Civil engineering is a bit of a misunderstood profession. It is fairly common knowledge that a career in civil engineering can be lucrative, but why?
What is it about civil engineering that is so important?
In this comprehensive breakdown, we will break down civil engineering from all angles and explain why it is at the heart of all infrastructure projects.
What Do Civil Engineers Do?
Civil engineers plan, design, and supervise the construction and maintenance of infrastructure projects. This includes facilities, bridges, roads, tunnels, and water and sewage systems.
Many people know that civil engineers “build stuff.” However, their role in maintenance is just as crucial. Their job is not done once the infrastructure is operational. Civil engineers may need to supervise a roof curb detail for a building whose roof needs to increase its load capacity. They may also need to plan for temporary traffic flow during the installation of a new water main.
Civil engineers do far more than bring new dreams to life. They must adapt and create solutions to rapidly emerging challenges. They are just as much doctors as they are inventors.
Civil Engineers’ Role in Public Safety and Welfare
It is a primary objective of civil engineers to create and maintain infrastructure that promotes the betterment of society. Some ways they accomplish this include:
The planning, designing, and maintenance of infrastructure that is both safe and sustainable
Identifying and mitigating potential risks before they can escalate
Ensuring the responsible use of construction resources
Remember that civil engineers must create the infrastructure that is a vanguard. Their outputs should help people achieve new levels of production and performance. Civil engineers must constantly be looking for a better way. Sticking with the status quo is not sufficient in the highly competitive field.
Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship in Civil Engineering
Sustainability and environmental stewardship have emerged to challenge safety and functionality as the top priorities of civil engineers. We live in an era of global environmental challenges. Creating sustainable solutions without slowing the worldwide economy has moved to the top of the engineering triage list.
Modern civil engineers must promote sustainable practices that protect the environment. They aim to balance the needs of society with the health of the planet. Not only must the infrastructure they create be sustainable, but the method of creating it must be sustainable as well. Civil engineers must advocate for sustainable practices and keep an open mind. They must try new materials, such as steel-framed windows, polyiso roof insulation, and ICF framing if they believe they will limit their project’s environmental footprint.
Ethical Principles in Civil Engineering
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) posts a code of ethics for its members. It provides a model of professional conduct for civil engineers. Civil engineers are held to a higher standard than most professions. Their work can have far-reaching impacts both positive and negative. Ethical accountability to society, clients, and the profession are a few of the many factors civil engineers must balance through their work.
Responsibility to Society
The betterment of society is a guiding light for civil engineers. Safety is a primary concern. Civil engineers must design structures that are safe along a multitude of fronts. They must be safe from inclement weather and natural disasters. They must also be secure against terrorism, vandalism, and other forms of human tragedy.
Civil engineers also have the duty of creating sustainable and energy efficient buildings. In the era of climate change, they must find a way to reduce carbon emissions and create net-zero structures. Modern infrastructure must be able to stand the test of time and not require frequent repair and renovation to maintain its functionality.
Responsibility to Clients
Trust and integrity are part of the backbone of a civil engineer’s professional conduct. They must provide clients with honest and unbiased advice. They should never try to make a quick buck by cutting corners on any aspect of their work, be it design, construction, or maintenance.
Civil engineers must respect and protect the confidential information of their clients. Civil engineers gain unique business insights and trade secrets when working on projects. Maintaining client confidence is essential.
Finally, civil engineers must be continually vigilant of conflicts of interest. If a conflict of interest arises, the engineer must immediately report it and give the client the option for how they want to proceed.
Responsibility to the Profession
Civil engineering is a profession of honor. It is incumbent on every engineer to maintain this dignity. Members of the profession should strive to contribute to the growth of the field. They can accomplish this by being lifelong learners and mentoring the next generation of civil engineers.
Civil Engineers Play a Multi-Faceted Role in the Construction Industry
Civil engineers design, supervise, and maintain infrastructure projects. Their work plays a direct role in the health, safety, and productivity of society. It is also paramount for the future of the planet.