What is Civil Engineering?

Engineering involves Math Teamwork Writing Science Problem Solving Speaking

What’s unique to Civil Engineering? Designing structures that help people, such as Roads Buildings Bridges Tunnels Water Treatment Plants Dams

Do all Civil Engineers do the same thing? No, there are many different branches of Civil Engineering, which include: Structural Engineering Geotechnical Engineering Transportation Engineering Environmental Engineering Water Resources Engineering My only comment here is in my opinion there are four types of engineering, namely: Structural, Geo, Trans, and Environmental. Water Resources would fit under Environmental. I know as Water Resources Engineer you probably feel differently b/c it Water Resource Engineering is very different than Air Quality etc.. I would suggest that you want to leave it in, change the text to say that these are a few examples of common types of engineering. As there are also Geo Environmental etc.

Structural Engineering

Structural Engineers Design Skyscrapers Bridges Towers Stadiums

Structural Engineers Also Design Libraries Museums Bottom Left picture is not shown. If this is one I need to get permission on, please advise. Churches Walls Photo courtesy of EarthTech

Geotechnical Engineers

Geotechnical Engineers Design Tunnels Photo courtesy of MWRA Photo courtesy of MWRA Foundations Top Right picture is not shown. Ditto from the last slide on the permissions. Landfills Photo courtesy of Black & Veatch Photo courtesy of Black & Veatch

Transportation Engineers I added a interchange picture on this sheet as well. The picture Of the VA interchange bridge was stretched a little too much it was hard to see.

Transportation Engineers Design Traffic Signals and Signs Highways Runways Train and Subway Lines Technically, I think traffic Lights should be Traffic Signals. The only reason why I know this is b/c a professor at NU used to always correct us when we said traffic light: lights illuminate, signals give direction...

Environmental Engineers Photo courtesy of Black & Veatch

Environmental Engineers Design Water Treatment Plant Processes Water Treatment Plants Systems? The buildings themselves are done by Structural. I know that is a detail... Underground Storage Tank Excavations Photo courtesy of Black & Veatch

Environmental Engineers Also Design Wastewater Treatment Plant Processes Pipelines Photo courtesy of Black & Veatch Photo courtesy of Black & Veatch Hazardous Waste Remediation Photo courtesy of Black & Veatch

Water Resources Engineers Photo courtesy of Black & Veatch

Water Resources Engineers Design Reservoirs Dams Photo courtesy of Black & Veatch

How do Civil Engineers design these structures? I suggest to insert one slide that follows this to answer this question before the computer model. As you said in the slide that follows this one, C.E.’s use programs to illustrate their ideas. I would def. emphasize that a computer program is just a tool. I think there is a perception out there that engineers are just computers and not real people that think. The thinking part for us is a step we automatically assume… But I think it is important to highlight.

First they have an idea... I suggest to insert one slide that follows this to answer this question before the computer model. As you said in the slide that follows this one, C.E.’s use programs to illustrate their ideas. I would def. emphasize that a computer program is just a tool. I think there is a perception out there that engineers are just computers and not real people that think. The thinking part for us is a step we automatically assume… But I think it is important to highlight.

Then they use computer programs to illustrate their idea...

And finally the idea turns into a reality!

A Computer Design of a Wastewater Treatment Plant Courtesy of Black & Veatch

An Actual Wastewater Treatment Plant Photo courtesy of Black & Veatch

What kind of education do I need to become a Civil Engineer? Degree from a 4-year accredited university Typical Civil Engineering classes Calculus Physics Chemistry English/Communications Electives (i.e. History, French, Theatre, fun classes!) Start taking classes in high school if possible

What kind of people can become Civil Engineers? All kinds! Civil Engineering is a fun and rewarding career. You too can become a Civil Engineer!

For information online, check out the following Web sites! Discover Engineering Online: www.discoverengineering.org For Students: The Engineering Center’s Scholarship Clearinghouse: www.engineers.org/scholweb.html About National Engineers Week: www.eweek.org