English for Civil Engineering

Prof.ssa Elena INTORCIA

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Contents
The field of Civil Engineering
What is Civil Engineering? ................................................ 4
The main branches of Civil Engineering .................................... 5
Who are civil engineers? .................................................. 7
Getting a professional qualification as a Chartered Engineer ............... 9
Reading: The future of Civil Engineering ................................. 10
Article: Building tomorrow ................................................ 11
Activities ................................................................ 13

Specifications
The Millau Viaduct ........................................................ 14
Quantities ................................................................ 15
Descriptions: Appearance .................................................. 16
Vocabulary: Shapes ........................................................ 17
Loads and forces .......................................................... 18

Buildings
Types of buildings and structure classifications used throughout the world...20
House types ............................................................... 22

Engineering and sustainability

Alternative living ........................................................ 24
Green cities .............................................................. 25
Future cities ............................................................ 26
Energy Performance Certificates ........................................... 28
Green buildings ........................................................... 30

Glossary
Phrasal verbs for Civil Engineering ....................................... 33
Glossary: Construction .................................................... 35

Notes
All the audio and video materials referred to in the following activities are
available on the CLAUS Moodle page (Centro Linguistico di Ateneo Università del
Sannio), section Corsi DING, “Lingua Inglese per Ingegneria Civile”
(http://www.clausunisannio.it/course/index.php?categoryid=13).
Contact your English Professor for the access key.

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The field of Civil Engineering

What is Civil Engineering?

Before talking about Civil Engineering, let’s consider what is meant by
“Engineering” at large. This word comes from the Latin term “ingenerare”, which
means to invent, to create or to regulate. Therefore, Engineering can be
defined as the professional art of applying scientific principles to everyday
things to help make life easier.
In particular, Civil Engineering is about designing, making and maintaining
built environments, and helping sustain natural landscapes. Every road, bridge,
building, harbour, airport or energy facility depends upon the creativity,
imagination and skill of civil engineers.
If you choose a career in civil engineering you could be working across the
globe to construct sustainable buildings, develop transport systems and to
provide clean water.

Before watching
 Why have you chosen to join Civil Engineering?
 Which subjects do you think will help you most in your future career?
 Which duties and tasks are involved in the profession of a civil engineer?

While watching
 Watch the video at the link provided
below, then answer the questions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn0pZlLlv‐4
1. What do civil engineers combine?
2. What will you do as a civil engineer?
3. In which cases should you be
considering civil engineering?

After watching
 Were your ideas about Civil Engineering and the role of civil engineers
consistent with what is explained in the video? Have you learned anything new
about these points?

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The main branches of Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering is regarded as one of the most important engineering fields
across the globe. It is the second‐oldest engineering discipline after military
engineering and 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. Civil engineers are at the forefront of
innovation in our societies.
As you can see, although Civil Engineering is a profession that generally
focuses on creating physical manmade structures, it is an extremely broad field
that encompasses multiple sub‐disciplines.
Here are some of the key areas of this sector.

Construction Engineering
The primary role of a construction engineer is
to manage and oversee an entire construction
project. This doesn’t just involve the
planning and physical building stage, but also
the transportation of materials and site
development.
Their daily tasks may involve evaluating
logistical operations, reviewing contracts and coordinating contractors. They
also need to make sure that projects are completed efficiently and safely.

Structural Engineering
Structural Engineering involves studying and
analysing the design of bridges, flyovers,
marine structures and other buildings. These
engineers are responsible for ensuring these
buildings aren’t just aesthetically pleasing,
but also safe, durable and serviceable. This
requires the identification of the loads,
forces and stress which might act upon a
structure.
When designing a building, the engineers must
consider multiple factors. For example, the cost and constructability, as well
as its strength and stability. They also need to make sure the building is
designed to withstand environmental factors like earthquakes, floods and
aggressive winds. Competent maths and physics skills are essential, as well as
sound knowledge of materials such as concrete, stone, steel and so on.

Transportation Engineering
Transport engineering is still one of the most pivotal civil engineering
disciplines. Engineers in this sector design, construct and maintain all forms
of public transportation systems across the world, including roads, railways,
ports and airports.

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 Their aims are to improve the overall traffic
movement, reduce traffic congestion and
minimise the risk of accidents from
happening. This can be achieved by either
designing a completely new system, or by
altering an existing one.
However, in order to effectively improve
transportation links, engineers need to take
into consideration a variety of factors, such as the economic, political and
ethical impact the new system will have.
With automobiles and other future transportation advancements planned to be
introduced in the upcoming years, transportation engineers will always be in
demand.

Geotechnical Engineering
Another important branch of Civil Engineering
is Geotechnical Engineering. Specialists who
work in this field study and analyse the rock
and soil of the area where a civil structure
is currently standing or where construction is
planned. These engineers must have vast
knowledge of soil science, material science as
well as the mechanics and hydraulics involved
in safely designing a range of structures and
buildings.

Water Resources Engineering

Water resources engineers try to
improve the quality and quantity
of water resources in a specified
area. They design and construct
hydraulic structures (typically
dams, canals, water distribution
systems) that collect and manage
water as a natural resource.
This area of engineering adopts principles of hydrology, meteorology and
resource management (among other elements), so extensive knowledge is required.
These engineers usually focus on flood and storm water analysis, wastewater
treatment procedures and ground water remediation.

Environmental Engineering
This sub‐discipline focuses on creating ways to conserve highly populated areas
and preventing pollution from effecting the natural environment.
Environmental engineers conduct detailed analysis on a wide range of
environmental problems and develop solutions to these issues. Some of the tasks
they are responsible for include solid waste treatment/management, treatment of
water sources and improving the quality of water and air. Understanding of
atmospheric sciences and hydrology is needed in order to excel in this career.

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Who are civil engineers?

The expression ‘Civil engineer’ covers a huge range of jobs and all types of
engineering. Civil engineers come from all different backgrounds, but they all
spend years training, learning and getting qualifications.
They are responsible for the basic needs and facilities (or infrastructure) of
modern society. They improve systems and processes that allow humans and nature
to coexist with minimal impact. Modern society could not function without them.
We need civil engineers to design and build higher‐capacity transportation
systems. We need them to construct larger commercial and industrial complexes.
We need them for water supply and pollution control. We need efficient, cost‐
effective and innovative repair or replacement of civil infrastructure such as
roads, bridges and buildings.

 Watch the video* about the duties and

responsibilities involved in the job of a
civil engineer and complete the text below.
*Link: https://youtu.be/‐XIQSrYi0O0

From 4,500‐year‐old Egyptian ………………………………………1

and ancient Roman ………………………………………2 to today's
monolithic ………………………………………3 and giant
………………………………………4, Civil Engineering has a long and impressive history.
Civil engineers design and maintain many of the structures around us, including
buildings, roads, bridges, and the systems that move water and waste for our
communities. For every project, civil engineers must meet ………………………………………5
standards, prioritize ………………………………………6, consider ………………………………………7 risks and the
………………………………………8 of materials, and anticipate ………………………………………9 for building as
well as long‐term maintenance.
From entry‐level positions to project leads, this is a ………………………………………10 career
that requires continuous ………………………………………11.
It's typical for civil engineers to ………………………………………12.
………………………………………13 engineers ………………………………………14 large construction projects.
………………………………………15 engineers ensure the solid foundation of engineering projects
like ………………………………………16 and tall buildings.
………………………………………17 engineers design and evaluate plans for major buildings,
bridges, and ………………………………………18 and make sure they are built to ………………………………………19.
……………………………………………20 engineers plan ……………………………………………21 construction and
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…………………………………………… , as well as design airports, subways, and metro transit
systems.
Civil engineers often work outdoors at construction ………………………………………23 to monitor
progress and troubleshoot any problems that ………………………………………24.
Most work full time. They need a ………………………………………25 degree in civil engineering,
one of its specialties, or in Civil Engineering technology. A Professional
Engineering ………………………………………26 is required for many jobs.
Civil engineering is a complex field, but it's one that leaves a lasting
………………………………………27.

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Activities

 Consider the following skills and qualities, important for a civil engineer,
and write them in the appropriate table.

have good analytical skills have attention to detail be athletic

be married be good at mathematics be messy
be good at multitasking be a non‐smoker be well‐groomed
have good problem‐solving skills have a creative mind be impatient
have stamina speak foreign language

essential (= a must) quite useful (= an asset) unimportant / irrelevant negative / unacceptable

 Now complete the following sentences choosing suitable skills and qualities
from the table.
Civil engineers must …
They may / should also …
They don’t have to …
They mustn’t …

 Use the past form of the modal verbs in the following sentences.
1. The structural engineer ………………………………………………………… (must) finish some complex
structural calculations before going home last night.
2. The client ………………………………………………………… (can not) come to the meeting last week
because he was away on business.
3. The students ………………………………………………………… (mustn’t) enter the construction site
without wearing helmets when they visited the site yesterday.
4. The structural engineer ………………………………………………………… (not have to) call the
client as he managed to come over to his office.
5. The construction manager was glad to see that the workers
………………………………………………………… (can) dig the holes much faster with the new wide‐
bucket excavator.

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Getting a professional qualification as a Chartered Engineer
Applying and studying for a professional qualification gives you letters after
your name. This tells employers how skilled and knowledgeable you are. It also
shows how committed you are to your work as a civil engineer.
To become a Chartered Engineer (CEng) you need more than just a degree,
academically. This is the top civil engineering qualification that marks out
the best in civil engineering. Work, study and professional review are part of
the CEng qualification process.

Why become a Chartered Engineer?

When you become a Chartered Engineer (CEng), it demonstrates to your employers
and clients that you have had your competence independently assessed, your
credentials verified, and have made a commitment to Continuous Professional
Development (CPD).
Become a Chartered Engineer (CEng) offers many benefits:
~ Use of an internationally protected title, e.g. Chartered Engineer
~ Recognition as a professional in your field
~ Improved career opportunities and salary prospects
~ Greater influence within your organisation
~ Opportunities to connect with influential and inspirational people
~ International recognition of your professional competence and commitment.

Video
 Watch the video about the Chartered Engineer Structure and make notes for
each of the topics below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCLfhsw53dU
a. What this structure represents
b. The titles available
c. The opportunities of chartership

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Reading

The future of Civil Engineering

What skills will civil engineers need in the future?
Considering the growing digital transformation
within the construction industry, new skills
may be necessary to civil engineers in the
future in order to adapt to changing
technologies.
What will the civil engineering world be like
in the next few years?
What roles will civil engineers play in that
radically transformed world?

ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineering) asked those questions to a

gathering of 60+ thought leaders from diverse backgrounds and countries — civil
engineers, engineers from other disciplines, architects, educators, and other
leaders. The result was “The Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025”, which
challenges the civil engineer to rise to a new level of leadership and
professionalism — to be entrusted by society to create a sustainable world and
raise the global quality of life.
Consequently, civil engineers, as a body of professionals, should exhibit
mastery in five key areas:
 planners, designers, constructors, and operators of society’s economic and
social engine — the built environment: as masters of a new, more expansive
body of knowledge and skill base, civil engineers will lead global, multi‐
disciplinary teams made up of professional engineers, technologists, and
technicians, all with well‐defined roles;
 stewards of the natural environment and its resources: they will introduce
new technology, techniques, and financial methods for sustainable planning,
design, construction, operation, and maintenance. Civil engineers will
routinely encourage owners to adopt new, sustainable approaches to the built
and natural environment;
 innovators and integrators of ideas and technology across the public,
private, and academic sectors: You will define the strategic research
direction for leading‐edge infrastructure and environmental technologies and
promote faster application of new approaches. Multi‐national knowledge
exchange will become your staple, along with faster integration of technology
through spirited partnerships;
 managers of risk and uncertainty caused by natural events, accidents, and
other threats; civil engineers will need to gain mastery in assessing and
managing risk and forge new tactics for reducing the incidence and effects of
natural and man‐made disasters;
 leaders in discussions and decisions shaping public environmental and
infrastructure policy: they will greatly expand their role as public policy
leaders for broad‐based policy discussions and serve as opportunity finders
as well as problem solvers. You will be the go‐to professionals for insights
on public policy decisions that shape the built and natural environment.
(Source: https://www.asce.org/vision2025/)

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 Read the article below, then do the activities suggested.

Building Tomorrow: The Future of Civil Engineering

by James Patefield
Published: 22 February 2021

The future is approaching us at an accelerating

pace, with technology and innovations shaping
the way we think, act, and interact with the
world around us. We’re becoming accustomed to
fast processors and rapidly growing cities. But
their integration has been limited by innovation
in the civil engineering sector.
Of course, budgeting and time constraints have limited new approaches to create
environments that are symbiotic with smart technology. But with significant
investment being poured into public construction, civil engineering now has the
opportunity to create a bright future for everyone. Here, we look at how civil
engineers will build the future.

Smart cities
Technological development and civil engineering have sustained a close
relationship in their ability to continue fresh approaches to cities. But the
future of civil engineering will utilise technological integration rather than
its use in construction alone.
The United Nations believes that 68 per cent of the world population will live
in a city by 2050. This demonstrates the need for cities that can sustain a
high population safely. For this reason, experts expect anticipate that future
cities will be integrated with technology to match their growing needs. So how
will our cities become smart?
Artificial intelligence will be responsible for most transport usage in smart
cities. Driverless cars will be connected to each other, traffic lights, and
parking locations to measure how to deal with congestion on our roads and
increase efficiency in cities while increasing safety for pedestrians.
Waste in cities can also be approached with technology, indicating when
a collection is needed as opposed to a regular schedule. In the long run, this
may have more economic benefits, especially for taxpayers.
Cities, councils, and nations may embrace this technological transformation by
allowing important information to be placed in the hands of the public.
Licenses and IDs may be accessed on mobile phones. People could have the
ability to control their town — reserving a bench in the park or requesting a
public transport pickup.
Of course, civil engineering must facilitate these changes. When roads are
constructed, do they consider the use of driverless vehicles? When a building
is created, can smart waste facilities be included in the building’s
infrastructure? Reclaimed land for park use can also present civil engineers
the unique opportunity to create more than a natural reserve in city centres,
with smart use being a focus of their construction.

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Sustainability first
The changing attitudes of the public do not only shape how civil engineers are
constructing buildings, but which materials are used in the process. Certainly,
the past five years has created a deep perception of the need for sustainable
practices in every aspect of our lives. Never has this been more important for
the construction industry, where reports indicate that they contribute 32 per
cent of landfill waste in the UK.

A connected world
Advancements in Civil Engineering are not only helping to create infrastructure
within and between the cities of the future but are showing signs of connecting
the wider world. While infrastructure such as the Eurotunnel was
considered groundbreaking for its grand engineering feat, one that seemed
inconceivable before it was attempted, the future of international connection
belongs to bridges.
Already, engineers across the globe have connected
countries through bridges. The Rainbow International
Bridge connects the Unites States and Canada over the
Niagara River, and the New Europe Bridge connects
Bulgaria and Romania over Danube River. However, new
engineering capabilities are now connecting countries
separated by seas.
In 2018, Chinese President Xi Jingping opened a
bridge that connected Hong Kong to Macau, securing
the bond between the mainland nation and the
Special Administrative Region. At 34 miles, it’s
the largest sea‐crossing bridge ever constructed.
This bridge creates a metaphorical connection
between these regions as well as a physical one,
emphasising their ties.
In the future, some engineers are looking ahead to see how similar bridges can
help connect the British Isles. While the Prince of Wales Bridge exists to
create more links between England and Wales over the River Severn, we should
expect bridges to connect Northern Ireland to the UK mainland at some point.
The idea has a mythical origin in the Giant’s Causeway, but realistic proposals
have been made to connect the island of Ireland to the UK since 1799.
Only in February 2020 has UK Government officials began looking into the
potential type of crossing that could be constructed over the Irish Sea. It’s
been estimated to cost between £15 billion to £20 billion. While a significant
investment, the UK hopes that such a bridge could benefit trade relations with
the Republic of Ireland. It would also allow a more physical union between
Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK to be created.
With more aspects of our lives moving online, it’s easy to forget the
importance of the physical world. Whether you’re experiencing the engineering
prowess of a sea bridge, enjoying smart technology in a public park, or
navigating yourself across an autonomous city, the process of creating
experiences for the future begins with civil engineers and creating a vision of
what can be created going forward.

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Activities

Vocabulary
 Read the text and match the highlighted words with their Italian meaning.

1. impresa ………………………………… 8. rivoluzionario …………………………………

2. terraferma ………………………………… 9. abilità …………………………………
3. contribuente ………………………………… 10. panchina …………………………………
4. raccolta ………………………………… 11. discarica …………………………………
5. velocità ………………………………… 12. ad un certo punto …………………………………
6. riversato in ………………………………… 13. resoconti …………………………………
7. a lungo andare ………………………………… 14. documenti di identità ……………………………
8. senza autista ………………………………… 16. impianti per rifiuti ………………………………

 Match the words on the left (1‐6) to the words on the right (a‐f) to make
word partnerships from the text.
1. sustainable a) facilities
2. rapidly b) attitudes
3. time c) practices
4. changing d) relations
5. waste e) constraints
6. trade f) growing

 Answer the following questions.

1. What obstacles are hindering the creating of “smart” environments?
2. According to the author, what will civil engineers use in the future?
3. What does the United Nations believe and what does this involve?
4. How will cities become smart?
5. What is the role of civil engineers in this scenario of technological
transformation?
6. How can sustainability be achieved in the construction sector?
7. How have engineers across the world connected countries? Provide some
examples from the article.
8. What is a risk not to underestimate, according to the author?

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Specifications

The Millau Viaduct

 Which of the following can you see in the photo?

cable deck pier pylon span

 Watch the video about the Millau viaduct at the link below then answer the
following questions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgWtJzPa‐Rs
1. Why is Millau Viaduct an Engineering achievement?
2. What about is design?
3. Which materials have been used for its construction?
4. Take notes about the Millau viaduct construction process.

 Watch again and complete the specifications of the bridge.

Millau Bridge: specifications

Structure (1) cable‐ stayed Length of outer spans (7) m

Completion date (2) Number of piers (8)

Material: cables and (3) Height of pylons above deck (9) m

deck
Material: piers (4) Height of deck above water (10) m

Total number of spans (5) (11) m

Length of deck
Length of inner spans (6) m Width of deck (12) m

Millau viaduct facts

BrE: metre, millimetre, centimetre
AmE: meter, millimeter, centimeter
Don’t add -s to abbreviations of units.
Say: one hundred metres/kilometres;
write 100 m/100 km
https://learnodo‐newtonic.com/millau‐viaduct‐
facts
The Millau viaduct is the tallest
breathtaking Cable‐stayed bridge in the
world and consistently ranked as one of the
greatest engineering achievements ever.

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Quantities
(source: Bonamy D., Technical English 1, Pearson)
Warm up
 Try the quiz. Match the names of the buildings to the pictures. Write the
number and the approximate height of each building.

 Read the FAQs from the website and match them to the answers.

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 Descriptions
Source: Bonamy D., Technical English 2, Pearson

Appearance

 Do you know where these buildings are?

 Choose one of the buildings and describe its appearance.

 Read these newspaper cuttings. Match the descriptions with the buildings.

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Vocabulary: Shapes
 Match the nouns to the shapes.
circle  cone  cube  cylinder  hemisphere  rectangle
 semicircle  sphere  square  triangle

 Write an adjective for each noun.

Example: cylinder – cylindrical
circle  semicircle  rectangle 
cone  sphere  cube 
square  hemisphere  triangle 

 Complete the sentences with suitable adjectives or nouns.

1. A surfboard sail is roughly ………………………………………… in shape, with one curved
side.
2. A food tin (or can) is basically a metal ………………………………………….
3. TVs and computers normally have ………………………………………… screens.
4. Don’t cut that wood with the hand saw. It’s quicker to use the
………………………………………… saw.
5. My bass amplifier is the new ………………………………………… model. It’s exactly 30 x 30
x 30 cm.
6. The Earth is not a perfect …………………………………………. It is flatter at the poles.
7. The spaceship’s re‐entry capsule is in the shape of a ………………………………………….
8. A protractor is a ………………………………………… instrument for measuring angles.

 Underline the stressed syllable in each word.

3 tri ang le 2. tri ang u lar 3. circ le 4. cir cu lar
7 rect ang le 6. rect ang u lar 7. cy lin der 8. cy lind ric al

Useful language
What does it look like?
Materials What’s it made of?
Appearance What colour is it?
What shape is it? How long is it?
Dimensions
How wide is it?

What’s it for? Is it flexible?

Use What’s it used for? Properties Is it water‐resistant?
What does it do?

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Loads and forces

Loads
Structural Loads: a load is a force which applies to a structure tending to produce
deformations, stresses or displacements in the structure and it must withstand
these types of generated actions.
All structures must be able to withstand various different loads or they will
fall apart. Structural load can be caused by gravity (which gives physical
structures their weight) or it can have a dynamic source like wind flow,
rainfall, snowfall, seismic tremors.
If the loads acting on the structure exceed the load bearing capacity of the
construction, it has a negative impact on the structure. The forces that are
released when a structure is subjected to different loads can change the shape
of structural components or of the entire construction.
The weight of the structure itself is called dead load while the weight of
anything or anyone on the structure (e.g. people or furniture in a house,
vehicles on a bridge) is called the live load. In a hurricane, typhoon or
tornado, a structure is exposed to very strong wind load. When the soil beneath
a structure sinks unevenly, the structure is subjected to settlement problems.
During an earthquake, the ground beneath a structure moves backwards and
forwards due to seismic tremors, in other words, earthquake load.
Dead loads and live loads are vertical loads because they push downwards a
structure whereas environmental loads can be vertical (e.g. snow or rain) or
horizontal/lateral (e.g. wind).
Environmental loads (wind, rain, snow, eartquake) are also called dynamic loads
as they aren’t always present and they vary in intensity. They are considered
unpredictable sources because they can suddenly become very intense resulting
in severe damage even to otherwise stable constructions.

Dead Loads: Vertical loads that are fixed in

position and are produced by the weight of
the elements of the structure or the whole
structure with all its permanent components.
Examples are: own weight of structural
member and super imposed loads (e.g. walls
and flooring cover)

Live Loads: consist mainly of occupancy

loads (e.g. people and furniture) in
buildings and traffic loads on bridges.
They may be either fully or partially in
place or not present at all, and may also
change in location.

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Forces
When a structure is subjected to different loads, forces are released that have
an impact on the shape and the integrity of the structural components (or of
the entire structure).
 Compression causes the structure to be squeezed together; when it is
squeezed, it tends to become shorter;
 tension makes a material stretch; when a material is pulled apart, it tends
to become longer;
 bending occurs when a structure is subjected to compression from above and
tension from below;
 shearing is a force that causes parts of a structure to slide past one
another in opposite directions;
 torsion is the force that causes a structural member to twist about a
longitudinal axis.

Forces cause deformation on the materials. If a material is quite flexible and

gets back to its original shape after the impact of a certain force, the
structure experiences elastic deformation.
If a material is more rigid and the structure does not gain back its original
shape after the force is removed, the structure experiences permanent change
due to plastic deformation.
Since the different loads acting on the structure and the forces released
during the interaction can greatly inlfuence the stability of a construction,
engineers must take into consideration the impact of these loads and forces
prior to construction, during structural design.

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Types of buildings and structure classifications used throughout the world

Office Buildings
The main types of office buildings include:
office towers: office buildings which can rise
up to 60 storeys in many cities throughout the
world.
walk‐up: Many smaller towns build 2, 3 or 4‐
floor office buildings because there isn’t
demand for hundreds of office spaces in a
high‐rise tower.

Residential Buildings
There are many different types of residential buildings. The most common
include: detached single‐family; townhouse; apartment; condominium.

Retail Buildings
Retail buildings can be single shop or multi‐shop
structures. The types of retail buildings you find in
most towns and cities are:
Shops/Boutiques/Services: single business buildings
that house a retail outlet or service‐based business.
Big Box: these are the huge retail stores that cover
all kinds of stuff within a particular sector.
Malls: they come in the strip mall and indoor mall variety. There are also
outdoor malls in warmer climates. A mall is a building that houses multiple
businesses and services in one place. The concept is to create a place that
attracts more people on account of having a large group and variety of stores,
retailers and services.

Hospitality Buildings
Hospitality buildings are structures built to house
and/or feed people. These are often stand‐alone
buildings except for hotels often include
restaurants.
Here are the different types of hospitality
buildings: hotels; motels; resorts; bed and
breakfasts (B&Bs); hostels; restaurants.

Gathering Buildings
Gathering or assembly style buildings are venues that host sporting events,
concerts, various shows (i.e. home shows, auto shows, boat shows), etc.
They include: stadiums; arenas; theaters; auditoriums; conference centers.

Religious Buildings
Examples of different types of religious buildings include: church; temple;
mosque; cathedral; monastery; synagogue.

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Multi-Purpose Buildings
A fairly new type of building is a multi‐
purpose building that incorporates several
functions.
Multi‐purpose skyscraper: the most common
multi‐purpose is the skyscraper that includes
retail, office, hospitality and residential
spaces.
John Hancock building on Michigan Ave in
Mall/Office space: another multi‐purpose Chicago, IL. This building has office
space, residential units and retail space.
building that includes a section with offices. You could theoretically work, shop and live
in the building never having to go outside.

Institutional Civic Buildings

Most towns and cities have one or many civic buildings that
are built to serve the community. Most are owned by the
government, but not all. Among the various types of civic
buildings are:
hospitals and clinics; libraries: community centers;
museums; courthouses; police/fire; prisons; post offices.

Educational Buildings
Educational buildings are schools. Most towns have
one or more. There are many types of schools. The
main ones are: pre‐school; elementary; middle; high
school; college; university; technical.

Industrial Buildings
Many towns have sections zoned for industrial buildings which include
manufacturing facilities such as a factory and warehousing facilities.
Arguably, infrastructure buildings fall in this category as well (various types
of plants such as power plants, nuclear plants, water treatment plants, etc.).
The different types of industrial buildings include: manufacturing plant;
factory; warehouse; distribution center; storage facilities.

Agricultural Buildings
Another building concept are those used in agriculture. These structures
usually house animals, but can also store produce and/or food for animals. Some
types of agricultural buildings are: barns; greenhouses; silos; chicken coop.

Terminals (Transportation Buildings)

Many different types of structures are designed and
built to facilitate travel. Broadly speaking,
they’re terminals that serve all kinds of
transportation methods. The main types of terminals
are: ferry; airport; train; bus.

Recreational Buildings
Recreational buildings are those where you can engage in various activities
and/or be entertained. Here’s an overview listing some of the different types
of recreational buildings: fitness centers; bowling alleys; indoor climbing
gyms; ice rinks; public swimming pools; indoor trampoline parks.
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House types
Since time began, people have been making a home for themselves. No matter the
culture or the country, the concept of home has always been important. Whether
it’s a place or a feeling, humans are constantly reimagining and redefining
what a home means.
A basic division is between free‐standing or single‐family detached homes and
various types of attached or multi‐family residential dwellings. Both may vary
greatly in scale and the amount of accommodation provided.
Here is a list of some common house types.
Apartment
An apartment is part of a collection of similar units
in one building structure. An important feature is
that you have to rent the place from a landlord.
Apartments can have many convenience factors like an
on‐site repair worker, laundry, gym facilities or a
pool. Though you don’t get as much privacy, there are
many additional pros and cons to weigh when deciding
whether to buy or rent.

Condo
If you like the conveniences that come with an
apartment but are looking to own, a condo might be a
great fit for you. Instead of having a building
manager or landlord oversee your unit, you’re in
charge of all the repairs and the upkeep. Condos are
a great option for city living and for older adults
who want to own and have a mortgage but don’t want to
deal with the upkeep of a single‐family home.

Co-Op
A co‐op (or housing cooperative) is quite different
from the others. When you buy into a co‐op, you’re
buying a share of the company that owns the building
rather than actual property. The number of shares you
own typically correlates to how much space you’re
afforded in the co‐op. Once accepted into a co‐op and
after purchasing shares, you’ll have a vote on common
spaces, and you’ll split maintenance costs and other
fees.

Single-Family (Detached)
The key feature of a single‐family home is that it’s
completely detached from other housing units, unlike
condos, apartments or townhomes. The majority of
homes in the U.S. are single‐family homes. They’re
less common in highly populated areas and are
typically found in suburbs. Single‐family homes are
usually more private and there are more options for
personalization.

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Townhome
A townhouse or townhome is an individually owned
dwelling that shares at least one wall with another
unit and has its own entrance from the street. They are
most popular in big cities where space is limited.
Townhomes typically make use of vertical space with
multiple stories but save horizontal space by sitting
side by side with other homes.

Rowhouse
A rowhouse is one of a group of low‐rise residential
buildings that shares one or both side walls and a
roofline with the structures next door. A rowhouse is
typically just two to five stories in height and home
to one or two families. However, some of Brooklyn’s
rowhouses have been converted into a greater number of
apartments.

Cottage
Cottage‐style houses are often described as cozy and
charming. They are typically small but have a big
personality. The style was brought over from Europe,
specifically England, where cottages were the home to
working‐class farmers. In the US, some people buy
them for use as vacation homes, though many people use
them as primary residences. They often feature wood
siding or wood shingle siding (sometimes made from
brick or stone), small porches and a fireplace.

Farmhouse
Farmhouse‐style homes typically have tall ceilings,
exposed beams, a large front porch, a rectangular
layout and a central fireplace. Some farmhouse‐style
homes have barn‐shaped roofs while others aren’t as on
the nose. The details are typically rustic, often
featuring exposed brick and stone. Modern farmhouse
style takes a rustic look and combines it with more
clean lines and other updated features.
Ranch
Ranch‐style houses appeared in the 1930s, but their
popularity boomed in the 1950s. These homes are
typically one story and feature low‐pitched roofs,
large windows, sliding glass doors, large backyards,
open living spaces and attached garages. They come in a
variety of iterations like split‐level, storybook,
California and raised ranch.

Split-Level
Split‐level homes emerged from the ranch‐style home
design and became popular in the 1950s and ’60s. What
sets a split‐level home apart is how the living spaces
of the home are separated. They have multiple floors
connected with short flights of stairs.

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Alternative Living
 Watch the video “Alternative energy” at the link below, then answer the
questions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V‐oIbJ9Wn9E
~ One of the biggest challenges we face today: …
~ What do we need energy for?
~ Which problems are caused by traditional energy sources?
~ Why is the development of alternative energy sources becoming important?
~ Which forms of energy do we need?
~ What kind of energy will we be using in the future?
~ Which green energy is used in Iceland?
~ What are they building in the UAE?
~ Describe the main features of this place.

Vocabulary
Energy Alternative energy
available: …………………………… carbon footprint: ……………………………
availability: …………………………… climate change: ……………………………
food scraps: …………………………… development: ……………………………
fossil fuels: …………………………… factory: ……………………………
landfill: …………………………… harmful: ……………………………
waste: …………………………… safe: ……………………………
to deplete: …………………………… to damage: ……………………………
to regenerate: …………………………… to design: ……………………………
to use up: …………………………… to increase: ……………………………
to reduce: ……………………………
to supply: ……………………………

Pronunciation
Word Phonetic transcription Meaning
source
energy
renewable
water
fuel

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Green Cities
Today, more than half of the world’s population lives in cities. As the urban
population grows and the effects of climate change worsen, our cities have to
adapt. It’s time for us to invest in efficiency and renewable energy, rebuild
our cities, towns, municipalities and states. Cities need to accelerate their
transition to a cleaner, healthier, and more economically viable future through
improvements in efficiency, investments in renewable technology, and regulation
reform.
“Green cities” all over the world are aiming at achieving these goals. Some
examples are Masdar City, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Fujisawa, in
Japan.

MASDAR CITY
Visit the website http://www.masdar.ae/ and find information about Masdar
City, its mission, features and connection to the environmental
sustainability.

FUJISAWA, JAPAN
Visit the website https://fujisawasst.com/EN/ and find information about
Fijisawa, a sustainable town located in Japan.
While watching the video at https://fujisawasst.com/EN/movie/ write down some
relevant information related to its mission, features and connection to the
environmental sustainability.

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Future cities
Source: https://www.ice.org.uk/what‐is‐civil‐engineering/what‐do‐civil‐engineers‐do/future‐cities

"What is the city but the people?”

William SHAKESPEARE, Coriolanus, Act 3 Scene 1

Design and build cities that really meet the needs of growing urban populations
Most of the world’s cities have 3 things in common. They were built in places
that were easy to defend, had access to fresh water and were convenient for
trading.
As cities have evolved what they need to flourish has also changed – both in
scale and complexity. Modern cities need reliable energy sources, efficient
transport and effective sewerage and communications networks.
The challenge for civil engineers and planners for the future is to provide the
infrastructure and services modern cities need while still providing a pleasant
place to live.
The world’s population is predicted to reach 8 billion by 2023 with most growth
in developing countries such as Brazil, India and Pakistan. It’s estimated that
70% of people will live in cities by 2050.
One way of meeting this predicted growth is to build cities from scratch. This
is already happening in South Korea with the construction of Songdo – the
world’s first ‘smart’ city. The project has been designed around new
technologies.
Like Songdo, urban planning from the foundations up isn’t always possible. A
major future challenge for civil engineers will be finding ways to retrofit
existing infrastructures to meet the needs of city residents.
Any city that wants to thrive in the 21st century and beyond will need to adapt.

Difference a future city will make

Work on technologies that could be used in future cities has already seen
innovations and an idea of how some of tomorrow’s urban infrastructures could
look.
Examples include vacuum waste disposal. These are systems which transport waste
along pneumatic tubes to collection stations where it’s compacted and sealed in
containers. This helps separation and recycling of waste.
Vacuum systems are already in use in China, South Korea and the US. Planned
schemes include one for the city centre of Bergen in Norway.

Read this text and watch

the video “Future cities”,
then summarize in a mind
map the main ideas about
what characterizes future
cities.

26
How the work could be done
Although building new smart cities from scratch may be one way of dealing with
growing urban populations in the future, the approach has attracted some
criticism.
Songdo in South Korea is generally credited as the world’s first future city.
Buildings have automatic climate control and computerised access. Water, waste
and electricity systems track and respond to the movement of residents.
But some critics have voiced fears that a computerised city like Songdo could
also develop into a ‘Big Brother’ environment where everyone is under
surveillance.
The challenge for engineers and planners will be to remember that cities are
much more than nuts, bolts and hi‐tech innovation. Urban infrastructure should
serve the needs of citizens and communities – helping them to prosper.
An alternative for cities of the future may be using new technologies to
integrate with existing systems, as well as putting the needs of citizens first
when upgrading their environment.
Examples of this approach could include using smart sensors to measure water
leaks in real time, control traffic flow (smart motorways) or dim street lights
when no‐one is around.
While the 20th century has seen engineers get to grips with the technical needs
of the environment, the challenge of the 21st century will be on the more
complex areas of social justice and inclusion.

Video: Smart Cities

Professor Chris Rogers and Dr Ellie Cosgrave
discuss the future of cities and how we are
going to tackle some of the world's biggest
engineering challenges.
Funded by the Research Councils, the UK
Research community is developing ways in
which we can effectively engineer our future
cities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNuynLFfZ_w&
feature=emb_logo

Fascinating facts
India’s first smart city is Gujarat International Finance Tec‐City (GIFT City).
It’s on the bank of the Sabarmati river in Gujarat state.
Currently under construction, the project includes a district cooling system
and automated vacuum waste collection.
The pedestrian‐friendly city is being developed as an international finance
centre.

More about these projects:

 Songdo, South Korea: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology‐23757738
 Gijarat International Finance Tec‐City, India: http://www.giftgujarat.in/

For further reading

 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/graphics/see‐sustainable‐future‐
city‐designed‐for‐people‐and‐nature
27
Energy Performance Certificates
Did you know that buildings too produce carbon
emissions? The way a building is constructed,
insulated, heated, ventilated and the type of
fuel used, all contribute to its carbon
emissions.
Since January 2009, EU Member States have been
required to effectively comply with the 2002
Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). One of the requirements set
by the EPBD is to introduce Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) which are
required to be issued when a building is constructed, sold or rented, i.e. as a
part of a property transaction. You must order an EPC for potential buyers and
tenants before you market your property to sell or rent.
The EPBD sets several general requirements to be adopted in the EPC scheme but
gives enough flexibility for Member States to adjust these requirements to
appropriately fit their national context.
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a document which contains:
~ information about a property’s energy use, carbon dioxide emissions and
typical energy costs;
~ recommendations about how to reduce energy use and save money through
improvements to the building.
Information about energy efficiency and carbon emissions is summarised in two
charts that show the energy and carbon dioxide emission ratings. The charts
look similar to those supplied on electrical appliances, like fridges and
washing machines.

An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (very efficient) to

G (inefficient) and is valid for 10 years. Such ratings compare the current
energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions with potential figures that your
home could achieve if energy saving measures were put in place.

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EPCs also provide a detailed recommendation report showing what you could do to
help reduce the amount of energy you use and your carbon dioxide emissions. The
report lists:
 suggested improvements, like fitting loft insulation
 possible cost savings per year, if the improvements are made
 how the recommendations would change the energy and carbon emission rating
of the property.

Which buildings need an EPC

When a building is constructed, rented or sold it will need an EPC if it has a
roof and walls and uses energy to ‘condition an indoor climate’. This means it
has heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation. For example, a garden
shed would not need an EPC if it doesn’t have any heating.
The building can either be a whole building or part of a building that has been
designed or altered to be used separately. If a building is made up of separate
units, each with its own heating system, each unit will need an EPC.

Which buildings don’t need an EPC

The following buildings don’t need an EPC when they are built, rented or sold:
~ places of worship;
~ temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years;
~ standalone buildings with total useful floor area of less than 50 square
metres that aren’t used to provide living accommodation for a single
household;
~ holiday accommodation that’s rented out for less than 4 months a year or is
let under a licence to occupy;
~ industrial sites, workshops and non‐residential agricultural buildings that
don't use a lot of energy.

Tackling climate change

The EPC is part of a series of measures being introduced across Europe to
reflect legislation which will help cut buildings’ carbon emissions and tackle
climate change.
Other changes include requiring public buildings ‐ for example town halls,
libraries, hospitals ‐ to display certificates showing the energy efficiency of
the building and requiring inspections for air conditioning systems. This takes
the form of a Display Energy Certificate and is based on energy data from how
the building is actually running. This is the tenants’ responsibility and lasts
for 12 months.

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Display Energy Certificates
Display Energy Certificates (DECs) show
the actual energy usage of a building, the
Operational Rating, and help the public
see the energy efficiency of a building.
This is based on the energy consumption of
the building as recorded by gas,
electricity and other meters.
The DEC should be clearly displayed at all
times and clearly visible to the public.
Display Energy Certificates are only
required for buildings with a total useful
floor area over 1,000 m2 that are occupied
by a public authority and institution
providing a public service to a large
number of persons and therefore visited by
those persons.
They are valid for one year and are
accompanied by an Advisory Report – valid
for seven years – that lists cost
effective measures to improve the energy
rating of the building.

Green buildings
Green building is a holistic concept that
starts with the understanding that the
built environment can have profound
effects, both positive and negative, on the
natural environment, as well as the people
who inhabit buildings every day.
Green building is generally meant as the
planning, design, construction, and
operations of buildings with several
central, foremost considerations: energy
use, water use, indoor environmental quality, material section and the
building’s effects on its site.

What is a Green Building?

A green building is an environmentally sustainable building1, designed,
constructed and operated to minimise the total environmental impacts.
Sustainable, or “green building”, design and construction provide an
opportunity to use resources more efficiently, while creating healthier and

1 The concept of “sustainable building”: reducing the harmful effect on the environment of
buildings and construction activities.

30
more energy‐efficient homes and commercial buildings. Green buildings optimise
energy efficiency, limit water consumption, make maximum use of recycled,
recyclable and non‐toxic materials. They also generate as little waste as
possible during the construction process and subsequent occupation. In other
words, green‐building design involves finding the delicate balance between
homebuilding and a sustainable environment.
Green building design elements include: foundations, electrical, plumbing,
flooring, roofing, insulation, wall coverings, windows, acoustics, doors,
finishing.

Green Building Strategies

The main strategies to achieve a green building include:
 reduced energy consumption
 water conservation
 recycling waste

Well‐designed green buildings will save money, increase comfort and create
healthier environments for people to live and work, using improved indoor air
quality, natural daylight, and thermal comfort. They will also involve 30‐50%
water saving, 20‐30% energy saving, besides conserving natural scarce resources
and generating less waste.
Energy use by depleting natural resources as well as CO2 emissions is one of our
most important environmental impacts. Volatile energy markets, rising energy
costs and increasing environmental awareness about issues such as global
warming make energy efficiency and conservation a high priority.

Monitoring Energy Use

Monitoring, analysing and reporting energy consumption are three essential
elements of an effective energy management strategy.
 Monitoring is the process of measuring and recording data.
 Data analysis involves comparison of data with targets or benchmarks to
assess performance.

A report can provide valuable information such as whether the building is

performing poorly compared with other similar buildings, identifying areas
where energy efficiency could be implemented and how much money could be saved.

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Activities
Glossary & Pronunciation
Read again the text about “Green buildings” and write down all the new words
you have learned with their phonetic script and their meaning in Italian.

Word Phonetic script Meaning

1 holistic
2 environment
3 minimize
4 consumption
5 warming
6 insulation

Speaking
Choose a “green building” and describe it outlining its main features
(designer, location, concept, materials used, etc.).

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Phrasal verbs for Civil Engineering
 carry out: to do particular work or research
Ex.: We need to carry out some additional work
 draw up: to prepare something in writing
Ex.: The contract has been drawn up.
 knock off: to stop work
Ex.: Let’s knock off at 5 o’clock.
 run by: to tell someone about your idea or plan to get their opinion.
Ex.: You’ll need to run it by the boss first.
 take on: to accept work
Ex.: Do you have enough time to take on another project?
 call off: to cancel
Ex.: They have called off the project.
 branch off: to separate or diverge from the main route to form another route.
Ex.: This road branches off from the main highway here.
 build in: to incorporate as an integral part of something else.
Ex.: We can build in this feature if you want.
 check over: to inspect for any faults, error or defects.
Ex.: Make sure you check it over before you leave today.
 cone off: to restrict access using cones.
Ex.: I’ll need you to cone off this area.
 drain away: to remove or channel liquid away from something.
Ex: Rain water causes flooding when it can’t drain away.
 drive into: to force something into something else by hitting it.
Ex.: These stakes will be driven into the ground.
 eat away: to erode or corrode
This harsh environment is going to eat away at this concrete over time.
 fence off: to restrict
Can you fence off this area here?
 heap up: to make an untidy pile
You can heap up the scraps here.
 knock up: to build quickly
It’s only going to take a couple of days to knock it up.
 jack up: to raise something heavy off the ground
I had to jack my car up on blocks.
 pull down: to demolish or destroy something quite big
We’ll have to pull it down before they start work.
 shore up: to strengthen by adding support
We need to shore up these foundations.

33
 Study the phrasal verbs for civil engineers, then write a suitable phrasal
verb for each picture.

34
Glossary: Construction
 Match the following words to the correct picture:

cherry picker – concrete – beam girder – bricks – shovel – install tiles –

shingles – scaffolding – crane – window pane – lay bricks – insulation
– drywall – paint – construction workers

1. ………………………………………………………… 2. ………………………………………………………… 3. …………………………………………………………

4. ………………………………………………………… 5. ………………………………………………………… 6. …………………………………………………………

7. ………………………………………………………… 8. ………………………………………………………… 9. …………………………………………………………

10. ……………………………………………………… 11. ……………………………………………………… 12. ………………………………………………………

13. ……………………………………………………… 14. ……………………………………………………… 15. ………………………………………………………

35