Civil Engineering - Essay Example

Civil Engineering Engineering is the aspect of life for human existence dealing with the application of scientific, social, and practical knowledge in the design, construction maintenance, and improvement of structures, machines, and systems. Engineering is divided into various disciplines varying from Military engineering, Civil engineering, Chemical engineering, and Mechanical engineering to Electrical engineering. (Wood, 2012) Military engineering is the oldest engineering discipline followed by civil engineering.

Civil engineering discipline involves the design, construction, and maintenance of natural and physical built environment as roads, bridges, buildings, canals, and dams A degree in civil engineering covers subjects in mathematics, physics, design, project management, and specific topics in civil engineering. Civil engineers possess an academic degree with a major in civil engineering whose length of study varies from three to five years. After completion of the certified degree program, the engineer must satisfy the exam requirements and have work experience before being certified as a professional engineer.

Certification means that the certified engineer may prepare, sign and submit engineering plans and drawings to a public authority for approval while abiding by the code of ethics set by the certifying bodies. Civil engineering is classified into various sub-disciplines as discussed below: Geotechnical engineering field is concerned with rocks, soils, highways, sewers, underground water systems, foundations of buildings, and bridges. The professional engineer studies technical information obtained from material testing, sciences of geology, and hydraulics to design foundations and structures while ensuring the safety and economy of the project.

Environmental engineeringThis discipline is concerned with the science of waste management, water purification, cleaning of contaminated areas, industrial ecology, and reduction of pollution. Policymakers rely on technical data obtained through environmental engineering to make environmentally related decisions. Water resources engineering deals with the management of the quality and quantity of underground water and above-ground water resources, like rivers, lakes, and streams. It involves analyzing geographical areas to forecast the quantity of water that is likely to flow into and out of a water source.

Structural engineering deals with the design of structures to ensure that they are economical, safe for the users, and serve the desired function. Loads acting on the structures and the stresses created due to these loads are identified in order to design a structure that withstands these loads. The structures include bridges, tunnels, highways, steel structures, buildings, and dams. Civil engineering plays a vital role in our daily lives, making civilization possible through many of the amenities created by civil engineers.

These amenities include piped water to businesses and homes. Sewage was taken to treatment plants. Bridges that connect people formerly separated by water, roads that make easy driving possible; reducing the likelihood of accidents, Layout, and construction of public buildings and parking lots that utilize the available land, and coordination of the requirements of city planners, architects, property owners, and utility companies for construction work. Each sphere of life includes a contribution of civil engineering and thus its importance is determined according to its usefulness in our daily routine.