The art of civil engineering

You would probably have heard about some great projects in our human history like the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum, the Great Pyramid of Giza and so many others but what most people don’t usually recognize is that civil engineering played the most important part in all these outstanding projects. Let’s take a look at the science between civil engineering’s great reputation.

1. What is civil engineering?

Civil engineering is a type of engineering that deals with designing, building and maintenance of natural structures in the everyday environment which include roads, bridges, airports, dams, etc. It is quite interesting to know that civil engineering doesn’t just employ science alone but has some art in it. It will therefore be fair to define civil engineering as a type of engineering that employs the combination of scientific ideas and some art concepts and applies it in projects of all sizes be it residential, commercial, or industrial.

It is interesting to know that civil engineering is one of the oldest forms of engineering as it dates way back to the very beginning of human civilization.

As humans began to move into the medieval and renaissance era, civil engineering continued to develop as the era was marked with the beginning of the construction of bridges, cathedrals, and some other notable constructions.

When the industrial revolution came about, there were significant advancements in civil engineering. The evolution of iron and steel brought about the construction of bridges, railways and roads on a larger scale.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, there was significant development of transport systems and the growth of urban areas. During this time, civil engineers played an important role in the design and constructions of infrastructure such as roads, bridge, tunnels, dams and skyscrapers. As scientists became exposed to the environmental hazards and dangerous engineering practices, an eco-friendlier engineering approach was applied.

2. Types of civil engineering

Civil engineering is quite a lengthy topic because there are so many types of civil engineering. Some of the types of civil engineering include:

2.1 Coastal engineering

This is a branch of civil engineering that involves the use of oceanography and coastal geology to plan, design and construct works that aim at preventing erosion and protecting beaches. Simply put, it is the designing, building and maintenance of coastal structures.

2.2 Construction engineering

This just deals with the designing, planning and construction of large-scale and complex construction projects. Anytime you see roads tunnels, bridges, airports, buildings, railroads and other projects like these ones, just keep it in mind that construction engineers made this possible.

2.3 Environmental engineering

This sub-discipline of civil engineering applies engineering principles and scientific topics like chemistry, biology, mathematics, ecology, etc. to improve and maintain the environment with the aim of protecting human health, nature’s ecosystem and enhance the quality of human life. Some of their projects include recycling systems, dams, wastewater treatment facilities and some others.

2.4 Geotechnical engineering

This is the type of engineering that is concerned with the engineering behaviour of earth materials. Geotechnical engineers usually have knowledge of geology and hydrology and apply it when trying to solve their engineering problems. Geotechnical engineers help test the soil, clay, sand, silt and rock prior to construction in order to prevent any sort of complications.

2.5 Forensic engineering

Forensic engineering is a very interesting type of civil engineering involving the investigation of materials or components that do not function properly and may lead to accidents. It is under forensic science and is targeted at determining the cause of an accident or crime using methods from different engineering fields.

Some other branches of civil engineering include earthquake engineering, hydraulic engineering, material engineering, transportation engineering and structural engineering.

Civil engineering has such a positive impact on our society and when you think of it critically, it’s impossible for our society to function without it. It is an aid in job scarcity as it is part of the top five most in-demand engineering jobs and also due to its broadness, you can choose from so many different jobs under it if you don’t intend to do the general civil engineering.

Roads, buildings, bridges, dams, and others come from these people who have dedicated their time and effort and used their expertise to change the world and make it a better and more convenient place for all of us. So, the next time you look through your window and see different houses and roads, know that the world has reach this pinnacle because of civil engineering.

If you are in need of an engineer for any project you have, Daibau is here for you. We provide the best specialists to suit your needs. Contact us and kick start a wonderful and satisfactory journey. We look forward to hearing from you!