The Field
The field of civil engineering encompasses a variety of interconnected disciplines: structural engineering, environmental engineering, hydraulics, transportation, water resources, geotechnical engineering, construction, and surveying. Civil engineers create and design safe, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure for the benefit of society and the progress of humankind.
Civil engineers design and construct facilities that we use every day—roadways, skyscrapers, drinking water treatment plants, tunnels, subways, residences, solid waste landfills, bridges, wastewater treatment plants, canals and waterways, water supply pipe networks, railroads, dams and reservoirs, and even ski lifts, sculptures, roller coasters, and solar panels. Civil Engineers analyze and solve problems of water, land, and air pollution and oversee the operation of water supply, pollution control, and hazardous waste control facilities.
Civil engineers perform reliability and economic feasibility studies to ensure safe, sustainable, and economically efficient projects. They use traditional and modern technologies in support of their decision-making process such as computer models, surveying, unmanned aerial vehicles, satellite imaging, global positioning systems, laser imaging detection and ranging (LiDar). They work with all stakeholders involved in the creation and use of infrastructure: architects, owners, residents and users, local governments, and subject-matter experts.
Civil engineering is fundamental to building and supporting society.