FIELDS OF CIVIL

ENGINEERING
Learn and understand the different fields of Civil Engineering.
Intended Learning Outcome
At the end of the session, the students should be able to:

1. learn and understand the different fields of civil engineering; and

2. learn what are the roles of different fields of civil engineering.
INTRODUCTION
Civil engineering is regarded as one of the
most important engineering fields across the
globe.

The industry is about solving real world

problems through designing, constructing,
managing and maintaining the
infrastructure that plays a vital role in the
development of countries and supports
modern society. This includes buildings,
bridges, roads, airports, dams, sewage
systems, flood mitigation works and so on;
the list is endless.
 Structural
Engineering
 Structural Engineering
A specialty within the field of civil engineering — focuses on the
framework of structures, and on designing those structures to
withstand the stresses and pressures of their environment and
remain safe, stable and secure throughout their use.

Structural engineers make sure that buildings don't fall and

bridges don't collapse.
 What Does a Structural Engineer Do?
❑ The majority of structural engineers work primarily as consultants to architects
or design-build contractors. The architect or design-builder comes up with a
building layout, and then it's the structural engineer's responsibility to calculate
the loads (such as snow, wind and earthquake forces), fit the structure to the
architecture, and decide on what structural systems to use.

❑ Though structural engineers generally are involved with the design of new
buildings, they are sometimes involved in the demolition or dismantling of a
structure, either permanently or in order to repair it. They also inspect structures
both during and after construction to ensure that they are properly constructed.
Construction
Engineering
Management
Construction Engineering Management
A specialty within the field of civil engineering in which the
application of technical and scientific knowledge to infrastructure
construction projects. While engineering focuses on design and
construction management is concerned with overseeing the actual
construction, CEM often represents a blend of both disciplines,
bridging design and management or project execution.
What Does a Construction Engineering Manager Do?
❑ Construction engineering managers are key players in the successful completion
of construction projects. Over the course of his or her career, a construction
engineering manager is likely to work on and oversee a broad range of projects.
This may include the design of drainage and sewage systems, building
construction, or even larger infrastructure projects like developing highways or
railroads.
❑ Others choose to focus on one particular type of construction and build a career
around it. Some common specialties include:

➢ Commercial business or housing construction

➢ Electrical system design and HVAC/mechanical

➢ Highway/heavy construction (bridge building, airport design, water waste

management systems, etc.)
Geotechnical Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering
A specialization within civil engineering that involves
investigating and understanding what is beneath the ground’s
surface. It is the application of scientific methods and engineering
principles to the acquisition, interpretation, and use of knowledge of
materials of the Earth's crust and earth materials for the solution of
engineering problems and the design of engineering works.
What Does a Geotechnical Engineer Do?
❑ Subsurface investigation: the job of the geotechnical engineer essentially starts
with a collection of soil samples from the project's intended site, using bores and
test pits. Amongst other factors, the analysis will determine the ground's stress
bearing capability and stability.

❑ Field test: after research into soil quality and stress-bearing factors, geotechnical
engineers must determine whether issues like erosion, settlement and slope will
pose a safety risk to the proposed project.

❑ Computer analysis: as a geotechnical engineer, you will be required to analyse the

results of subsurface investigations and field tests with dedicated software. Your
ability to understand data and model future conditions will be crucial to the
development of the construction project. After analysis, geotechnical engineers
may be required to assist in the development of earthworks and foundations
suitable to the conditions of the site.
Water Resources Engineering
Water Resources Engineering
A specific kind of civil engineering that involves the design of
new systems and equipment that help manage human water
resources. The study and management of equipment, facilities and
techniques that are used to manage and preserve life’s most
plentiful resource. In addition to assessing how and the best ways in
which to control water as it pertains to water-related activities –
such as irrigation, waste disposal and canal development
What Does a Water Resource Engineer Do?
❑ Water Resource Engineers must create new equipment and systems to increase
the effectiveness and efficiency of water treatment and aquatic resource
management. A typical workday involves the analysis of data from relevant areas,
then designing new or improved facilities to enhance the cleansing effects of the
water treatment system.
❑ A Water Resource Engineer must take budgetary constraints, government
regulations, and other factors into consideration when designing these systems.

❑ A Water Resource Engineer may then oversee the construction and

implementation of these systems to ensure that they are properly assembled.
After completion, they may manage the maintenance of these systems.
Transportation
Engineering
Transportation Engineering

A field of civil engineering that is involved in the planning,

design, operation, and maintenance of safe and efficient
transportation systems. These systems include roadways, railways,
waterways, and intermodal operations. Typically, the demand is the
amount of traffic (people, cars, railcars, barges) that is expected to
use a particular transportation facility, while the supply is the
quantity and type of infrastructure components (roadways, bridges,
pavements, etc.). These systems are typically large and expensive.
What Does a Transportation Engineer Do?
❑ Transportation Engineers focus on designing new transportation systems and
infrastructures, including highways, airports, trains, bridges, etc. They do this by
analyzing data, identifying problems, and solving them with innovative solutions.
Solving these complex problems typically requires the collection and evaluation of
systems, traffic flow, accidents, costs, and other statistics. Transport Engineers
may also be required to collaborate with other parties on certain projects,
including utility companies and government departments.
 Environment and
Energy Engineering
Environment and Energy Engineering
A branch of energy engineering which seeks to efficiently use
energy and to maintain the environment. Energy engineers require
knowledge across many disciplines. Careers include work in the built
environment, renewable and traditional energy industries.

Energy engineering requires at least an understanding of

mechanics, thermodynamics, mathematics, materials, stoichiometry,
electrical machines, manufacturing processes, and energy systems.
Environment and Energy Engineering
Environmental engineering can be branched into two main areas:

Internal environments may consist of housing or offices or other commercial

properties. In this area, the environmental engineering sometimes stands for
the designing of building services to condition the internal environment to a
comfortable state or the removal of excess pollutants such as carbon dioxide or
other harmful substances.
External environments may be water courses, air, land or seas, and may require
new strategies for harnessing energy or the creation of treatment facilities for
polluting technologies.
What Does an Environment & Energy Engineer Do?
❑ Environmental and energy engineers use the principles of engineering, soil
science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems.

❑ One of the most important responsibilities of environmental engineering is to

prevent the release of harmful chemical and biological contaminants into the air,
water, and soil. This requires extensive knowledge of the chemistry and biology of
the potential contaminants as well as the industrial or agricultural processes that
might lead to their release. With this knowledge, new processes can be designed,
or existing processes can be modified, to reduce or eliminate the release of
pollutants.