Module 1: History of Civil Engineering

Introduction
This lesson discusses the history of Civil Engineering and its practices. This also includes
the brief history of Civil Engineering in the Philippines and its accredited professional
organization, the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. (PICE). At the last part of this
module, an introduction to the BS Civil Engineering Curriculum as well as the Program
Educational Objectives (PEOs) and the Student Outcomes (SOs) were included.

Learning Outcomes
Intended Learning Outcome 1: Summarize the history of Civil Engineering and the profession

Topic Outcomes:
1. Recognize the important parts of the history of the Civil Engineering.
2. Identify the remarkable historical structures.
3. Discuss the history of the accredited professional organization for Civil Engineers.
4. Familiarize with the BSCE Curriculum.

History of Civil Engineering

It is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning of civil engineering,

however, that the history of civil engineering is a mirror of the history of human beings on this
earth. Man used the old shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh environment, and
used a tree trunk to cross the river, which being the demonstration of ancient age civil engineering.
Civil Engineering has been an aspect of life since the
beginnings of human existence. The earliest practices of
Civil engineering may have commenced between 4000 and
2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq)
when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus
causing a need for the construction of shelter. During this
time, transportation became increasingly important leading
to the development of the wheel and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engg and architecture, and
the term engineer and architect were mainly geographical variations referring to the same person,
often used interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500 BC) might
be considered the first instances of large structure constructions.
 Around 2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented
engineer, built a famous stepped pyramid for King
Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple tools
and mathematics he created a monument that stands to
this day. His greatest contribution to engineering was his
discovery of the art of building with shaped stones.
Those who followed him carried engineering to
remarkable heights using skill and imagination.
Ancient historic civil engineering constructions
include the Qanat water management system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer than 71
km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC), the Appian Way by Roman
engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in
Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c. 220 BC) and the stupas constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the
Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in Anuradhapura. The Romans developed civil
structures throughout their empire, including especially aqueducts, insulae, harbours, bridges,
dams and roads.
Other remarkable historical structures are Sennacherib's Aqueduct at Jerwan built in 691
BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around 220 BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over the Rhine
River built in 55 BC, numerous bridges built by other Romans in and around Rome(e.g. the pons
Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France) built in 19 BC; the extensive system
of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading and (more importantly) fast manoeuvring of
legions; extensive irrigation system constructed by the Hohokam Indians, Salt River, AZ around
600 AD; first dykes defending against high water in Friesland, The Netherlands around 1000 AD;
El Camino Real - The Royal Road, Eastern Branch, TX and Western Branch, NM (1500s AD).
Machu Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the
height of the Inca Empire is considered an engineering
marvel. It was built in the Andes Mountains assisted by
some of history’s most ingenious water resource
engineers. The people of Machu Picchu built a mountain
top city with running water, drainage systems, food
production and stone structures so advanced that they
endured for over 500years.
A treatise on Architecture, Book
called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was
published at 1AD in Rome and survived
to give us a look at engineering education in ancient times. It was probably
written around 15 BC by the Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his
patron, the emperor Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and
construction was carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and carpenters,
rising to the role of master builder. Knowledge was retained in guilds and seldom supplanted by
advances. Structures, roads and infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale
were incremental.
 One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and mathematical
problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of Archimedes in the 3rd century BC,
including Archimedes Principle, which underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical
solutions such as Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used arithmetic in
the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for excavation (volume) computations.

Educational & Institutional history of civil engineering

In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to incorporate all things civilian
as opposed to military engineering. The first engineering school, The National School of Bridges
and Highways, France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was John
Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton and some of his colleagues
formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met
informally over dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was little more
than a social society.
In 1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil
Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer
Thomas Telford became its first president. The institution received a
Royal Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a
profession. Its charter defined civil engineering as: “Civil engineering is
the application of physical and scientific principles, and its history is
intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and
mathematics throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide
ranging profession, including several separate specialized sub-disciplines, its history is linked to
knowledge of structures, material science, geography, geology, soil, hydrology, environment,
mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United States was Norwich
University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in
the United States was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such degree
to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.[1]

Civil Engineering in the Philippines and A Brief History of Philippine Institute Civil
Engineers, Inc. (PICE)

Civil Engineering is a professional discipline that deals with the design constructions,
including works like roads, bridges, pipelines, railways, canals, dams, sewage systems, airport and
etc. Civil Engineering also deals with the maintenance of the physical and natural built of the
environment, durability, and the safety in the field structure. Civil Engineers are united through
the mandate of organization of Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers and is usually called PICE.
This organization aims to build strong foundation among all Civil Engineers in the Philippines.
Civil Engineering is a professional discipline that deals with the design constructions,
including works like roads, bridges, pipelines, railways, canals, dams, sewage systems, airport and
etc. Civil Engineering also deals with the maintenance of the physical and natural built of the
environment, durability, and the safety in the field structure. Civil Engineers are united through
the mandate of organization of Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers and is usually called PICE.
This organization aims to build strong foundation among all Civil Engineers in the Philippines.

Brief History of PICE

December 11,1973 PICE was issued a certicate of

registration to culminate and fulfill the vision to merge the two
separate organizations in the country, Philippine Society of Civil
Engineers (PSCE) and Philippine Association of Civil
Engineers (PACE).
PSCE
Philippine Society of Civil Engineers (PSCE) was the
first Civil Engineering organization in the country formed by a
group of Civil Engineers mostly from the government sector and
was headed by Engr. Marcial Kasilag who holds the 1st slot in
the PRC Registry of Civil Engineers. PSCE was formed during
the late twenties.
PACE
In 1937, another group of Civil Engineers came and formed the Philippine Association of
Civil Engineers (PACE). They came mostly from private sector and Enrique Sto. Tomas Cortes
led the said group and be the first president of the organization. The main objectives of the
organization is to ascend the standards of the profession, inspire research and engineering
knowledge and technology to members, foster good fellowship among members, and promote
better relationship and communication with other technological and scientific societies.
PSCE and PACE as one
Philippine Association of Civil Engineers (PACE) proved that they are more active than
Philippine Society of Civil Engineers (PSCE) resulting to migration of members from PSCE to
PACE. Under the administration of the late PACE president Cesar A. Caliwara when he exerted
more effort to merge the two organization, calling both panel of representative to convene and
commence a series of conversation to make a new and united organization that will benefit the
entire Civil Engineers and Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) came and formed.

PICE Objectives and Goals

PICE aims to conscientiously advance the interest

and promote the welfare of members, promote prestige and
public awareness of the profession, and enhance social
responsibility and community involvement of Civil
Engineers. PICE also observes integrity, professionalism,
excellence, social responsibility and leadership as their core
values that must be develop and exercise among the
members of the organization.[2]
Introduction to BS Civil Engineering as a Bachelor Program and as a Profession

Curriculum Description
Civil Engineering is a profession that applies the basic principles of science in
conjunction with mathematical and computational tools to solve problems associated with
developing and sustaining civilized life on our planet.
The Civil Engineering curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to apply knowledge
of mathematics, calculus-based physics, chemistry, and at least one additional area of basic
science, consistent with the Program Educational Objectives; apply knowledge of technical
areas appropriate to civil engineering; conduct civil engineering experiments and analyze and
interpret the resulting data; design a system component, or process in more than one civil
engineering context; explain basic concepts in management, business, public policy, and
leadership; and explain the importance of professional licensure.
The BSCE Curriculum of Batangas State University (BatStateU) has a total of 188 credit
unit usually completed with eight (8) semesters and two (2) Midterm classes.
BatStateU – Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering has five (5) options of tracks/
specializations namely:
1. Structural Engineering
2. Construction Engineering and Management
3. Water Resources Engineering
4. Geotechnical Engineering
5. Transportation Engineering

Program Educational Objectives

The graduates of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering within three to five years after
graduation shall:
1. successfully participate as partners in nation-building in engineering projects
involving structural, geotechnical, water resources, transportation and construction
management; and
2. adhere to professional, moral and ethical standards in the practice of civil engineering

Student Outcomes
1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying
principles of engineering, science and mathematics.
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specific needs with
consideration of public health, safety and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social,
environmental and economic factors.
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations
and make informed judgments which must consider the impact of engineering solutions
in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership,
create collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals , plan tasks and meet
objectives.
 6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret
data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning
strategies.

References:
[1] http://www.thecivilengg.com/History.php
[2] https://steemit.com/engineering/@rigor/civil-engineering-and-a-brief-history-of-pice