Term: Civil engineer
**Specializations in Civil Engineering**:
– Civil engineers specialize in areas such as construction engineering, geotechnical engineering, and structural engineering.
– They also work on land development, transportation engineering, hydraulic engineering, and environmental engineering.
– Some civil engineers work across multiple specializations, especially in critical infrastructure projects.
– Modern civil engineering work involves office-based tasks like planning and computer work.
**Education and Licensing**:
– Civil engineers typically hold a degree in civil engineering from a post-secondary school.
– The degree requires a strong background in mathematics and physical sciences.
– Some civil engineers pursue further education like masters, engineer, doctoral, and post-doctoral degrees.
– Licensure is required in many countries for civil engineers to practice.
– Without a license, individuals may not use the title of civil engineer in certain jurisdictions.
**Global Perspectives on Civil Engineering**:
– In Belgium, a Civil Engineer (Ir.) is a protected title, with specialization options in various engineering fields.
– In Scandinavian countries, civil engineer is a protected title equivalent to a Master of Science in Engineering, covering various engineering fields.
– In Spain, civil engineering degrees are earned after four years of study in mathematics, physics, and mechanics, leading to further specialization.
– In the United Kingdom, chartered civil engineers are members of the Institution of Civil Engineers, with specific membership requirements.
– In the United States, civil engineers work in various sectors with licensing requirements varying by state.
**Work Environment and Job Duties**:
– Civil engineers work in various locations and conditions, interacting with professionals from different fields.
– They spend time outdoors at construction sites to monitor operations, combining office-based and on-location work.
– Job duties include designing infrastructure projects, analyzing survey reports and data, ensuring compliance with regulations, and collaborating with stakeholders.
**Professional Associations and Continuing Education**:
– Professional associations like ASCE, ICE, and CSCE support civil engineering professionals worldwide.
– Membership in these organizations may have specific educational requirements.
– Continuing education is often mandatory for civil engineers to maintain licensure and stay updated on industry news and advancements.
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering – the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructure while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructure that may have been neglected.
 Tennessee Valley Authority civil engineers monitoring water flow on a scale model of Tellico Dam | |
| Occupation | |
|---|---|
| Names | Civil engineer |
Occupation type | Profession |
Activity sectors | Design and management of structures, transportation systems, infrastructure |
| Description | |
| Competencies | Technical knowledge, management skills, mathematical analysis |
Civil engineering is one of the oldest engineering disciplines because it deals with constructed environment including planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures, and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems.
The term "civil engineer" was established by John Smeaton in 1750 to contrast engineers working on civil projects with the military engineers, who worked on armaments and defenses. Over time, various sub-disciplines of civil engineering have become recognized and much of military engineering has been absorbed by civil engineering. Other engineering practices became recognized as independent engineering disciplines, including chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering.
In some places, a civil engineer may perform land surveying; in others, surveying is limited to construction surveying, unless an additional qualification is obtained.