The Major Concerns for the Civil Engineering Range - Term Paper Example

College name Programme name Course name Course code Task title Academic year-Semester TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 ABSTRACT 3 1.0 INTRODUCTION 4 2.0 CONCERNS OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 4 2.1 Construction engineering 4 2.2 Structural engineering 5 2.3 Water resources engineering 5 2.4 Transportation concerns 6 2.5 Urban Planning 7 2.6 Geotechnical concerns 8 2.7 Environmental concerns 8 3.0 Future trends and challenges 9 4.0 CONCLUSION 10 REFERENCES 11 ABSTRACT Evidence for the work of civil engineers can be found in the simplicity of a living room or the sophistication of a satellite. In theory, civil engineering applies scientific and mathematical concepts in solving humans’ problems and improving quality of life. In practice, it addresses all concerns that affect construction, sustainability, efficiency and safety of human projects like roads, bridges, ports, settlements, irrigation schemes, ships and spacecrafts. The major concerns for civil engineering range from environmental, structural, construction, water resources, urban planning, and geotechnical to transportation. Thus in carrying out their mandate, civil engineers must be ready for future challenges posed by changes in lifestyle, technology and environmental issues. 1.0 INTRODUCTION To personally connect with civil engineering one doesn’t have to visit the pyramids of Egypt or take a rocket tour of a space station. Are you reading this article from an office or while traveling by road, train or air? Civil engineering is right there with you. Civil engineering has been defined as the profession that applies mathematical and scientific knowledge in developing ways of economically utilizing natural resources for the good of humanity (ASCE, 2008). Philips (1997) observed that it is doing new things in new ways. Civil engineering could be among the oldest occupations which remain to be one of the biggest employers of modern times. It continues to change the face of the world and how individuals face their world. 2.0 CONCERNS OF CIVIL ENGINEERING As a discipline and profession, the concerns of civil engineering correspond to its seven major sub-fields: structural, construction, transportation, environmental, geotechnical and urban planning. 2.1 Construction engineering From the breathtaking sights of Petronas Towers in Malaysia, Pont du Gard in France, and the Golden Gate in the USA to the celebrated masterpieces in New Zealand like Cloudy Bay Shack at Blenheim, ASB Sports Centre in Wellington and Te Hononga- Christchurch Civic Centre stand evidence of construction engineering. Construction engineers are tasked with turning designs into real structures. To accomplish their work, construction engineers put to practice their interpretative, technical and management skills. They have to work within a stipulated time and a specified budget. Excellent building and construction expertise (working with plans, tools and materials) is essential in civil construction engineering. 2.2 Structural engineering Who determines the ratios and combinations of building materials such as cement, sand, gravel, steel, timber, plastic and the rest? Structural engineers not only do this; they analyze and designs architectural structures, civil infrastructures and automobile structures. An architect works in close co-operation with a structural engineer when designing buildings and factories. Civil engineers play the leading role in designing civil infrastructures like bridges, pipelines and off-shore structures. Structural engineers are also consulted in the design of automobiles like aircrafts, spacecrafts, ships, submarines and cars to determine their safety. It has been noted that the work of structural engineers is constrained by environmental restrictions on the structures in terms of movement (for example, of elevators and the effect of wind and earthquake on the structure); natural light (for example, of buildings or frames to allow in as much light as possible); sound (some roofs concentrate while others diffuse sound); conduits for cables (for electricity, computer and telephone); and whether the structure is obstructive or not. In a nutshell, the structural engineer designs self-supporting structures against the threats of natural and human activity Gaylord et al (1996). 2.3 Water resources engineering Mays (2001) defines water resources engineering as a discipline that concerns water management, use and drainage. It plays a very crucial role in agriculture and human settlement. Technologies for harnessing, transporting, storing and distributing water for irrigation and other human activities have been developed over the centuries. The earliest examples of successful water resources engineering were reported in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Civil engineers continuously build on these ancient developments to come up with more efficient water management systems in tandem with the latest technological trends. Water resources engineering can be summarized by two processes: hydrologic and hydraulic. Hydrologic processes basically manage rainfall water; that is, rainwater harnessing, evaporation, routing, run-off and infiltration. Hydrologic processes include groundwater flow, open-channel drainage and water piping. 2.4 Transportation concerns It is common knowledge that the demand for different goods or services in distant places will necessitate travel if those goods or service providers have to reach thoose who need them. Kockelman (2011) observes that homes, farmlands and parks are separated by distances. This calls for developing reliable transportation network – the domain of transport engineering. Some of the areas identified by civil engineers include enhancing mobility for the automobile and non-motoring public, accessibility and the effect of land use on transportation (Bartholomew 2007). Construction of a modern highway, for instance, may favour fast moving car users at the expense of the local population including tenants, shop owners, schools, hospitals, pedestrians and bike users. Transport engineers concur that land use patterns critically inform the choices on means and modes of transport (Kockelman 2011). Choices may be made to forego part of settlements, institutions or commercial establishments for the construction of highways, airports, seaport, railroads, terminals, parking and the like. It is therefore imperative for a student specializing in transport engineering to be well conversant with land use types. Here, three pertinent questions are asked: what is the land cover (forested, developed or barren)? How is the land being used (residential of non-residential)? What is the intensity of the land use (if residential, sparsely or densely populated)? 2.5 Urban Planning For civil engineers, urban planning engineering goes beyond what the term ‘urban planning’ means. Apart from strategizing for the future of our cities and their environs, urban planning engineers also work proactively to ensure that cities grow. One such concern is setting aside land for future residential, commercial, institutional use. The projected types buildings, occupancy and ownership models are well stated. Both low and moderate income earners are taken into account in this process. Planners do their work based on estimates of the number of town dwellers and their needs in future. According to Knoflacher (2007), urban transport facilities like railways, roads, ports, termini and parking lots need to be projected on the basis of the expected land use indicated above. Planners assign areas for walking, biking and powered transit. Other concerns for urban planning engineering include management of cities’ resources like water and energy. Sources, distribution and drainage of water are planned for – water treatment/reservoir plants, pipe lines and sewer lines are considered. Engineers also make predictions on a city’s future energy demands and make adequate plans – sites and lines are reserved for power plants/fuel storage and gas pipelines respectively. In making all these plans, the engineer must take into account the environmental and health implications on the city dwellers and those living in their environs. 2.6 Geotechnical concerns Geotechnical engineering concerns itself with soil and/rock types and how they affect construction of infrastructure. It, therefore, analyzes soil types, rock strata and both the underground and surface water. Das (2010) explains that these geological constraints are studied in the context of their capacity and/or capability for holding and supporting loads of different magnitudes at different depths, locations and orientations. The loads include embankments, structures and components of structures; for example, in the construction of bridges, harbours or waterways.. A more specialized aspect of geotechnical engineering carries out site seismic clarification and estimates the rate of settlement magnitude and time. It also carries out sampling and testing of foundation materials to be utilized in a proposed construction. The data gathered from these procedures is used to determine the construction designs. Other areas of interest in a geotechnical study include conformity to local and international administrative geological requirements. These include, but are not limited to, safety measures; notification for surface exploration and public utility protection; notification of the landowner; precautionary notification if the transport system is affected; traffic control measures; and notification for works in protected lands such as marshlands or wetlands. 2.7 Environmental concerns As environmental issues take centre stage in the public and private discourse, the work of an environmental engineer is not left out. Environmental engineering concerns itself with prevention and removal of toxic substances from water, land and air. Han (2012) noted that environmental engineers carry out environmental impact analysis before any structure is constructed. The effect of the structure on humans, plants and animals is evaluated. Another aspect of environmental engineering develops systems that remove and/or reduce pollutants in water, air and land. 3.0 Future trends and challenges Since it revolves around designing, developing and improving facilities that are basic to human existence, civil engineering must evolve at the rate of, or even faster than, modernization of human life. Challenges that confront the population of a country present an opportunity for civil engineers to reengineer themselves. The modern challenges include land or scarcity of space, increased demand for safe drinking water, pollution, traffic congestion and global environmental concerns. Another front for improving civil engineering is the technological advancement. Civil engineers should be among the leaders in technological development. They employ, in the course of their work, the most recent programs in computer-aided design (CAD) integrated with other IT programs (Peterson 2008). These programs are applicable, in among other things, costing, projecting, constructing and designing. Another area in technological revolution in which civil engineering finds relevance in modern times is the design, construction and positioning of space satellites and centres. It is therefore important for any student of civil engineering to keep abreast with the past, current and future trends in human, technological and environmental necessities that the profession must respond to. Continuous innovative research will not only make civil engineers responsive to human needs; it will ensure their continued relevance and marketability. 4.0 CONCLUSION “Rome was not built in a day” so the adage goes. The civil engineers that planned and built the magnificent city atop the seven hills applied the same principles that guide their current counterparts. Modern engineers are, however, more sophisticated and challenged. Nevertheless, beauty, comfort, utility and safety still remain as pillars of civil engineering. It does not matter whether it is a pyramid, a space station or a footpath. The success of any of these projects takes the concerted and coordinated efforts of all the seven specializations within civil engineering. 5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS Since civil engineering encompasses several sub-divisions, all divisions need to be given equal attention in terms of staffing and training. The relevant government department should, therefore, regulate the number of students specializing in each sub-discipline. The institutions in the country offering civil engineering courses should also ensure that every branch of the course gets adequate staff and equipment. These measures, among others, will greatly contribute to equal distribution of graduates in all the seven major areas of civil engineering. REFERENCES American Society of Civil Engineers. (2008) The Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025. Reston: ASCE Bartholomew, K. (2007). The Machine, The Garden And The City: Towards An Access-Efficient Transportation Planning System. The Environmental Law Reporter 37 (8) 10593-10614. Das, B.M. (2010) Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, 7th Edition. Stamford: Cengage Learning. Gaylord E.H Jnr, Gaylord, C.N. & Stallmeter, J.E (1996) Structural Engineering Handbook. New York: McGraw-Hill Professional. Han, D. (2012) Concise Environmental Engineering. Ventus Publishing APS. Retrieved from: < http://bookboon.com/en/concise-environmental-engineering-ebook> Retrieved on: 14th October, 2013. Knoflacher, H. (2007). Success and failure in urban transport planning in Europe – Understanding the transport system. Sadhana Vol. 32, Part 4, August 2007, pp. 293–307. Kockelman, K. (2011) Traffic Congestion. Chapter in M. Kutz‘s (Ed.) Handbook of Transportation Engineering, 2nd edition. McGraw-Hill, New York. Mays, L.W. 2001. Water Resources Engineering. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Peterson, R.R. 2008. Civil Engineering in 2025: Globalization Issues and Impacts, The Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025.Reston: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Phillips, Winfred M. “The Challenge of Change for Engineering Education.” Presentation at the 1997 NSF Engineering Education Scholars Workshop. Read More