built it; the
Golden Gate Bridge, designed by Joseph Strauss and Charles Ellis; the Panama Canal
(John Frank Stevens); the Hoover Dam (John L. Savage); and the Brooklyn Bridge,
designed by John August Roebling and his son Washington Roebling.

Civil engineers do a lot more than design buildings and bridges. They work in the
aerospace industry, designing jetliners and space stations. They can be found in the
automotive industry, calculating the load-carrying capacity of a chassis and improving the
crash resistance of bumpers and doors. They are part of the ship building industry, the
power industry, and multiple other industries requiring constructed facilities.

Civil engineering is a particularly exciting profession, because those that work in this field
can see the results of their work: a completed bridge, a high-rise building, a subway
station, or a hydroelectric dam.
To sum up Civil Engineers do the following:

1. Analyze long range plans, survey reports, maps, and other data to plan and design
project
2. Consider construction costs, government regulations, potential environmental
hazards, and other factors during the planning and risk-analysis stages of a project
3. Compile and submit permit applications to local agencies, verifying that projects
comply with various regulations
4. Oversee and analyze the results of soil testing to determine the adequacy and
strength of foundations
5. Analyze the results of tests on building materials, such as concrete, wood, asphalt,
or steel, for use in particular projects
6. Prepare cost estimates for materials, equipment, or labor to determine a project's
economic feasibility
7. Use design software to plan and design transportation systems, hydraulic systems,
and structures in line with industry and government standards
8. Perform or oversee surveying operations to establish building locations, site
layouts, reference points, grades, and elevations to guide construction Manage
the repair, maintenance, and replacement of public and private infrastructure

Civil engineering is all about people. It's the work that civil engineers do to
develop and improve the services and facilities that general people use in their
everyday life.

PROS OF BEING A CIVIL ENGINEER

Good pay: Skilled and qualified civil engineers often get to enjoy decent pay packages.
The quality of the college from which one pursues the course plays and integral role in
determining the salary package.
Job availability: Civil engineering is a core branch of engineering. It is also called an
evergreen branch. Most core branches generate better job opportunities (compared to
other engineering branches).

Chance to work abroad: This is especially true in cases of Gulf countries. Civil engineers
are in huge demand over there.

Excellent Government job opportunities: Civil engineers have access to a wide variety
of government job posts.

Job satisfaction: Civil engineers design and build things. They are capable of designing
and building structures like bridges, roads, stadiums, sewer systems, houses etc. They
are capable of touching the lives of people directly through their work.

Respected profession: Thanks to the point mentioned above, civil engineers have
cemented a place of their own in the society. It is a respected profession.

Access to multiple job roles/profiles: Civil engineers may don roles such as supervisor,
field officer, project manager, design specialist, research candidate etc.

Unique blend of technical expertise and creativity: It is a profession where you may
express your creativity, problem solving skills and technical expertise. In short, you won’t
be bored and work. You’ll always be motivated and mentally stimulated.

Away from small cubicle: Lot of civil engineers have access to site work. If you don’t
like typical cubicle work setup, you will love working outdoors! This profession takes civil
engineers to different locations and environments – hilly areas, seashore, villages, forests
etc.

CONS OF BEING A CIVIL ENGINEER

Long working hours: Many times, projects can be testing and challenging. Deadlines
can be hard to meet. Such situations could often result in long and tough working hours.
It is not uncommon to see civil engineers work in long shifts to see through projects.
Hazards at work site: A project site hosts huge construction machinery, vehicles,
building materials etc. Dust, sharp tools, pollution, fire and work accidents etc are
common occurrences at many work sites.

Remote locations: Working outdoors could be fun for some. But it is not true in cases of
many people. Civil engineers may end up working at some remote and hostile areas.
While it could be fun for some, many engineers don’t really enjoy it!

Increased liability (and thus pressure): Civil engineers usually design and build
structures. These structures usually have high strategic, commercial and political value.
Lot of planning, calculation and effort must be put into the design of construction of such
structures. Eye for detail is something that civil engineers must have. Errors can have
dire consequences. This increased liability often leads to pressure (in case of civil
engineers).

Other problems: Other notable problems include – political interference & pressure,
protests from locals (near or at site), dealing with corruption, legal disputes, labour
disputes and vandalism.

Desired Attributes of an Engineering Graduate

(American Society for Engineering Education: Engineering Education for a Changing World)

1 Good Communication Skills

2. Higher ethical standards

3. Ability to think critically and creatively; independently and cooperatively

4. Flexibility

5. Grasp of Engineering Science fundamentals

(math, statistics, physics and life sciences, information technologies)

6. Good understanding of design and manufacturing processes

7. Basic understanding of the context in which engineering is practiced

(economics, history, environment, customer and societal needs)

9. Possess a multi-disciplinary, system perspective

Skills in order of importance (in your career):

• writing

• engineering

• business/financial

• personal interaction

• computer

ROLE OF CIVIL ENGINEER IN THE SOCIETY

1. A civil engineer has to conceive, plan, estimate, get approval, create and maintain
all civil engineering activities
2. Civil engineer has a very important role in the development of the following
infrastructure:
2.1 measure and map the earth’s surface
2.2 Plan new townships and extension of existing towns
2.3 Build the suitable structures for the rural and urban areas for various utilities
2.4 Build tanks and dams to exploit water resources
2.5 Build rivers, navigation and flood control projects
2.6 Build canals and tributaries to take water to agricultural fields
2.7 Purify and supply water to the needy areas like houses, schools, offices etc.
2.8 Provide and maintain communication systems like roads, railways, harbors and
airports
2.9 Device system for control and efficient flow of traffic
2.10 Provide and maintain solid and waste water disposal system
2.11 Monitor land, water and air pollution and take measures to control them
 3. Fast growing industrialization has put heavy responsibilities on civil engineers to
preserve and protect the environment.

STUDENT ACTIVITY:

Make a write up on why you choose Civil Engineering as your course.

REFERENCES:

https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/civil-engineer/

https://www.coursehero.com/file/97864490/CEO-topic-3docx/