Civil engineering: Introduction, Course, Scope and Career

What is Civil Engineering?

Civil engineering deals with the planning, designing, construction and maintenance of The structures like buildings, roads, bridges, Canal dams, water supply and treatment systems etc.

Civil engineering is the study of

·      Designing of structures.

·      Selection of materials for building.

·      Study of fire forms of mathematics.

·      Study of engineering mechanics.

·      Study of fluid mechanism.

·      Study of Advanced surveying.

·      Quality control and research.

·      Professional practices like estimating, costing and accounts, valuation and supervision.

What will you study in Civil Engineering?

There are a number of Technical specialties within the realm of civil engineering, these include : 

·      STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING:

Creating the structural elements of design, whether for bridges, or skyscrapers.

Probably the oldest single speciality in civil engineering, going all the way back to Pharaoh's pyramids.

·      Geotechnical engineering:

Concerned with the Rock and soil which supports The structures that other civil engineers design.

·      Environmental engineering:

Designing systems for the treatment of chemical, biological and thermal wastes.

·      Materials engineering:

These are the experts on the various materials which other civil engineers use for their projects.

·      Water resource engineering:

Concerned with the collection and management of water.

Some of the earliest known civil engineers were the Roman engineers who created the Reservoir for water resources.

·      Earthquake engineering:

A speciality dealing with creating buildings and other structures which can withstand the stresses of earthquakes without falling.

·      Coastal engineering:

Managing the coastal areas of our country, including marshlands. Coastal engineers create defences against flooding and erosion.

·      Surveying and levelling:

Includes measurements of distances and angles in horizontal and vertical planes, while levelling is the measurement of heights in vertical plane.

·      Building Planning and construction:

Buildings are planned according to the fundamental principles of planning and bye-laws of local municipal bodies.

It requires basic knowledge of principles of architecture.

·      Transportation engineering:

It deals with planning, designing and construction of roads, bridges, Railways, tunnels, Harbors, ports, runways and airports.

Why Civil engineering?

·      A career in civil engineering is both challenging and rewarding.

·      Civil engineers call upon science and engineering principles to plan, design and build Infrastructures.

·      Civil engineering helps to build the next skyscraper, Bridge or Highway and create structures that stand for the rest of time.

·      Today's civil engineers face the challenge of creating structures which at times seen to defy gravity, defy engineering science and even defy logic.

·      A civil engineer plays an instrumental role in planning, designing, constructing, maintaining and managing the physical environment around us, including buildings and structures, transport systems and water collection, treatment and distribution etc.

·      Civil engineering is one of the most diverse professions around.

·      Improve services and facilities.

·      Plays a key role in development of country.

·      Graduates go on to become involved in everything from planning and designing transport systems to enhancing the energy efficiency of buildings or undertaking the treatment and restoration of contaminated sites.

·      Infrastructure is a backbone of nation’s progress. It is a main engine of economic progress.

Who should select Civil engineering as a career?

THOSE WHO HAVE DESIRED QUALITIES OF:

·      Designing and maintaining works of public utilities.

·      Scientific attitude of mind.

·      Imaginative and intuitive approach.

·      Good analysis and decision power.

·      To solve engineering problems by mathematical modelling.

·      Teamwork attitude and mind set for hard work.

·      Using research techniques for solution of Management problems.

·      To carry out proper planning and scheduling for execution of the project.

·      The ability to work without supervision and to handle high levels of responsibility.

·      The ability to clearly and concisely communicate your ideas both verbally, and through the use of writing and images, are all important, well rounded features to ensure a successful civil engineering career.

Does Civil engineering have any scope after four years?

·      Yes, it has a scope of employment, entrepreneurship and further studies.

·      Government is focusing on Entrepreneurship and more number of organisations are coming up in construction sector.

·      It is a Core and development oriented branch. Hence, very few external factors can affect its growth.

·      Irrespective of course Civil Engineering Company, all the industries require civil engineers.

·      Students have huge scope in public sector units, if they clear GATE examination, they may get direct interview call from public sector units.

Difference between Civil engineering and architecture engineering

·      About 10% subjects to be studied in civil engineering and architecture engineering are common.

Architecture is the planning aesthetic, elegant and development of the structure building town or city which takes into account growth, comfortability, economy and where civil engineering is is core branch which covers various other aspects. Encompasses the various disciplines of construction like, transportation, urban planning, structure engineering etc.