What Is Civil Engineering?

Have you ever wondered about the process behind the complex infrastructure supporting our modern society? Since these structures are meant to serve the general public, a whole expert team is dedicated to ensuring the best results and safety. So, what is civil engineering, and how may it benefit your next building project?

In this article, we’ll explain the crucial planning, engineering, and environmental science behind some of the most complex processes. Since we at Cypress Environment & Infrastructure, as a licensed engineering firm, take pride in providing cost-effective methods and solutions for each of our client’s needs, we want to further explain the delicate process that goes on behind the curtains.

Continue reading to discover what does civil engineering do, the science behind it, and how it may benefit you!

Historical Overview of Civil Engineering

The earliest signs of civil engineering date back to around 4000 BC. Many ancient civilizations, such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Indus Valley, realized the need for stable shelters and effective transportation methods. 

Even though civil engineering was correlated to architecture and began expanding as a separate practice in modern times, many renowned ancient structures are under its belt. For example, some of the first mesmerizing constructions that this process is responsible for are the Ancient Pyramids in Egypt, the Great Wall of China, and the Roman Aqueducts.

Civil engineering became recognized as an official practice in the 18th century. The term was first created to distinguish it as an opposite to military engineering. As it started to gain awareness, John Smeaton was the first to self-proclaim himself as a civil engineer known for constructing the Eddystone Lighthouse. Furthermore, the first institution teaching civil engineering, École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, was established in France in 1747.

Since this practice didn’t take much time to become popular, civil engineering was officially recognized as a profession in 1828. With its existence set in stone, it became known as the process of building roads, bridges, canals, ports, harbors, and other key infrastructure underlying civilized society. 

Key Principles and Objectives

With the advancements in modern society, new tasks have been prescribed to the civil engineering process. While stable shelters and efficient roles were the primary focus in the past, the use of the engineering discipline has spread to various other fields. The ones that have the biggest impact on society are the following:

Construction engineering

Construction engineering involves planning and executing construction projects based on environmental, structural, and hydraulic engineering. Focuses on managing the construction process, adapting designs to conditions uncovered in the field, drafting contracts, logistical operations, and managing project resources.

Coastal engineering

Coastal engineering, including coastal defense or protection, focuses on managing coastal areas. The key focus points are finding solutions for ports, shorelines, ecological restoration, coastal communities,  and flood protection structures to safeguard commerce, the environment, human habitation and other critical infrastructure. 

Environmental engineering

Environmental engineering focuses on public health and ensures the safety of the environment. Some key objectives are dealing with different types of waste, pollution reduction, water purification, and recycling. 

Structural engineering

Structural engineering refers to the structural design and analysis of bridges, tunnels, coastal structures, and off-shore structures. It focuses on analyzing requirements and designing solutions for structures exposed to a variety of stresses from the environment, human use, and other factors. 

Site development and planning

Site development and planning focus on the development of a site’s potential. It requires detailed planning to foresee any environmental challenges and permitting issues. 

Transportation engineering

Transportation engineering focuses on the safe and efficient transportation of people and goods. It deals with the design and construction of roads, highways, railways, canals, ports, and airports.

Surveying

Surveying involves the measurements of dimensions that occur on the Earth’s surface level. Surveyors are tasked with mapping existing conditions in support of the design or analysis of routes for roads, highways, railways, real estate, pipelines, and harbors.

Role of Civil Engineers

The main role of every civil engineer is to create, improve, and protect our surrounding environment. Furthermore, those who have chosen this career path have the task of planning, designing, building, and maintaining various types of constructions. Besides these general tasks, civil engineers must also find adequate solutions to ensure environmental health and safety.

In most cases, civil engineers can fall under two types of categories – consulting and contracting. The first are mostly active in an office setting and focus their attention on planning out the details of the next building project. On the other hand, contracting engineers specialize in fieldwork and implement previous designs during the construction phase. 

Even though the tasks may vary depending on the specific position, some of the most common activities civil engineers indulge in are the following:

• Producing detailed designs through various computer software
• Performing complex calculations or modeling to evaluate existing conditions, potential project designs, and public safety
• Ensuring construction projects meet legal requirements
• Finding solutions to complete the project within the timeframe and budget
• Managing equipment and material purchasing
• Managing site investigations, budgets, and project resources
• Keeping the project within sustainability and environmental guidelines

Advancements and Emerging Technologies

As with any industry, the civil engineering discipline has to keep up with modern times. Since construction has become more complex and requires high-tech solutions, we always stay up to date with the latest advancements and emerging technologies. With the rapid development in the technological field, civil engineers can use cutting-edge tools to ensure the safety and high-quality results of the project.

Some of the recent advancements that have proven themselves beneficial in this field are the following:

• Augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR)
• Advanced materials
• Prefabrication and 3D printing
• AI and machine learning

Augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR)

The first beneficial tool for civil engineering is the use of augmented and virtual reality. While VR is a commonly known term that became popular in gaming, this technology can also be used for construction purposes. Since many projects require detailed and complex designs to ensure safety, both AR and VR can be used to avoid any setbacks and complications.

While augmented reality can allow civil engineers to view an imaginative world through lenses, virtual technology does so through advanced technology. In both cases, this imaginative representation aids in planning the construction sites before the construction has even begun.

Advanced materials

The second emerging technology that may benefit this practice is the availability of advanced materials. It’s only expected that the latest innovations also lead to new materials that can be used for these purposes. While some are still being tested, others have already been adapted for use by many businesses and companies.

One such example is the use of recycling materials that are too complex to dispose of. With the wide use of plastic worldwide, it’s now used in 3D printing projects and roadway constructions. Furthermore, self-healing concrete is another innovation that uses calcite-precipitating bacteria to fill the gaps.

Prefabrication and 3D printing

Prefabrication and 3D printing are other advancements that are beneficial for civil engineering. Even though most buildings are constructed on predetermined sites, with these processes, some crucial materials are crafted in other locations and then moved to the designated site. 

Regarding 3D printing, this technology is developing so fast that we can expect its presence to be seen in many future constructions. Not only is it praised for its efficiency, but it’s also one of the fastest ways to craft the needed parts.

AI and machine learning

With the rapid rise in AI’s popularity, it’s only expected that its use and machine learning will find its way into civil engineering practice. Not only can this software make the whole process more efficient, but it also ensures the safety and reliability of the structures. Furthermore, it aids in data organization and promotes time efficiency.

This modern technological advancement is thought to be beneficial in multiple fields of this practice, including the following:

• Planning and design
• Monitoring structural health
• Project and construction management
• Urban planning and traffic management
• Ensuring sustainability and energy efficiency

Conclusion

So, what is civil engineering? After explaining what goes on behind this delicate process, we hope to bring awareness of its importance. We also want to emphasize how it can benefit society and individual building projects by bringing light to its history, principles, and newest advancements. 

Furthermore, we want to highlight the use of advanced tools and technologies to achieve better results and find seemingly impossible solutions. So, if you’re considering starting a new building project, contact Cypress Environment & Infrastructure to ensure the best possible results!