Learning Material

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE

PROGRAM OVERVIEW 2

Topic No.1: HISTORY OF CIVIL ENGINERING 16

Assessment No. 1 22

Topic No.2: Civil Engineering and Society and Other Profession 24

Assessment No.2 39

Topic No.3: Current Fields / Careers of Civil Engineering 41

Assessment No.3 58

Topic No.4: Civil Engineering, Sustainability and the Future 61

Assessment No. 4 67

Topic No.5: Civil Engineering and Environmental Science 69

Assessment No. 5 77

References 79

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Program Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) program is now a four-year program that
educates students with basic principles of Science in conjunction with mathematical and computational
tools used in engineering.

The BSCE program provides technical skills and knowledge in planning, design, construction,
supervision, and maintenance of civil engineering works. Examples of civil engineering works include
infrastructures for transportation (roads, railroads, bridges, ports, airports), commerce (shopping
malls), education (schools, universities), human settlements (large scale housing projects, water supply,
sewage disposal), energy development (power stations, power lines) and agriculture (irrigation, farm
drainage).

Civil engineers collaborate with architects with regards to the design of infrastructures; they
also coordinate and supervise construction, working with other engineers and contractors. They make
decisions on the best materials and methods, review and approve project drawings, manage budgets,
schedule equipment and materials purchases and delivery, and make necessary changes when the
situation warrants or when clients change their minds about something.

The program covers the five essential fields of civil engineering: structural engineering,
transportation engineering, water resources engineering, Geotechnical engineering and construction
engineering and management.

Is Civil Engineering a profession?

Civil Engineering is a profession. A graduate of BSCE who passes the board exam obtains a license to
be a professional Civil Engineer.

What skills are required to succeed in this course?

There are many skills that will help you succeed in this course. The following are the most important
ones:

•Mathematical skills – the ability to compute and use different computational methods to solve a
problem

•Critical thinking skills – the use of logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of
alternative solutions

•Analytical skills – the identification and analysis of product requirements to create a design

•Complex problem solving skills – identification of complex problems and reviewing related
information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions

•Graphical skills – the ability to transform a design into an image

•Judgment and decision making skills – considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions
to choose the most appropriate one.

•Communication skills – the ability to effectively relay information both orally and in written form

How difficult is BS in Civil Engineering?

BSCE is one of the most difficult courses. Many students end up shifting to other programs or
they are advised to transfer because of the inability to meet cut off grades. Because of this, only a few
students graduate every year. BSCE is even made more difficult because of the board examination.

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The Board Exam innovative

A graduate of BS in Civil Engineering needs to take the Civil Engineering Licensure Examination
before he/she can practice the profession. The Board of Civil Engineering facilitates the exam under
the supervision of the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC). It is scheduled twice a year in the
months of May and November.

The three main subjects included are Mathematics, Surveying and Transportation which comprises
35% of the exam, Hydraulics and Geotechnical Engineering with 30% and Structural Engineering and
Construction with 35%. To pass the examination you should obtain a general weighted average of 75%
with no rating belong 60% in all the subjects.

Those who passed the Civil Engineering Licensure examination are exempted from taking the Civil
Service Examination. They can work in government offices without a civil service eligibility.

Republic of the Philippines

AGUSAN DEL SUR STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION SCIENCES
Bunawan, Agusan del Sur

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING (Structural Engineering Track)

Based on CMO No.92 series of 2017 and CMO No. 20 series of 2013
Approved as per Revised Curriculum Review with Stakeholders last July 2020
Effectivity: AY 2021-2022

I. Program of Study
FIRST YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
Course Hrs/Wk Co-
Pre-
No. Descriptive Title Lec Lab Units requisite
requisite(s)
(s)
GE 1 Understanding the Self 3 0 3 None None
GE 4 Mathematics in the Modern World 3 0 3 None None
Math 6 Calculus 1 3 0 3 None None
Chem 8 Chemistry for Engineers 3 3 4 None None
CBE 1 Civil Engineering Orientation 2 0 2 None None
GE 2 Readings in Philippine History 3 0 3 None None
GE 3 Contemporary World 3 0 3 None None
P.E. 1 Physical Fitness 2 0 2 None None
NSTP 1 National Service Training Program 3 0 (3) None None
Total 25 3 23

FIRST YEAR
SECOND SEMESTER
Course Hrs/Wk Co-
Pre-
No. Descriptive Title Lec Lab Units requisite
requisite(s)
(s)
GE 7 Science, Technology, and Society 3 0 3 None None
Math 7 Calculus 2 3 0 3 Math 6 None
Phys 5 Physics for Engineers (Calculus-based) 3 3 4 Math 6/Chem 8 None
GE 6 Art Appreciation 3 0 3 None None
CBE 2 Engineering Drawing and Plans 0 3 1 None None
CEE 1 Environmental Science Engineering 2 3 3 Chem 8 None
CBE 4 Computer Fundamentals and 0 6 2 None None
Programming
GE 9 Life and Works of Dr. Jose P. Rizal 3 0 3 None None
P.E. 2 Rhythmic Activities 2 0 2 P.E. 1 None
NSTP 2 National Service Training Program 3 0 (3) NSTP 1 None
Total 22 15 24

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 SECOND YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
Course Hrs/Wk Co-
Pre-
No. Descriptive Title Lec Lab Units requisite
requisite(s)
(s)
Math 14 Differential Equations 3 0 3 Math 7 None
CBE 6 Statics of Rigid Bodies 3 0 3 Math 7, Phys 5 None
CBE 3 Computer-Aided Drafting 0 3 1 CBE 4 None
GEE 1 Fundamentals of Surveying 3 3 4 CBE 2 None
GE 10 Philippine Indigenous Community 3 0 3 None None
CBE 7 Engineering Management 2 0 2 GE 4, 2nd year standing None
GE 5 Purposive Communication 3 0 3 None None
GE 8 Ethics 3 0 3 None None
P.E. 3 Individual and Dual Sports 2 0 2 P.E. 2 None
Total 22 6 24

SECOND YEAR
SECOND SEMESTER
Course Hrs/Wk Co-
Pre-
No. Descriptive Title Lec Lab Units requisite
requisite(s)
(s)
Math 18 Engineering Data Analysis 3 0 3 Math 6 None
Geol 1 Geology for Civil Engineers 2 0 2 Chem 8 None
CBE 8 Dynamics of Rigid Bodies 2 0 2 CBE 6 CBE 9
CBE 9 Mechanics of Deformable Bodies 4 0 4 CBE 6 CBE 8
CEC 1 Construction Materials and Testing 2 3 3 CBE 6 None
CBE 5 Engineering Economics 3 0 3 GE 4 None
CEE 4 Plumbing and Sanitary Works 2 3 3 CEE 1 None
P.E. 4 Team Sports 2 0 2 P.E. 3 None
Total 21 6 22

THIRD YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
Course Hrs/Wk Co-
No. Descriptive Title Lec Lab Units Pre-requisite(s) requisite
(s)
CEC 4 Highway and Railroad Engineering 3 0 3 GEE 1 None
CEC 3 Structural Theory 3 3 4 CBE 9 None
Techno 101 Technopreneurship 3 0 3 CBE 5 None
AC 1 Engineering Utilities 1 3 0 3 Phys 5 None
AC 2 Engineering Utilities 2 3 0 3 Phys 5 None
Math 19 Numerical Solutions to CE Problems 2 3 3 Math 14 None
Total 17 6 19

THIRD YEAR
SECOND SEMESTER
Course Hrs/Wk Co-
Pre-
No. Descriptive Title Lec Lab Units requisite
requisite(s)
(s)
CEC 5 Building System Design 2 3 3 CBE 2 None
CEC 10 CE Laws, Ethics and Contracts 2 0 2 GE 8 None
CEC 6 Principles of Steel Design 2 3 3 CBE 9 None
CEC 7 Principles of Reinforced/Prestressed 3 3 4 CEC 3 None
Concrete
CEC 9 Hydrology 2 0 2 CBE 9 None
CEC 8 Hydraulics 4 3 5 CBE 9, CBE 8 None
Total 15 12 19

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 THIRD YEAR
SUMMER or THIRD TERM
Course Co-
No. of
No. Descriptive Title Units Pre-requisite(s) requisite
Hours/week
(s)
CE 6 On-the-job Training (240 hours) 40 3 CEE 1, CEC 7 None

FOURTH YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
Course Hrs/Wk Co-
Pre-
No. Descriptive Title Lec Lab Units requisite
requisite(s)
(s)

CEC 11 Geotechnical Engineering 1 (Soil 3 3 4 Geol 1, CBE 9 None

Mechanics)
CEC 12 Principles of Transportation Engineering 3 0 3 CEC 4 None
CEC 15 CE Project 1 1 3 2 CEC 7 None
CE 32 Earthquake Engineering 3 0 3 CEC 3 None
CE 34 Reinforced Concrete Design 3 0 3 CEC 3, 8 & 9 None
CE Rev 1 Competency Enhancement 0 9 3 Math 19 None
CEC 13 Quantity Surveying 1 3 2 CEC 5 None
Total 14 18 20

FOURTH YEAR
SECOND SEMESTER
Course Hrs/Wk Co-
Pre-
No. Descriptive Title Lec Lab Units requisite
requisite(s)
(s)

CEC 16 CE Project 2 1 3 2 CEC 15 None

CE 31 Computer Software in Structural Analysis 3 0 3 CEC 3 None
CE 33 Design of Steel and Timber Structures 3 0 3 CEC 3, CE 34 None
Construction Methods and Project 3 0 3 CBE 7 None
CEC 14 Management
CE 38 Foundation and Retaining Wall Design 3 0 3 CEC 11 None
CE Rev 2 Competency Assessment 0 9 3 CE Rev 1 None
Total 13 12 17

II. Summary

Courses Number Courses Number of

of Units Units
Required by PSG 171 This revised curriculum 177
Non-technical Courses Non-technical Course
General Education Courses 24 General Education Courses 24
GEC Elective/Mandated Courses 12 GEC Elective/Mandated Courses 12
Mandated Courses (PE and NSTP) 14 Mandated Courses (PE and NSTP) 14

Technical Courses Technical Courses

Mathematics 15 Mathematics 15
Natural and Physical Sciences 10 Natural and Physical Sciences 10
Basic Engineering Sciences 23 Basic Engineering Sciences 23
Allied Courses 6 Allied Courses 6
Integration Course for CE 0 Integration Course for CE 6
Professional Courses – Common 49 Professional Courses – Common 49
Professional Courses - Specialized 15 Professional Courses - Specialized 15
On-the-job Training 3 On-the-job Training 3

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 Required by PSG 171 This revised curriculum 177
Total Total

COURSE DESCRIPTION

I. NON-TECHNICAL COURSES

A. GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES

No. of
Course Descriptive
Course Description Units
Number Title
Credit
GE 1 Understanding At the end of the course, the student is expected to have 3
the Self acquired basic knowledge of personality theories, a better
understanding of their personality, self and identity, along
with knowledge of the influential forces with impact on these
such as gender, culture, family and relationship; and basic
skills in managing the self and identity.
GE 2 Readings in The course aims to expose students to different facets of 3
Philippine Philippine History through the lens of eyewitnesses. Rather
History than rely on secondary materials such as textbooks, which is
the usual approach in teaching Philippine history. Different
types of primary sources will be used- written (qualitative
and quantitative), oral, visual, audio-visual, digital-covering
various aspects of Philippine life.
GE 3 The The course aims to introduce students to the state of the world 3
Contemporary today and the new global order. What does “globalization”
World mean both theoretically and from the perspective of
individuals and societies affected by global firms, processes,
and movements? The phenomenon of globalization is thus
examined from a variety of perspectives as well as its effects
on traditional cultures and communities, nations and political
institutions, and local, national, and regional economies.

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 GE 4 Mathematics inThis course begins with an introduction to the nature of 3
the Modern mathematics as an exploration of patterns (in nature and the
World environment) and as an application of inductive and
deductive reasoning. By exploring these topics, students are
encouraged to go beyond the typical understanding of
mathematics as merely a bunch of formulas, but as a source
of aesthetics in patterns of nature, for example, and a rich
language in itself (and of science) governed by logic and
reasoning.
GE 5 Purposive This course develops students' communicative competence 3
Communication and enhances their cultural and intercultural awareness
through multimodal tasks that provide them opportunities for
communicating effectively and appropriately to a
multicultural audience in a local or global context. It equips
students with tools for critical evaluation of a variety of texts
and focuses on the power of language and the impact of
images to emphasize the importance of conveying messages
responsibly. The knowledge, skills, and insights that students
gain from this course may be used in their other academic
endeavors, their chosen disciplines, and their future careers
as they compose and produce relevant oral, written, audio-
visual and/or web-based output for various purposes.
GE 6 Art The course aims to provide students the opportunity to 3
Appreciation observe, participate in, or otherwise experience works of art
in order to appreciate their role and purpose in life. Students
will be exposed to various works of art, ranging from the
classical forms to modern art installations, performance art,
indie films, enhanced e-books, and multimedia aesthetics.
These works of art will be examined from aesthetic point of
view and also as reflections or critiques of the societies that
produced them. The course will thus build upon and hone the
skill of understanding, critical appreciation, and expression
of one’s views.
GE 7 Science, The course is designed to enable students to appreciate, in 3
Technology, broad term, the social impact of developments in science and
and Society technology at the global and national level. This includes a
review of the history of science and technology globally-
from the prehistoric ear all the way to today’s advances in
sciences and technology- similarly in the Philippines,
including science policy. The historical survey. Which is
grounded on an understanding of basic science concepts, will
examine how these developments have affected the course of
human society: politically, economically, and socially
(including culturally).
GE 8 Ethics The course introduces students to the ethical dimension of 3
human existence at various levels - personal, societal,
environmental and cultural. What is ethics, how is it framed
and practiced, and what is its value to society and the person
are the major questions the course seeks to answer.
TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS (GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES) 24

B. GEC ELECTIVE/MANDATED COURSES

No. of
Course Descriptive
Course Description Units
Number Title
Credit

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 GE 9 Life and As mandated by Republic Act 1425, this course covers the 3
Works of life and works of the country's national hero, Jose Rizal.
Rizal Among the topics covered are Rizal's biography and his
writings, particularly the novels Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, some of his essays, and various
correspondences.
CEE 1 Environmental Environmental Science knowledge in Ecology and Human 3
Science Population Control, Variety of Resources and Outline Plans
Engineering for Attaining Sustainable Society, The Enigma of Pollution
and the Legal, Technical and Personal Solutions for it. Study
of Environmental Impact Assessment and Environment
Crisis.
CEE 2 Research Supervised research in probability or statistics. A final written 3
Statistics report and oral presentation are required.
GE 10 Philippine The course presents, discusses and analyzes the socio- 3
Indigenous economic-cultural and political practices and beliefs of the
Communities indigenous people communities in the Philippines coming
from multiple perspectives through lens of development and
selected historical sources of facts and as well as from the
outlook of social science discipline. An intensive discussion
on selected government laws in protecting the rights of the
indigenous people in archipelago will be presented as well
through student's research activities. The ultimate goal is to
develop critical consciousness of the student's understanding
to the plight of the indigenous peoples' rights and welfare by
means of providing them an opportunity to identify and
analyze the issues confronting the lives of the indigenous
people communities.
TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS (GEC ELECTIVE /MANDATED COURSES) 12
C. MANDATED COURSES (PE and NSTP)
No. of
Course Descriptive
Course Description Units
Number Title
Credit
P.E. 1 Physical This course is concerned with physical skills, following the 2
Fitness topics of the learning task given and used. Acquire experience
and understand physical movements in the variety of practical
situations. Generally in this course, students should instill the
importance of physical fitness and learning basic gymnastics.
P.E. 2 Rhythmic This course covers rhythmic activities which are basic 2
Activities movements, elements of movement space, modern and
creative dances, interpretative dance, folk dance and ball
room social dancing.
P.E. 3 Individual and This course deals with fundamental techniques and tactics of 2
Dual Sports individual & dual sports/games. It encompasses the history,
nature of the games’ basic skills, rules & regulations and
actual playing of the game. Furthermore, it also encourages
the students to engage in sports even after school.
P.E. 4 Team Sports / This course covers history, nature, skills rules and 2
Games regulations, techniques in officiating basketball, volleyball,
baseball, and softball games.
NSTP 1 National This course includes programs or activities contributory to the 3
Service welfare and the betterment of life for the members of the
Training community or the enhancement of its facilities, especially
Program those devoted to improving health, education, environment,
entrepreneurship, safety, recreation, disaster preparedness
and morals of the citizenry.

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 NSTP 2 National This course is a sequel to NSTP 1. It is designed to immerse 3
Service and equip students with capability for community
Training development projects, services to achieve the desired goals of
Program community partners.
TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS (MANDATED COURSES(PE and NSTP)) 14

II. TECHNICAL COURSES

A. MATHEMATICS

No. of
Course Descriptive
Course Description Units
Number Title
Credit
Math 6 Calculus 1 An introductory course covering the core concepts of limit, 3
continuity and differentiability of functions involving one or
more variables. This also includes the application of
differential calculations in solving problems on optimization,
rates of change, related rates, tangents and normals, and
approximations; partial differentiation and transcendental
curve tracing.
Math 7 Calculus 2 The course introduces the concept of integration and its 3
application to some physical problems such as evaluation of
areas, volumes of revolution, force, and work. The
fundamental formulas and various techniques of integration
are taken up and applied to both single variable and multi-
variable functions. The course also includes tracing of
functions of two variables for a better appreciation of the
interpretation of the double and triple integral as volume of a
t3ree-dimensional region bounded by two or more surfaces.
Math 14 Differential This course is intended for all engineering students to have a 3
Equations firm foundation on differential equations in preparation for
their degree-specific advanced mathematics courses. It covers
first order differential equations, nth order linear differential
equations and systems of first order linear differential
equations. It also introduces the concept of Laplace
Transforms in solving differential equations. The students are
expected to be able to recognize different kinds of differential
equations, determine the existence and uniqueness of
solution, select the appropriate methods of solution and
interpret the obtained solution. Students are also expected to
relate differential equations to various practical engineering
and scientific problems as well as employ computer
technology in solving and verifying solutions
Math 18 Engineering This course is designed for undergraduate engineering 3
Data Analysis students with emphasis on problem solving related to societal
issues that engineers and scientists are called upon to solve. It
introduces different methods of data collection and the
suitability of using a particular method for a given situation.
The relationship of probability to statistics is also discussed,
providing students with the tools they need to understand how
"chance" plays a role in statistical analysis. Probability
distributions of random variables and their uses are also
considered, along with a discussion of linear functions of
random variables within the context of their application to
data analysis and inference. The course also includes
estimation techniques for unknown parameters; and

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 hypothesis testing used in making inferences from sample to
population; inference for regression parameters and build
models for estimating means and predicting future values of
key variables under study. Finally, statistically based
experimental design techniques and analysis of outcomes of
experiments are discussed with the aid of statistical software.
Math 19 Numerical The course provides background on numerical analysis 3
Solutions to needed to solve civil engineering problems numerically when
CE Problems their analytical solution is either not available or difficult to
obtain. MATLAB programming environment or its
equivalent will be introduced and used in the course.
TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS (MATHEMATICS) 15

B. NATURAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES

No. of
Course Descriptive
Course Description Units
Number Title
Credit
Chem 8 Chemistry for
This course provides students with core concepts of 4
Engineers chemistry that are important in the practice of engineering
profession.
A fundamental laboratory course designed to relate and
apply the principles and theories in chemistry to engineering
practices. It is a combination of experimental and calculation
laboratory.
Phys 5 Physics for Vectors; kinematics; dynamics; work, energy, and power; 4
Engineers impulse and momentum; rotation; dynamics of rotation;
elasticity; and oscillation. Fluids; thermal expansion,
thermal stress; heat transfer; calorimetry; waves;
electrostatics; electricity; magnetism; optics; image
formation by plane and curved mirrors; and image formation
by thin lenses.
A fundamental laboratory course designed to relate and
apply the principles and theories of physics.
Geol 1 Geology for Fundamentals of geology applied to civil engineering 2
Civil problems. Topics include rock and mineral types, soil
Engineers properties, rock mechanics, geologic structures, active
tectonics and earthquake hazards, slope stability and
landslides, groundwater, rivers and flood hazards. Team
projects include engineering geology case studies and site
assessment investigations.
TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS (NATURAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES) 10

C. BASIC ENGINEERING SCIENCES

No. of
Course
Descriptive Title Course Description Units
Number
Credit
CBE 1 Civil Engineering Introduction to various tracks of specialization of civil 2
Orientation engineering, emphasis on ethics, responsibility and
professionalism.
CBE 2 Engineering This laboratory course is designed to develop abilities 1
Drawing and Plans needed to develop, accurately locate and interpret
dimensions on and read engineering drawings.

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 CBE 3 Computer-Aided Concepts of computer-aided drafting (CAD); 1
Drafting introduction to the CAD environment; terminologies; and
the general operating procedures and techniques in
entering and executing basic CAD commands.
CBE 4 Computer Basic information technology concepts; fundamentals of 2
Fundamentals and algorithm development; high-level language and
Programming programming applications; computer solutions of
engineering problems.
CBE 5 Engineering Concepts of the time value of money and equivalence; 3
Economics basic economy study methods; decisions under certainty;
decisions recognizing risk; and decisions admitting
uncertainty.
CBE 6 Statics of Rigid A basic engineering science course of solid 3
Bodies mechanicsdealing with bodies that are or remain at rest.It
is designed to provide fundamental concepts about
forces, moments and couples and their systems. The
concept of resultants and equilibrium of forces and
moments is utilized to enable solution of statically
determinate problems.
CBE 7 Engineering Decision-making; the functions of management; 2
Management managing production and service operations; managing
the marketing function; and managing the finance
function.
CBE 8 Dynamics of Rigid Kinetics and kinematics of a particle; kinetics and 2
Bodies kinematics of rigid bodies; work energy method; and
impulse and momentum.
CBE 9 Mechanics of Axial stress and strain; stresses for torsion and bending; 4
Deformable combined stresses; beam deflections; indeterminate
Bodies beams; and elastic instability.
Techno Technopreneurship Technopreneurship is a philosophy, a way of building a 3
101 101 career or perspective in life. The course covers the value
of professional and life skills in entrepreneurial thought,
investment decisions, and action that students can utilize
in starting technology companies or executing R&D
projects in companies as they start their careers. The net
result is a positive outlook towards wealth creation, high
value adding, and wellness in society.
TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS (BASIC ENGINEERING SCIENCES) 23

D. ALLIED COURSES
No. of
Course Descriptive
Course Description Units
Number Title
Credit
AC 1 Basic Electrical The course focuses on the environmental systems in 3
Engineering buildings. Lecture discussions include building electrical
systems, natural and artificial lighting, and building
telecommunications.
Reducing operational loads and integrating high
performance energy systems into buildings offers solutions
towards achieving a sustainable and secure energy future.
Engineers must understand the interrelationship between a
building and its subsystems, and need sufficient knowledge
of building systems and design alternatives to recommend
appropriate

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 PSG for BSCE Page 28 of 120
solutions that suit the site, climate, building type, and
occupants. They must coordinate the work of the
engineering disciplines that carry the sustainability concept
forward through building design, construction,
commissioning, operation and, ultimately, demolition,
recycling and reuse.
AC 2 General The course focuses on the mechanical systems, fire 3
Thermodynamics protection systems, sanitary/ plumbing systems, and
and Heat acoustics in buildings. Lecture discussions include HVAC
Transfer systems, acoustics, vertical transportation and fire
protection.
Reducing operational loads and integrating high
performance energy systems into buildings offers solutions
towards achieving a sustainable and secure energy future.
Engineers must understand the interrelationship between a
building and its subsystems, and need sufficient knowledge
of building systems and design alternatives to recommend
appropriate solutions that suit the site, climate, building
type, and occupants. They must coordinate the work of the
engineering disciplines that carry the sustainability concept
forward through building design, construction,
commissioning, operation and, ultimately, demolition,
recycling and reuse.
TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS (ALLIED COURSES) 6

E. PROFESSIONAL COURSES – COMMON

No. of
Course Descriptive
Course Description Units
Number Title
Credit
GEE 1 Fundamentals This course deals with: Measurement of distance and distance 4
of Surveying corrections, the use of surveying instruments, area
computations, balancing the traverse, elevation
determination, and leveling..Stadia surveying, topographic
surveying, triangulation and trilateration, missing data,
irregular boundaries, and global positioning system
Proper handling and utilization of surveying instrument will
be taken. Students will learn how to perform measurement of
distance and apply distance corrections, use and proper
handling of surveying instruments, and perform calculations
related to area computations, latitude and departure
computations, DMD and DPD methods of land area
determination, balancing the traverse, elevation
determination, and leveling. Perform stadia surveying,
topographic surveying, triangulation and trilateralization,
missing data computation, and subdivision of lots. Laying out
of horizontal curves, compound curve, reversed curve, spiral
curve and mass diagramming.
CEC 1 Construction The course deals with the physical properties of common 3
Materials and construction materials primarily metals, plastics, wood,
Testing concrete, coarse and fine aggregates, asphalt and synthetic
materials; examination of material properties with respect to
design and use of end product, design and control of
aggregates, concrete and asphalt mixtures, principle of

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 testing; characteristics of test; properties of materials and
materials testing equipment.

CEC 3 Structural A professional course common to all civil engineering 4

Theory students designed to provide fundamental concepts,
principles, and theories in the theory of structures and
structural analysis for internal actions in a structure and its
defomations under load.
A professional course common to all civil engineering
students designed to provide fundamental concepts,
principles, and theories in the theory of structures and
structural analysis for internal actions in a structure and its
defomations under load.
CEC 4 Highway and Presents the methods and underlying principles for the design 3
Railroad and control of the elements of road and railroad infrastructure.
Engineering Students also become familiar with transportation system
terminology, flow analysis, driver, vehicle and road
characteristics, and aspects of road geometrics, road
construction, drainage, pavements and maintenance.
CEC 5 Building Building construction is examined from the standpoints of life 3
System Design safety (including fire safety and zoning constraints on site
planning); architectural and building service systems
(plumbing, electrical, vertical transportation, security, fire
protection); materials, sustainability, and life-cycle analysis;
accessibility; technical documentation and outline
specifications; building enclosure systems; and interior finish
systems. The lecture course will focus on developing
knowledge of building systems, including architectural
design building materials and construction techniques, and
will foster the skills required to adopt a building systems
approach compliant to the National Building Code and its
referral codes. The students’ developed knowledge of
building systems will also include understanding of different
types and applications of building materials and diverse
construction techniques. Sustainability principles’ impact on
the property lifecycle, and how these will integrate and apply
to skills and knowledge to industry based case studies will
also be examined. The course will include at least one site
visit to an operating building in the locality. The laboratory
class will focus on the tools and techniques to create a
computer generated building model, and applied tools for
working with computer model exploring output and
simulation. Students will develop techniques looking at both
realistic and schematic representation, and the
PSG for BSCE Page 43 of 120
Integration of building systems modeling as a tool to inform
and enhance the design process.
CEC 6 Principles of A professional course common to all civil engineering 3
Steel Design students designed to provide fundamental concepts,
principles, and theories in the structural strength analysis and
design of steel elements in a structure
A professional course common to all civil engineering
students designed to provide fundamental concepts,
principles, and theories in the structural strength analysis and
design of steel elements in a structure
CEC 7 Principle of A professional course common to all civil engineering 4
Reinforced / students designed to provide fundamental concepts,
principles, and theories in the structural strength analysis and

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 Prestressed design of plain, reinforced, and prestressed concrete elements
Concrete in a structure
A professional course common to all civil engineering
students designed to provide fundamental concepts,
principles, and theories in the structural strength analysis and
design of plain, reinforced, and prestressed concrete elements
in a structure
CEC 8 Hydraulics The course emphasizes the continuity equation, energy 5
equation, and momentum equation. Familiarization of the
properties of common liquids in the study of hydraulics.
Application of fundamental principles to solve problems
involving liquid pressure and corresponding forces resulting
from this pressure. Applications of appropriate equations in
performing calculations involving flow velocity, flow rate
and forces exerted by moving liquids in closed conduits and
open channels. Familiarization and applications of flow
measuring devices such as orifice, weirs, pitot tube.
CEC 9 Hydrology The course deals on the hydrologic cycle and the different 2
processes such as precipitation, evaporation, infiltration,
overland flow, groundwater flow and surface runoff
generation.
CEC 10 CE Law, This course deals on the principles and fundamentals of the 2
Ethics and laws on obligations, contracts, and professional ethics that are
Contracts applicable to the civil engineering profession. It is designed
to prepare civil engineering students for professional practice.
Topics on the perspective of the student as future
practitioners, contractors, and employees in the field are also
given emphasis. They include the study of code of ethics,
legal procedure in the practice of civil engineering in the
Philippines, ethical relations of an engineer with fellow
professionals, clients, and general public, elements of
contracts, obligations, Civil Engineering Law (RA 544)
National Building Code, labor laws, E-Procurement Law, and
the Manual of Professional Practice for Civil Engineers.
CEC 11 Geotechnical Soil formation and identification. Engineering properties of 4
Engineering 1 soils. Fundamental aspects of soil characterization and
(Soil response, including soil mineralogy, soil-water movement,
Mechanics) effective stress, consolidation, soil strength, and soil
compaction. Use of soils and geosynsynthetics in
geotechnical and geo-environmental applications.
Introduction to site investigation techniques. Laboratory
testing and evaluation of soil composition and properties.
CEC 12 Principles of The course gives emphasis on urban transportation planning, 3
Transportation design and operation using statistical and modeling
Engineering techniques and computer methods. It also covers capacity and
level of service of air, rail and highway. It also includes
safety, environmental impacts and mitigation, transportation
policy fundamentals and case studies.
CEC 13 Quantity This course provides a basic understanding of the methods 2
Surveying used to prepare
1. a building and/or bridge construction cost estimate,
2. earthwork costs.
The students learn to do quantity takeoff utilizing plans and
specifications.
CEC 14 Construction The course deals with the principles of construction methods 3
Methods and and equipment, management and their applications. It covers
Project project planning, scheduling, monitoring and control. It also
Management includes concepts on organization, safety, information

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 systems and computer applications. Students are given
opportunities to visit actual project sites and observe the
application of these theories in construction projects.
CEC 15 CE Project 1 Development of a capstone project proposal containing a 2
clear set of objectives, methodology, project implementation
plan/schedule and resource requirements.
CEC 16 CE Project 2 Implementation of a capstone project based on an approved 2
proposal.
TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS (PROFESSIONAL COURSES - COMMON) 49

F. PROFESSIONAL COURSES – SPECIALIZED

No. of
Course Descriptive
Course Description Units
Number Title
Credit
CE 31 Computer A specialized professional course for civil engineerThing 3
Softwares in students in structural engineering aimed at introducing to
Structural them the state-of-the-art computer tools in structural analysis
Analysis that are available in the market.
CE 32 Earthquake A specialized professional course for civil engineering 3
Engineering students in structural engineering designed to understand the
theoretical, practical, and computational aspects of the
earthquake excitation in relation to structural design.
CE 33 Design of A specialized professional course for civil engineering 3
Steel and students in structural engineering designed to enable the
Timber design of steel and timber structures
Structures
CE 34 Reinforced
A specialized professional course for civil engineering 3
Concrete
students in structural engineering designed to enablethe
Design design of reinforced concrete structures.
CE 38 Foundation
A specialized professional course for civil engineering 3
and Retaining
students in structural engineering designed to understand the
Wall Design
concepts, theories, and principles in the the design process of
structural foundations and retaining walls.
TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS (PROFESSIONAL COURSES - SPECIALIZED) 15

G. INTEGRATION COURSE FOR CE

No. of
Course Descriptive
Course Description Units
Number Title
Credit
CE Rev Competency This course deals with all important courses in Engineering 3
1 Enhancement Mathematics and General Engineering, Advance Science that
covers all the necessary topics taking the actual Licensure of
Civil Engineering Board Examination.
CE Rev Competency This course deals with all important courses in Civil 3
2 Assessment Engineering that covers all the necessary topics taking the
actual Licensure of Civil Engineering Board Examination.
TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS (INTEGRATION COURSE FOR CE) 6

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H. OJT

No. of
Course Descriptive
Course Description Units
Number Title
Credit
CE 6 On-the-job Actual On-the-Job Training or Industry Internship in the field 3
Training (240 of specialization.
hours)
TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS (OJT) 3

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this lesson, the learner is expected to:

 Familiarize the history of the process to establish civil engineering

discipline.

 Discuss the broad diversification of civil engineering resulted from

enormous expansion in the society.

ALLOCATED TIME: 4 Hours

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 It is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning of civil engineering, however,
that the history of civil engineering is a mirror of the history of human beings on this earth. Man used
the old shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh environment, and used a tree trunk to
cross the river, which being the demonstration of ancient age civil engineering.

Civil Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human existence. The
earliest practices of Civil engineering may have commenced between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient
Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq) when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus
causing a need for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation became increasingly
important leading to the development of the wheel and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engineering and architecture,
and the term engineer and architect were mainly geographical variations referring to the same person,
often used interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500 BC) might be
considered the first instances of large structure constructions.

Pyramids of Egypt, considered to be the first instances of large structure constructions

Around 2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented engineer, built a famous stepped pyramid for
King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple tools and mathematics he created a monument
that stands to this day. His greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of building
with shaped stones. Those who followed him carried engineering to remarkable heights using skill and
imagination. Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat water management
system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient
Greece (447-438 BC), the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China by
General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c. 220 BC) and the stupas
constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in
Anuradhapura. The Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including especially
aqueducts, insulae, harbours, bridges, dams and roads. Other remarkable historical structures are
Sennacherib's Aqueduct at Jerwan built in 691 BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around 220
BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over the Rhine River built in 55 BC, numerous bridges built by other
Romans in and around Rome(e.g. the pons Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France)
built in 19 BC; the extensive system of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading and (more
importantly) fast maneuvering of legions; extensive irrigation system constructed by the Hohokam
Indians, Salt River, AZ around 600 AD; first dykes defending against high water in Friesland, The
Netherlands around 1000 AD; El Camino Real - The Royal Road, Eastern Branch, TX and Western
Branch, NM (1500s AD).

Machu Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire is considered an
engineering marvel. It was built in the Andes Mountains assisted by some of history’s most ingenious
water resource engineers. The people of Machu Picchu built a mountain top city with running water,
drainage systems, food production and stone structures so advanced that they endured for over 500
years.

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 Machu Picchu, located in Peru considered to be an engineering marvel

A treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was published at 1AD in

Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering education in ancient times. It was probably written
around 15 BC by the Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor Caesar
Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and construction was
carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and carpenters, rising to the role of master builder.
Knowledge was retained in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and
infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and mathematical problems
applicable to civil engineering is the work of Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including Archimedes
Principle, which underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such as Archimedes’
screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-
Arabic numerals, for excavation (volume) computations.

Educational & Institutional History of Civil Engineering

In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to incorporate all things civilian as
opposed to military engineering. The first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and
Highways, France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was John Smeaton
who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton and some of his colleagues formed the
Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally over
dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was little more than a social society.
In 1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil Engineers was founded in
London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas Telford became its first president. The institution
received a Royal Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession. Its charter
defined civil engineering as: “Civil engineering is the application of physical and scientific principles,
and its history is intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and mathematics throughout
history. Because civil engineering is a wide ranging profession, including several separate specialized
sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of structures, material science, geography, geology,
soil, hydrology, environment, mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United States was Norwich University
founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United States
was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such degree to be awarded to a
woman was granted by Cornell University to Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.

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THE HISTORY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING (AND ITS PROFESSION) IN THE
PHILIPPINES

The Milestones During Spanish Time

The history of the architecture and civil engineering profession in the Philippines were almost
synonymous to each other. In more than three-and-a-half centuries of Spanish subjugation, there were
no Filipino civil engineers. Social prejudice constrained the repressed indio builders to content
themselves to be called mere Maestro de Obras (Master Builders) even if they could design and build
any type of structure that technology could allow at that time. Master Builders as of today were
equivalent to Construction Foreman. Civil Engineering, as practiced in the Philippines during the
Spanish era, was not by virtue of an academic title. There were no civil engineering schools in the
country at that time and the only architects/engineers with academic degrees were Spaniards. The
walled city in Intramuros was established by the Spaniards as a model community. The Friar
Architects/Engineers during that time were the ones who built the government buildings, bridges,
residential and other structures, incorporated European standards in engineering and architectural
installations. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Filipino engineers were assigned the task of
maintaining, repairing and/or remodelling infrastructure systems in all “pueblos” or towns including
churches, convents and government buildings. Maestro de Obras were called by the Ilustrados” or the
elite group to build structures in villas and mansions. 1571 Miguel Lopez de Legaspi founded the City
of Manila on June 24, 1571 The Spaniards started building Fort Santiago (Fuerte de Santiago) after the
establishment of the city of Manila under Spanish rule on June 24, 1571. 1577 With the arrival of the
Franciscan Order to Manila in 1577, they began with construction of wood and cane churches that
succumbed to natural catastrophes. In 1739 they constructed a stone church that was financed by the
public charity and became one of richest in Intramuros. Designed and built by Jesuit priest Antonio
Sedeno from 1586 to 1587, it is one of the oldest stone fortifications in Intramuros.
Began as a circular fort called Nuestra Senora de Guia. Renovated in 1593 to join the walls of
the city. Fort fell in disrepair and, in 1644, construction began for a new baluarte which was completed
between 1653 and 1663. Resembling an ace of spades, it housed a foundry during the 18th century.
The baluarte was breached by British forces with cannon fire in 1762. Restored and strengthened after
the British occupation but was damaged during the 1863 earthquake. It was destroyed during the Battler
of Manila in 1945. Restoration began in 1979 and completed in 1992. 1591 – 1631 Construction work
for the Santiago castle/fortress was commenced in 1591 and was completed in 1634. This was the work
of Leonardo Iturrino, and was the second most important fortress to be built of stone in Manila, the
Nuestra Señora de Guía fortress being the first of these. 1596 - 1602 The Santiago fortress was built
between 1596 and 1602 on the land promontory between the sea and the Pasig River, and was the most
important fortification built in Manila. The walls encircling the city started at this point. 1599 St.
Augustine Church is the oldest stone church in the Philippines. It was built in 1599; however, it was
also destroyed and rebuilt many times. It is an immense structure of thick walls of Corinthian and Ionic
designs. 1621 In 1621, Don Bernardino Castillo, a generous patron and a well-known devotee of St.
Sebastian, Patron of Archers, donated his lot, which is now the present site of the San Sebastian Church.
The original church, which was made of wood, was burned in 1651 during a Chinese uprising. The
succeeding structures were destroyed twice by fire and an earthquake in 1859, 1863, and 1880
respectively. Father Esteban Martinez, the parish priest at that time, approached the Spanish Architect
Genero Palacios with a plan to build a fire and earthquake-resistant church made entirely of steel.
Ambeth Ocampo states that the present San Sebastian church was ordered knockdown in steel parts
from the Societe Anonyme des Enterprises de Travaux Publiques in Brussels, Belgium. Two Belgian
engineers supervised the construction.
On June 12, 1888, the first shipments of steel parts were brought to the Philippines. For two
years, the church was assembled with local artists and craftsmen joining the Belgian firm in applying
the final finishing touches on this new church of steel. The stained glass windows were imported from
the Henri Oidtmann Company, a German stained glass firm. The engineering technique used in the
construction of the church, including metal fixtures and the overall structure, were from Gustave Eiffel,
the creator of the Eiffel Tower. This was confirmed when Chinese-American architect, I. M. Pei, visited
the Philippines in the late 70’s. He came to confirm what he heard about Gustave Eiffel designing a
steel church in Asia. 1632 Puente Grande was the first bridge to be erected across the grand Rio del
Pasig. Built in 1632, this wooden bridge connects Intramuros and Binondo together, making it easier
and relatively faster to travel from one end to the other. It underwent several reconstructions and

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renovations as it was always heavily damaged by earthquakes. After the 1863 earthquake, Puente
Grande was renamed to Puente de España. The bridge was replaced in 1875 widening its spans to
masonry of six and two central houses. It can accommodate both pedestrians and vehicles including
horse or carabao drawn carts and carriages, and tranvia. This bridge was replaced for the last time with
a neo-classical design by Juan Arellano in the 1930s, and was called the Jones Bridge. 1645 Manila
was hit by an earthquake and was reconstructed 1686 Irrigation and Water System The first artesian
wells were built in Betis, Pampanga by Fr. Manuel Camanes. The water system in Manila (now MWSS)
had its beginning from the water works constructed by Fr. Juan Peguero in 1686. The first irrigation
system was constructed in Tanay, Rizal by Fr. Jose Delgado. (17th Century) Cavite Friar Land
Irrigation System is one of the oldest irrigation systems in the Philippines. Sometimes in the 17th
century, the Spanish period encomiendas or Spanish Royal lands grants were implemented in Cavite.

Manila Cathedral, Intramuros Manila, Philippines, 1879-1880

First Philippine Republic (Aguinaldo)

The Organic Decree issued by Gen. Emilio Aquinaldo establishing the Philippine
Revolutionary Government created four (4) government departments among which was the
Department of War and Public Works. In 1896, after four (4) centuries of Spanish colonization, our
Filipino forebears started the revolutionary movement and the struggle to gain freedom began. On
June 12, 1898, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite. The
Organic Decree of the Philippine Revolutionary Government on June 23, 1898 issued by Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo provided for the creation of four (4) Departments in the government, one of which was the
DEPARTMENT OF WAR AND PUBLIC WORKS. Though once included in the Department of War,
now Department of National Defense, its functions as builder and maintainer of roads, bridges and
other public works structures are inherent in the present Department. The inclusion of public works in
the War and Department can be explained by the exigencies of the revolutionary period. The
construction of fortifications and trenches was needed in the cause for freedom which our heroes had
fought for. When Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States in 1898, the public works and
activities were placed under the U.S. Army engineers. 1899 The Malolos Constitution was ratified
during a general assembly of Congress, and the first Council of Government of the First Philippine
Republic was created. From January 21, 1899 to May 7, 1899, with Apolinario Mabini as President of
the Cabinet (i.e. Prime Minister), Gracio Gonzaga served as the Secretary of Public Welfare, which
included the transportation and communications portfolio. When Mabini was replaced by Pedro

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Paterno as President of the Cabinet, among the seven departments set up was the Communicaciones y
Obras Publicas (i.e. the Communications and Public Works Department). Maximo Paterno was
appointed as Secretary of Public Works and Communications. Since then, Public Works,
Transportation, and Communications have been grouped into one department.

During American Regime

The coming of the Americans brought about drastic changes in our engineering culture. The
new colonizers pursued “benevolent” policies that focused on English education, public health, free
enterprise, and representative governance thus bringing with them were military engineers, Thomasite
teachers, doctors and evangelist. Under the civil government established in July, 1901, such
“assimilation” manifested itself physically in the form of infrastructures. Highways, bridges, schools,
hospitals, and government buildings steadily transformed the Philippine landscape. 1899 In his letter
dated January 4, 1899 to Filipinos, US Major-General Elwell S. Otis, the Military Governor of the
Philippines, announced US President William McKinley’s instructions for the islands’ Benevolent
Assimilation. The instructions stated that the management of public property and revenue, and the use
of all public means of transportation, were to be conducted by the military authorities (i.e. by the US
Army) until such time that they would be transferred back to civilian authority. Thus, the Bureau of
Engineering was placed under the supervision of American military engineers. The ports were opened
to commerce for all foreign nations. 1900 Foundation of the Liceo de Manila, a private institution
offering academic course for maestro de obras and headed by Leon Ma. Guerrero. The first private
school to offer an academic title for Maestro de Obras. (the forerunner of formal education in
architecture/engineering) The introduction of reinforced concrete in the Philippines was in the 1900s
and its use in the construction of the Masonic Temple (Grand Lodge of the Philippines), the first multi-
structure in Escolta, Manila.

Continuation of Commonwealth Government (After the War)

After the Second World War, the new independent Philippine government continued the
rehabilitation and construction of roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructures, through the
reparations and war damages paid by the Japanese government. Other financial grants and aids received
from the US government were used in the construction and rehabilitation of roads, bridges, buildings
and other infrastructures. 1944 President Sergio Osmeña issued Executive Order 15-W on August 8,
1944 reorganizing and consolidating the Executive Departments of the Commonwealth government
with Secretary Basilio Valdes as Secretary of National Defense and Communications. 1945 The
reorganization of the government after it was re-established on Philippine soil was undertaken with
Executive Order No. 27 on February 27. The Department of National Defense and Communications
was again named Department of Public Works and Communications. 08 March 1945-1946 Justice
Sotero Cabahug replaced Secretary Valdes as Secretary of Public Works and Communications.

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 Assessment 1:
Write an essay on why you chose Civil Engineering as your preferred course. Write in
a minimum of 500 words.

Why Did I Choose Civil Engineering?

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Instructor - JESSIE Y. LABASO, ASEAN Engr.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this lesson, the learner is expected to:

 Equip civil engineering students with a wider horizon on concepts in terms

of environmental, economic and social attributes, for decision making
sensitive to sustainability issues.

 Develop wider knowledge base in the social, political, and life sciences in
addition to physical sciences and mathematics.

ALLOCATED TIME: 6 Hours

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 Civil engineering is the engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction and
maintenance of public works such as buildings, roads, bridges, water and energy systems as well as
public facilities like ports, railways and airports.
Civil engineering is all about people. It's the work that civil engineers do to develop and
improve the services and facilities that general people use in their everyday life.
Civil engineers deals with almost every aspects of our everyday lives. From the water you use
to brush your teeth in the morning to the road you drive on to work and the school where you take your
children to the power that charges your cell phone.

Civil engineers typically do the following:

 Analyze long range plans, survey reports, maps, and other data to plan and design projects
 Consider construction costs, government regulations, potential environmental hazards, and
other factors during the planning and risk-analysis stages of a project
 Compile and submit permit applications to local, state, and federal agencies, verifying that
projects comply with various regulations
 Oversee and analyze the results of soil testing to determine the adequacy and strength of
foundations
 Analyze the results of tests on building materials, such as concrete, wood, asphalt, or steel, for
use in particular projects
 Prepare cost estimates for materials, equipment, or labor to determine a project's economic
feasibility
 Use design software to plan and design transportation systems, hydraulic systems, and
structures in line with industry and government standards
 Perform or oversee surveying operations to establish building locations, site layouts, reference
points, grades, and elevations to guide construction
 Manage the repair, maintenance, and replacement of public and private infrastructure
Civil engineers also must present their findings to the public on topics such as bid proposals,
environmental impact statements, or property descriptions.
Many civil engineers hold supervisory or administrative positions ranging from supervisor of a
construction site to city engineer, public works director, and city manager. As supervisors, they are
tasked with ensuring that safe work practices are followed at construction sites.
Other civil engineers work in design, construction, research, and teaching. Civil engineers work
with others on projects and may be assisted by civil engineering technicians.
Civil engineers prepare permit documents for work on projects in renewable energy. They
verify that the projects will comply with federal, state, and local requirements. These engineers conduct
structural analyses for large-scale photovoltaic, or solar energy, projects. They also evaluate the ability
of solar array support structures and buildings to tolerate stresses from wind, seismic activity, and other
sources. For large-scale wind projects, civil engineers often prepare roadbeds to handle large trucks
that haul in the turbines.
Civil engineers work on complex projects, and they can achieve job satisfaction in seeing the
project reach completion. They usually specialize in one of several areas.

Contribution of Civil Engineers:

General people may not realize the huge contributions made by civil engineers to the society. By
developing the infrastructure for our society, civil engineers are basically giving shape to the history
of a nation. Only by going deep into the duties that civil engineers do, one can understand the
importance of their job and their many responsibilities.
Civil engineering has played a vital role in increasing the health and quality of life, from
developing better water supplies, municipal sewer systems, waste water treatment plants, to the design
of buildings to protect us from natural hazards and provide health care, to improved agriculture through
water resource development and distribution projects to rapid and dramatic changes in transportation
systems, civil engineers have developed the basic infrastructure on which modern society depends.
Civil engineers were the first engineers and continue to be dedicated to technology development for
the common good and the public.
Civil engineers are responsible for maintaining the overall safety of society in a number of ways
including rural engineering. From constructing highways and buildings to bridges and tunnels, the

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responsibilities of civil engineers are many.Civil engineers are responsible for planning and overseeing
different construction efforts and apply civil engineering principles to ensure that the constructed
structures are safe and sturdy.Let’s take a look at the roles and responsibilities of a Civil engineer:
A civil engineer is responsible for analysing different factors regarding a construction project.
They analyse the site of the construction and the surrounding area. The process includes search and
investigation, verifying whether that location is feasible for construction purposes or not. Civil
engineers also analyse the entire construction work that needs to be completed at the site. They have to
analyse every step of the processes required for completing the construction job.
Once they have properly analysed the situation, they need to prepare detailed reports. The report
encompasses a detailed description of the various factors present and also the factors that need to be
changed before commencing the construction work. Once the proposed changes have been
implemented, it’s up to the civil engineer to review the plans and project site once again. This is to
ensure that all proposed changes have been.They are also responsible for planning the construction
project. He/she is required to inspect the project for ensuring that all rules, regulations and guidelines
are been properly followed.A civil engineer has to follow a construction project from beginning to end
and make necessary changes along the way to completion. They are responsible for checking whether
the safety features of the project are maintained or not and must ensure that all the processes are
followed. A civil engineer also needs to use different figures, equation and applications to ensure that
the processes are been implemented accurately. They need to conduct a number of functions such as
conducting chemical testing using various applications, use a drafting and design software throughout
the project, and conducting electrical testing of devices and equipment. They also need to be aware of
land surveying techniques and the metric system.

OTHER PROFESSION RELATED TO CIVIL ENGINEERING

Construction Manager
Whether liaising with civil engineers and architects or overseeing their crew of framers,
bricklayers, plumbers and roofers, construction managers have much responsibility. Job sites can range
from residential properties to large-scale corporate headquarters, offering much variety.

Cost Estimator
Cost estimators often work closely with professionals in CE to provide estimates about needed
materials, labor, time and money for various projects. They may specialize in particular areas, such as
manufacturing, construction, or professional services.

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Civic Engineering Professor
After a successful career in the industry, numerous CE professionals elect to transition into
collegiate teaching. With similar salaries offered, this mid-career switch is attractive to those with the
passion for educating the next generation of engineers.

Risk Management Specialist

These professionals typically focus their knowledge on a specific area, such as construction,
security, finance, or industrial processes. Those working in construction oversee building sites to ensure
all safety measures are known and protected against.

Hydrologist
Civic engineers sometimes work with hydrologists on projects where underground and surface
waters factor into design plans. These professionals understand the ins and outs of precipitation,
flooding, groundswell, and soil erosion.

Construction and Building Inspectors

Whether working with potential buyers to ascertain if a potential property is sound and up to
code or inspecting a new build to ensure it meets all requirements, construction and building inspectors
have careers filled with variety and the opportunity to work with many different types of structures and
clients.

Architect
While usually focused exclusively on structures, architects and civil engineers frequently
overlap in their work activities. They are responsible for meeting with clients to ascertain their needs,
creating designs based on those conversations, producing drafts and blueprints, overseeing the work of
building contractors, and ensuring all buildings adhere to codes. They frequently use computer-aided
design (CAD) software to produce scaled examples of building plans and split their time between the
office and the job site.

Civic Engineering Technician

CETs support civil engineers, working alongside them to design structures and roadways. These
professionals are not licensed, but are able to contribute to projects in meaningful ways under the
supervision of a professional CE. They may review blueprints, inspect project sites, evaluate work,
review coding and zoning requirements, and produce cost estimates. Most individuals in these roles
hold an associate degree in engineering gained from a community college or technical/vocational
school.

Architectural And Civic Drafter

Architectural and Civic Drafters take the vision of a civil engineer and make it reality. After
consulting with CEs and architects, these professionals produce highly detailed and accurate sketches
of structures and roadways, utilizing both pen and paper and computer-aided design (CAD) software.
They must possess a thorough knowledge of materials, engineering principles, mathematics, and
zoning codes to be proficient, and many leaders within the field rely on their expertise.

CODE OF ETHICS FOR CIVIL ENGINEERS (PICE)

It shall be considered unprofessional and inconsistent with honorable and dignified bearing for
any registered Civil Engineer:

To act for his clients* in professional matters otherwise than as a faithful agent or trustee, or to
accept any remuneration other than his stated charges for services rendered to his clients.

To attempt to injure falsely or maliciously, directly or indirectly, the professional reputation,

prospects, or business of another Engineer.

To attempt to supplant another Engineer after definite steps have been taken toward his
employment.

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Instructor - JESSIE Y. LABASO, ASEAN Engr.
 To compete with another Engineer for employment on the basis of his professional charges, by
reducing his usual charges and in his manner attempting to underbid after being informed of the charges
named by another.

To review the work of another Engineer for the same client, except with the knowledge or
consent of such Engineer, or unless the connection of such Engineer with the work has been terminated.

To advertise in self-laudatory language, or in any other manner derogatory to the dignity of the
Profession.

To use the advantages of a salaried position to compete unfairly with Engineers in private
practice.

To act in any manner or engage in any practice which will tend to bring discredit on the honor
or dignity of the Engineering Profession.

Fundamental Principles

Civil engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor and dignity of the civil engineering
profession by:

1. using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare and the environment;

2. being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the public, their employers/employees and
clients;

3. striving to increase the competence and prestige of the civil engineering profession; and

4. supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.

Fundamental Canons

1. Civil Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and shall strive
to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their duties.

2. Civil Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.

3. Civil Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.

4. Civil Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents
or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.

5. Civil Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall
not compete unfairly with others.

6. Civil Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and
dignity of the civil engineering profession.

7. Civil Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers, and
shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those civil engineers under their
supervision.

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PICE History

On December 11, 1973, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Registration
Certificate No.53896 to the PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, INC. (PICE). This
was the culmination and fulfillment of a vision to merge two separate organizations of civil engineers
in the country, the Philippine Society of Civil Engineers (PSCE) and the Philippine Association of
Civil Engineers (PACE). The Philippine Society of Civil Engineers (PSCE) was formed sometime in
the late twenties by a group of civil engineers mostly from the government sector. It was the country's
first civil engineering organization with the late Engr. Marcial Kasilag as its first president. Engr.
Kasilag holds the No.1 slot in the PRC Registry of Civil Engineers. He then occupied a high-ranking
position in the government and the early members of PSCE were government engineers. There were
relatively few civil engineers in private practice during that time as most of the early graduates were
readily engaged by the various government agencies.

Engr. Marcial Kasilag, 1st Registered Civil Engineer in the Philippines

In 1937, another group of civil engineers in the private sector, led by Enrique Sto. Tomas Cortes
formed the Philippine Association of Civil Engineers (PACE). Mr. Cortes was its first president. The
major objectives of both associations were similar: to elevate the standards of the profession, encourage
research and engineering knowledge and technology, foster fellowship among members, and promote
interrelation with other technological and scientific societies.
The Philippine Association Civil Engineers (PACE) proved to be the more active between the
two groups and this resulted to the transfer of many PSCE members to PACE. PACE, under the
leadership of President Alberto Guevarra, was mainly responsible for the passage of Republic Act No.
544 otherwise known as the "Civil Engineering Law" in 1950. It was a milestone in establishing
prestige and safeguarding the interest of the civil engineering profession in the country.
It was sometime in 1972 under the administration of the late PACE President Cesar A. Caliwara
when more serious effort was exerted to merge the two societies. Panel representatives were designated
by both organizations to convene and start a series of talk. Leading members of PACE and PSCE,

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Eduardo Escobar, Pedro Afable, Angel Lazaro, Jr., Andres Hizon, Ambrosio Flores, Tomas de
Guzman, Lucas Agbayani, to mention a few ere involved in the negotiation. The choice of a new
name, formal accounting and turnover of assets and liabilities, accreditation of bonafide members and
election rules for the first officers were some of the concerns that were sooner resolved. Finally, an
election of the first officers and directors of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. (PICE)
was held sometime in February 1974 and Cesar A. Caliwara became the first President. During his
term, the first International convention was held in the Philippines on May 20 to 24,1975 with the
theme " Civil Engineering in Disaster Prevention Control." Proceedings in this convention were
published into a book and sold to members and public. Also, the drive to organize provincial chapters
was intensified in order to truly unite the civil engineers of the country. Another historical milestone
was the accreditation (no. 007) of PICE by the Professional Regulation Commission on August 13,
1975 as the only official recognized organization of civil engineers in the Philippines.
President Mariano R. Balauag's administration which succeeded Caliwara's was also
characterized by an even vigorous campaign for membership thru the formation of seventeen (17)
Provincial Chapters within a year's time, making a total of twenty four (24) chapters, considerably
boosting the PICE membership. The publication of the "Philippine Civil Engineer", the official organ
of the stitute was envisioned during his term. PICE's 3rd president, Ramon G. Hechanova, highlighted
his administration by expanding further the activities of PICE, such as the Continuing Education
Program, publication of the Philippine Civil Engineer, increased the annual membership dues, studied
proposed amendments to the By-laws particularly on the electoral voting, proposed amendments to
Article 1723 of the civil code pertinent to exploitation of civil engineers in practice, and the creation
of the "Ten Outstanding Civil Engineers" (TOCE) Awards. The establishment of the PICE Foundation
Inc. was envisioned during his term. A convention on the theme "Civil Engineering in the 80's " and
the annual election held on November 9,1980 marked the closing of Hechanova's Administration.
Jesus S. Hipolito, a noted professor in Structural Engineering and leading contractor became PICE's
Fourth President on January 1,1981. Hipolito had not yet finished his term in office when President
Marcos named him Minister of Public Works on November 11,1981. His incumbency then marked
the period when PICE was headed by cabinet members which is no doubt, another feather on its cap.
It was during Minister Hipolito's tenure that the PICE foundation, Inc. was finally established for the
purpose of acquiring a permanent home for the Institute. It was also during his term that the local
engineering consultants have been given due recognition by foreign financing institutions like the
World Bank. A convention on the theme "Upgrading Civil Engineering Professionalism and
Consultancy" was held which reflected his main obsession and direction for his entire incumbency.
Hipolito served for two years until December 1, 1982.
The fifth President of the PICE is youthful and handsome Angel L. Lazaro III, son of
Arch./Engr. Angel L. Lazaro, jr., one of the original pillars of the Institute. "Lito" Lazaro, as he is
fondly called, has a doctorate degree in Structural Engineering and was then the Dean of the De La
Salle's College of Engineering. He also headed a consultancy group bearing his name and was actively
involved in the government's infrastructure program. The term of President Lazaro although for one
year only (1983), is considered very fruitful in terms of visible accomplishments. For the first time,
the PICE membership broke the 10,000 mark with 11,446 active members with the formation of ten
(10) new provincial chapters and seven (7) new student chapters. Also, for the first time, existing
specialty and fraternal associations of civil engineers such as ASEP, AGCEP, DACEL and ACE were
formally invited to join the Institute of emphasize and realize the unity of civil engineering profession.
The administration of Dr. Lazaro is also characterized by the intense desire of PICE members to unite
in protecting the right of civil engineer particularly on the issues confronting the civil engineering
profession against the perceived machination of other technical professions who want to amend the
existing C.E. Law for their selfish interests. Among the various programs implemented, the Continuing
Professional Education (CPE) was given emphasis thru the conduct of several Regional Technical
Conferences and Lecture Seminars in the local chapters which directly benifited more than a thousand
members.
Aber P. Canlas, then the deputy Minister of Public Work and Highways (MPWH) became the
sixth president of PICE in 1984 and kept the presidency until the end of 1986. It was during Canlas'
administration that PICE was involved in an International activity thru the holding of the 4th
conference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations or CAFEO-4, which was hosted
by the Philippine Technological Council (PTC) on September 25-27, 1985 at the Philippine Plaza
Hotel. President Canlas, then PICE representative in the PTC, was the chairman of the federation's
Governing Body and PICE became the lead organization that successfully managed that prestigious

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international affair. The seventh President of PICE is the amiable and ever-jolly Juanito "Janet" Nery
Ferrer who was elected when he was Undersecretary of DPWH. He eventually became the full-pledged
secretary of DPWH before his second term ended in 1988. He herefore became the second Cabinet
Secretary to serve the PICE presidency after past president Jesus Hipolito. President "Janet", as he
popularly known, is well remembered for his vision in establishing a more solid moral foundation for
the next generations of Filipino Civil Engineers. He was very concerned about the moral re-orientation
and regeneration of our people after the 20 year plunder of the past government regime. Also, he felt
that civil engineers had to bring back the pride and dignity of the civil engineering profession. It was
during Ferrer's administration that serious efforts were exerted to acquire a permanent headquarters
for the PICE and acquire sophisticated office and equipment such as microcomputer to better serve the
needs of the general membership. Thru very successful fund-raising activities, the initial amount of
P550,000.00 was placed in the bank as a trust fund under the PICE Foundation, Inc. the plan then was
to acquire an office space at the Strata 200 Bldg. of the Ortigas Complex. And as part of the
decentralization program of his administration, a very successful midyear National Convention was
held in Davao City in July 1988 ably hosted by the local PICE chapter of that beautiful and alluring
southern metropolis. The eight President of the Institute is David M. Consunji, a former Secretary of
the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communication (DPWTC) and the president of
a very prestigious construction firm bearing his name. President Consunji served for two (2) terms
striving to maintain the momentum of the Institute's growth for the last 15 years from 1974. His first
term was spent mostly in consultation with the local chapters trying to identify the problems that beset
the Institute because he believed in the dictum that problems known are already half solved. It is to
the credit of the Consunji administration that the present successful program on Continuing
Professional Education (CPE) for civil engineers was finally resolved and eventually adopted by the
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) as a pre-requisite in the renewal of professional license.
The ninth President of PICE is the ever-smiling Romulo M. Del Rosario, Undersecretary of the
Department of Public Works and Highways, then in-charge of all DPWH infrastructure projects in
Bicol, the Visayas and the whole of Mindanao.
The first term of President Del Rosario was characterized by an active campaign for
membership and re-activation of the in-active local chapters including the creation of new and viable
chapters, i.e., the PICE AFP-DND chapter with Charter No.72 and headed by no less than the Chief
of the Engineering Corps of the AFP, Brigadier General Dominador Catibog, jr., as its charter
president. Also, it was during his first term in Office that the Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
program was successfully launched with a series of Regional Technical Consultation (RTC's) or
training seminars conducted in coordination with DPWH and hosted by local PICE chapters in regional
cities. This seminars and other trainings conducted by the local chapters gave the membership the
chance to earn CPE credits units required by PRC in the renewal of Professional License. And for the
first time, a "Civil Engineering Week" for the period November 3 to 9,1991 was declared by
Malacañang thru Proclamation No.799 issued on September 20,1991 by President Corazon C. Aquino.
The C.E. week was celebrated nationwide thru coordinated activities of all PICE chapters and the
PICE National Board culminating in the most successful and well-attended '91 PICE Annual
Convention (1,400 plus registered participants). The second term of President Del Rosario was
considered very memorable mainly because of the induction of the Philippine President Fidel V.
Ramos as PICE Life Member holding Certificate No. 239. Three new chapters were organized,
namely: Camarines Norte, Angeles City and Tawi-Tawi and given Charter Nos. 73,74 and 75,
respectively. Also life members increased significantly by 51% from 182 in 1992 to 276 as of October
26,1992. Another significant achievement of his administration is the conferment of the first batch of
PICE Fellows, composed mostly of PICE presidents. The 1992 National Convention surpassed the
record set in 1991 which was highlighted by the Testimonial Dinner in honor of the Philippine
President Fidel V. Ramos at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel on November 3,1992.
The tenth President of the Institute is the ever-humble Engr. Antonio A. Mansueto, a PICE
Fellow and formerChairman of the PRC C.E. Board of Examiners. A former City Engineer of Cebu,
Engr.Mansueto has long retired from government service and headed a private consultation group. His
administration will be well remembered because of his spirited fight against the proposed amendment
to RA 544 (Civil Engineering Law) and the National Consultancy Act of 1992 which would authorize
corporate firms or juridical persons to practice civil engineering under the guise of consultancy. From
initial indications at the time, PICE was winning this fight with the wholehearted support of the
different local chapters who sent in strong resolutions to our legislators supporting the vehement and
opposing stand of the National Board in this regard. Another very notable achievement of this

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administration is the serious initiative to put up a PICE building of its own with the help of all local
chapters particularly the Metro Manila Chapters who were invited to join the Building Fund Drive. It
was hoped then that the PICE Building will house the National Secretariat and the PICE Library and
a dormitory to serve transient members coming to Metro Manila. On the General Membership growth,
the administration of President Mansueto is credited with the formation of additional five (5) chapters,
namely: Tarlac, Biliran, Calbayog, Ilocos Sur, Catanduanes and San Carlos City, Negros Occidental,
who were given Charter Nos. 76,77,78,79,80 and 81, respectively. Also in this year, the membership
finally topped the 20,000 mark with 397 life members. The 1993 National Convention held on
November 11-13, 1993 at the Philippine Plaza Hotel, broke previous records of attendance and
activities implemented. In 1994, Nelson Q. Irasga was elected as the eleventh President of PICE. He
was re-elected in 1995. He caused a more intensive Continuing Professional Education (CPE) program
in the chapter level thru the creation of a Speakers' Bureau which offered assistance in technical
seminars. Regional Consultative Conferences were likewise successfully conducted in NCR and
region I to XII. An apprenticeship program for civil engineering graduates was launched during
President Irasga's 1994 term. The program provided opportunities to new Civil Engineers to have
proper exposure and training in various fields of practice for three months in selected top government
and private offices. Ground work was also laid out for the establishment of scholarship grants to
deserving CE students all over the Philippines.
During the year, the National Secretariat moved to a more convenient and newer office at
PASDA Mansions, Quezon City. It was here that modern office equipment such as computer, a laser
printer and a fax machine were acquired by the National Board. These were significant acquisitions
that were meant to expand services to its wide membership. As part of the thrust to get first hand
information and status of chapters. President Irasga initiated and convened a dialogue with the chapter
Presidents. The inputs were necessary for the formulation of programs and policies which will
ultimately be beneficial to all PICE members. In this meeting, CPE and other policies concerning the
operation of the national office were clarified for smoother implementation thereof.
Publication and printing of the PICE Bulletin, a newsletter in newspaper form was likewise
started. Meantime, PICE's collection increased by 30% compared to the previous year and were placed
in trust deposits, using the interest earnings only to cover the office rent and purchase of new
equipment.
Another significant event for PICE in 1994 was the signing of a mutual Agreement of
Cooperation with ASCE, the American Society of Civil Engineers. The agreement provides for an
exchange of technical, scientific and professional knowledge between the two organizations. The
holding of the 20th National Convention in November 1994 proved to be another unmatched success.
Some 3,500 delegates participated in the convention surpassing previous attendance records. Perhaps
the most outstanding achievement of the Irasga administration is the acquisition of 3 condominium
units at Cityland 10 Tower II, right in the heart of Makati City. The property was purchased in outright
cash in the amount of P 4,003,384.90 from compounded revenues of PICE from 1992 to 1994 (the
terms of PP Romulo M. Del Rosario, Antonio A. Mansueto and Nelson Q. Irasga). Four more chapters
were formed in 1995, North Metro Manila, South Metro Manila, Osamiz City and Cabanatuan Nueva
Ecija chapters. It was also in 1995 that efforts to establish the PICE Research & Development
Foundation were started. The general idea was to convert the existing PICE Foundation to serve as the
R&D group for civil engineering.
Then DPWH Undersecretary Vicente B. Lopez was elected PICE President in 1996. During
this year, vigorous discussion and consultation were made by the National Board with the chapters and
other affiliate, association, attempting to come up with a more up-to-date Civil Engineering Law. The
issue of creating Specialty Boards in the Professional Regulation Commission Board of Civil
Engineering was likewise a hotly debated subject. When all pros and cons were presented to the
membership during the 1996 National Convention for resolution, the decision was to leave RA544 or
the Civil Engineering Law as is as its provision have been time-tested. During the year, 2 regular
chapters and 6 student chapters were formed. Three issues of the Philippine Civil Engineering journal
were published and computerization of membership data was completed with the procurement of new
computers and printers. The new National Administrative Office was re-organized with the
appointment of a new National Administrative Officer, a position vacant for some years after Melinda
del Rosario's retirement. The New National Office provided expanded services to chapters and
members and coordination was closer. Membership report and remittances of share on dues to chapters
became regular. A serious effort to implement the members' D-Base was started. The CPE program
of PICE was established complementary to PRC's guidelines. Various chapters were able to sponsor

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their own seminars with the support of the PICE Speakers Bureau and the National Administrative
Officer. PICE entered into Agreement of Cooperation with the Korean Society of Civil Engineers. One
outstanding feat of the Lopez Administration was the receipt of award from the American Society of
Civil Engineers for PICE to host the 1st Civil Engineering International Conference to be held in 1998,
outside the USA, besting other offers from the other countries. The Mid-year Convention in Baguio
City and likewise the 22nd National Convention were very well attended and further boosted the
financial position of PICE. One of the most distinguished contractors in the Philippines, the unassuming
and spirited Felipe F. Cruz was elected president in 1997 and re-elected 1998. He will always be
remembered as the PICE President who made PICE popular in the international civil engineering
circles, among other feats. PICE's hosting of First International Civil Engineering Conference in the
Asian Region sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Japan Society of Civil
Engineers, on the Theme: Asian Infrastructure, Sustainable Development and Project Management
held on February 19-20, 1998 at the Manila Hotel was a smashing success. At present, PICE has formal
linkage with international professional associations such as the ASCE - American Society of Civil
Engineers; JSCE - Japan Society of Civil Engineers; KSCE - Korean Society of Civil Engineers and
the CSCE - Canadian Society for Civil Engineering. PICE was the proud recipient of the ASCE
INTERNATIONAL HISTORIC CIVIL ENGINEERING LANDMARK AWARD for the IFUGAO
RICE TERRACES. Dubbed as the eighth wonder of the world and built 2000 years ago, the Ifugao
Rice Terraces is the best example of a sustainable development project that still works. A simple
awarding ceremony was held on February 17, 1998 at a view point in Banaue which is now known as
the Engineer's View Point. ASCE President Luther Graef with PICE officials led by President FF Cruz
and Past President Vicente B. Lopez, unveiled the permanent marker specially made and flown from
the US and mounted on a monument designed by Engr. Angel Lazaro Jr., depicting the Ifugao culture
and art. The three societies ASCE, JSCE and PICE made a donation to the Ifugao Terraces Commission
for the upkeep and other programs for the Ifugao Rice Terraces.
The Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. celebrated its 25th Founding Anniversary in
1998. The deep sense of unity manifested by the then leaders of the Philippine Association of Civil
Engineers (PACE) and the Philippine Society of Civil Engineers (PSCE) was given due recognition
during the 24th National Convention citing the meaningful merger of PSCE and PACE into the PICE
and how this merger resulted to a strong single union of civil engineers in the country that is now the
PICE. During the term of F. F. Cruz PICE acquired another property in Quezon City, to be its National
Headquarters. The Makati Cityland Condo units were later converted into the PICE Center for
Continuing Professional Education and the Computer Training Center. The CPE Program of the PICE
intensified and almost all PICE chapters were able to develop their capability in conducting their local
seminars with speakers coming from the PICE National Speakers' Bureau through the National CPE
Committee and the National Administrative Office. Because of the commitment of the National Board
to intensify the membership campaign in the PICE , PICE regular chapters reached 94 while student
chapters (DECS-accredited) rose to 104 at year-end. PICE has about 43,000 regular members on
record, 7,900 student members, 1,574 life members, and 44 Fellows. The National Administrative
Office continued to accommodate the request from Engineering offices, Consultants or Contractors to
post their C. E. Staff requirements at the Headquarter's Bulletin Board. Members who come daily scan
our Bulletin Board to check out our Employment opportunities. PICE has also started to receive
applications for reference for apprenticeship coming from new C.E. Graduates or graduating students.
Dissemination of various profession or organization - related informations to all chapters, other groups
is another service that has greatly improved since the acquisition of modern office equipment. PICE
also offered free assistance to members residing in the provinces in the renewal of their PRC licenses,
provided there is proper Chapter endorsement and authorization.
With the changing trends in the practice of civil engineering and the new direction that the
construction industry itself is taking, 1998 PICE President Felipe F. Cruz spearheaded the
transformation of the old PICE Foundation, Inc., first by expanding its objectives and setting a wider
participation of past presidents who will act as Trustees and of leading members who will actively
participate in the R & D work, then renaming it the PICE Research and Development Foundation and
causing the necessary SEC registration. Attendance in the National Conventions in 1997 and 1998
increased from the previous years.
Bashir D. Rasuman, the president of PICE Cebu Chapter was elected 14th president of PICE
in 1999. It was during his term that the national board started an outreach program with the chapters
by holding some of the board meetings in the regional centers and inviting the officials of the chapters
within the said region to the meeting to achieve a closer interaction. The Outreach program proved to

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Instructor - JESSIE Y. LABASO, ASEAN Engr.
be effective because the national board members became closer to the chapters and were able to address
their concerns on a more special level especially that the PRC cancelled the requirements for CPE
units for the renewal of PRC license and the chapters were starting to experience its repercussions.
The Chapters have by this time developed the capability to organize their own CPE program with
minimal help from the national office. The PICE Computer Center was organized and computers and
engineering softwares were acquired. The PICE Training Center planned out some training courses on
the 5 areas of specialization. The PICE Library was revived and new books were acquired. In 1999
the PICE National Office transferred to a new and bigger office in Quezon City, complete with a Board
room and Library. The By-Laws were also studied and a set of amendments were presented to the
Electoral College and were ratified. One of the outstanding features of the Amended By-Laws is the
institutionalization of the the establishment of the five (5) Specialty Divisions for Construction
Management and Engineering; Structural Engineering; Transportation Engineering; Geotechnical
Engineering and Water Engineering. Also, the College of Fellows was constituted and Angel R.
Lazaro, Jr. became its 1st Chancellor. PICE, upon closer study of the situation, withdrew as an
intervenor in the court case of CECOPHIL vs. DPWH, a conflict concerning the question of allowing
corporations to practice civil engineering. PICE gave financial assistance to deserving masteral
students in the completion of their thesis, under the auspices of the PICE Research and Development
Committee. On the international involvement of PICE, Pres. Rasuman, for PICE, signed an Agreement
of Cooperation with the Chinese Institute of Civil and Hydraulics Engineers. Also, Pres. Rasuman and
Past President F. F. Cruz were attending meetings with its international counterparts from the
American Society of Civil Engineers, the Japan Society of Civil Engineers, Korean Society of Civil
Engineers and the Chinese Institute of Civil and Hydraulics Engineers for the holding of the 2nd
International Civil Engineering Conference in the Asian Region (CECAR 2). PICE also is a charter
organizer of the Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council (ACECC), the body established to
oversee the preparations for the international conference otherwise known as CECAR.The 25th
national Convention of PICE was held in Cebu City after SEC clarified the provisions of the By-Laws
concerning the venue of the National Conventions. It has an unmatched attendance record of 5,300
delegates. Efren H. Sison was elected president for 2000 and 2001. His administration is anchored on
the concept under the acronym USA. Unity + Strength = Achievement. He initiated fast moving
programs and continued others designed and intended to provide and enhance the opportunities for
the professional development and personal advancement of members. This year, the 5 specialty
divisions were reconstituted and criteria and guidelines for accreditation of specialist members were
circularized to all members. The earning of CPD units was set to be one of the requirements for a
member's elevation to the status of Specialist Member.
PICE and ASEP entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Office of Civil
Defense/National Disaster Coordinating Council under the Dept. of National Defense for the National
Emergency Response Action Program. In this partnership PICE and ASEP were setting up a network
for the provision of technical assistance in times of earthquakes and calamities and more importantly,
for disaster preparedness. PICE was to provide the bulk of expert technical volunteers while ASEP will
provide the technical training. The signing of the NERAP Memorandum of Agreement coincided with
the opening of CAST 2000, a specialty conference on concrete jointly sponsored by PICE and ASEP.
CAST 2000 had an impressive technical program with about 30 never before presented technical
papers. PICE harnessed its relationship with other groups to achieve PICE's objective: the advancement
of knowledge and practice of civil engineering and entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the
following organizations: PRC Board of Civil Engineering, Association of Consulting Civil Engineers
of the Philippines and the Council of Engineering Consultants of the Philippines to sponsor a seminar
at least once a year about the practice of foreign civil engineers in the Philippines as embodied in the
PRC Board of Civil Engineering Resolution 23 of 2000 (revising No. 17, series of 1998) PRC Board
of Civil Engineering to cooperate with the PRC Board of Civil Engineering in launching an awareness
campaign, extend assistance, monitor, file complaints regarding the practice of foreign civil engineers.
The Philippine Association of Building Officials formed a partnership with PICE in the pursuance of
the National Emergency Response Action Program or NERAP. PICE will coordinate with the Building
Officials in the conduct of rapid evaluation of structures in times of earthquakes or disasters where the
NERAP teams will be required. The Publications Committee regularly printed newsletters and a
special issue of the Journal on Disaster Preparedness. In the INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, PICE
renewed its Agreements of Cooperation with the following Societies: ASCE, JSCE and KSCE. PICE
also co-founded the Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council (ACECC) along with ASCE, JSCE
and KSCE. ACECC will organize the Civil Engineering Conferences in the Asian Region, the first was

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Instructor - JESSIE Y. LABASO, ASEAN Engr.
held in Manila in 1998 and the next one will be in Tokyo, Japan in 2001. It was during his term that
PRC conferred the Most Outstanding Civil Engineer Award for 2000 to past president, Felipe F. Cruz.
In the area of MEMBERS' WELFARE, the PICE actively pursued Free regional seminars were
conducted in conjunction with the Regional Consultation Meeting of the National Board in San
Fernando City, La Union for Region I and CAR, Olongapo City for Region III and Naga City for
Region V. Insurance coverage for the PICE members was made possible with a scheme where PICE
will earn from premiums which will be used to establish a PICE Scholarship Program under the
chairmanship of IPP Bashir D. Rasuman. The reach-out program started by IPP Rasuman was
continued and offered opportunities for the chapter presidents to confer and interact with the national
board members to discuss chapter and professional issues. In 2000, PICE was fully computerized. The
PICE website, www.pice.org.ph, was launched in July 2000 and contains almost every imaginable data
about PICE, even the contents of our Library and links with international counterpart associations.
Total membership was 50,192 and Life Members at 2,188 at year end. Eight Members have been
elevated to the status of Fellow, namely Rafael F. Erfe, Dr. Romeo A. Estañero, Capistrano Ramientos,
Jr., Bashir D. Rasuman, Hermenegildo P. Manzano, Jr., Eustaquio T. Coronel, Jr., Emilio M. Morales
and Rolando G. Roque.In the Student Affairs, three new student chapters were added to the 116
chapters. Perhaps the best achievement of our PICE Students in schools located in Metro Manila was
the volunteer work for the Habitat for Humanity in their Muntinlupa project. Several housed were built
by the students. A combination of hands-on learning and community work in progress. The 1st National
Student Summit was held during the National Midyear Convention in Iloilo City at the Central
Philippines University on June 28 to July 1, 2000. For the first time, the search for the Most Outstanding
Civil Engineering Student was launched known as MOCES. PICE gave the highest commendation to
Bryan Christopher Que of De La Salle University for academic excellence and contributions to the
furtherance of the PICE student program. PICE bestowed the CIVIL ENGINEERING LANDMARK
AWARD to the Banaue Rice Terraces as the 1st PICE Landmark Award. For the CIVIL
ENGINEERING MANUAL AND PROFESSIONAL FEE, the Board approved the adoption of the
Manual of Practice prepared by the Mis. Oriental-Cagayan de Oro City Chapter. The year was capped
with the 26th National Convention hosted by PICE Makati Chapter held at the Manila Hotel attended
by some 1,880 delegates. On the second term of Pres. Efren H. Sison, the year 2001 is perhaps the
most momentous one for PICE so far. This was the year that PICE won the most coveted PRC award
-The Most Outstanding Accredited Professional Organization of the Year Most of the criteria for this
award perfectly matched the program of Pres. Sison and were the focus of his administration -
Continuing Professional Development, Community Extension Program, Members’ Welfare and
Student Career Development Program and Value Formation For the Continuing Professional
Development, the accreditation of Specialist Members under the Five Specialty Division started. Civil
Engineers who have been given the certificate of recognition by PRC automatically became a Specialist
Member. A power-packed committee headed by President Efren H. Sison prepared the Manual of
Professional Practice for Civil Engineers. This book was copyrighted and launched last October 24,
2001.
The PICE National Board started to workout MOAs with Colleges and Universities to make
this a textbook for the ethics subject in the CE course. The Manual was prepared to guide civil engineers
in the practice of their profession. Regional conferences were conducted from July to October 2001 in
Regions IV, VI, I/CAR and III. The topics selected were those that are pertinent to the respective
regions and offered opportunities for net-working and fund-raising for the chapter. Meanwhile the
MIdyear National Convention was hosted by PICE Cagayan de Oro - Misamis Oriental Chapter with
DPWH Sec. Simeon A. Datumanong as the Guest Speaker Free Seminars were conducted from January
2001, for professionals and students conducted separately almost every weekend. The National Board
sponsored this program, with the assistance of the chapter where the seminars are held. This program
addresses two objectives - Continuing Professional Development and Member’s Welfare. Some of
the main topics presented in the free seminars were The State of Civil Engineering Profession Today,
Disaster Quick Response Action Program, and other technical topics. PICE has concentrated on its
community extension work because civil engineering is a profession in the Service of the Society. The
Disaster Quick Response Program (DQRP) is an undertaking of the PICE and ASEP with OCD-
NDCC-DND for the rapid assessment of structures during calamities. Trainings were financed by the
OCD-NDCC and started in August 2001 at Baguio City. PICE also entered to a Memorandum of
Agreement with the Philippine Building Officials (PABO) for this undertaking. This program
highlights the members’ spirit of volunteerism and concern for the community. PICE wants to involve
all members who will become DQRP volunteers in the rapid inspection of affected structures during

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earthquakes. PICE entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Habitat for Humanity for the
construction of houses for the marginalized families. The student members provided the manpower in
the construction of the houses while, professional members provided the technical supervision. As part
of the Outreach program of the National Board of Directors,regular consultation meetings were
conducted with the officials of the chapters Batangas, Ilocos Norte - Laoag, Davao, Isabela, Baguio,
Bacolod, Iloilo, Naga, Pangasinan, Angeles City, Oriental Mindoro, Pampanga, Leyte, Cabanatuan -
N. Ecija, La Union. The national officers truly networked with the members and became very familiar
with the particular settings of the chapter. The computerization program for PICE Operations was
completed in 2001. PICE now has an integrated membership data bank serving all our chapters
nationwide. The Data Bank also has other information related to the practice of the profession. Our
official website was launched in July2001 - www.pice.org.ph and main e-mail address
[email protected] PICE Library has an impressive selection of publications available to all
members. The PICE Insurance Program was also launched for the insurance coverage of members.
The Student Career Development program featured free seminars for student members to inculcate
good values and professional background training PICE will propose to the Academic Community the
possibility of prescribing the Manual of Professional Practice for Civil Engineers as a textbook for the
Civil Engineering Course and in return, PICE will conduct seminars for students in lieu of OJTs. The
CE Education Forum - Full support was extended to the Civil Engineering Education Congress in May
2001. The formation of the Association of Civil Engineering Educators of the Philippines was realized
in that conference. Organizational Gains - PICE has various Standing and Special Committees to attend
to the plans and programs of PICE for the profession and members in: Organizational Aspect, Practice
of the Profession, Community Service, International Affairs, Members, Welfare, Civil Engineering
Education, Student Activities. Landmark Award - The 1st National Outstanding Civil Engineering
Historic landmark Award went to the IFUGAO RICE TERRACES. While, the 2nd National
Outstanding Civil Engineering Historic landmark Award went to the MT. SAMAT CROSS.
International Relationships- the cause of the success of the First International Civil Engineering
Conference in the Asian Region in 1998, ASCE, PICE and JSCE initiated the formation of the ACECC
- Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council.
Pres. Efren H. Sison and PP Bashir D. Rasuman and Chair of International Affairs signed an
Agreement of Cooperation with the Hongkong Institution of Engineers’ (HKIE) President Dr. John
W. K. Luk and Secretary and Director General Ir P K Kwok. As of Dec 31, 2001. PICE had a total of
54,509 members 52,026 regular and alternate members and 2483 life members in 95 Chapters and
over 16,000 student members in 120 student chapters. DPWH Undersecretary, Manuel M. Bonoan
served his first term as PICE National President in 2002. The PICE National Board of Directors
continued the implementation of the following plans and programs:
 Continuing Professional Development
 Members’ Personal Welfare
 Community Extension Program
 Student Career Development and Value - Formation Program
 Setting of the civil engineering professional standards and ethics
 Upgrading of the civil engineering education
 International program
 Issues on Practice of the profession and legal matters

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program is still the main thrust of the PICE for
the advancement of the knowledge and practice of civil engineering. Among the projects that were
implemented for the CPD Program are the conduct of a series of Regional Conferences, Free Seminars
(under the Members’ Welfare Committee) and the technical tracks during Midyear and National
Convention. Regional Conferences were held in Region IV – March 25, 2002 in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque;
in Region V – August 30-31, 2002 in, Legazpi City; in Region I/CAR (Left Side) – September 6-7,
2003 at Pangasinan; in Region III - October 4-5, 2002 at Olongapo City; in Region IV – October 11-
12, 2002 in Batangas City. The Free Seminars were well attended. Modules for the professional and
student levels were simultaneously held. Topics on value formation and how to select the area of
specialization were featured in the free seminars for students. The Student members’ participation in
PICE events had increased over the years. PICE took on the noble task of creating a program and
sustaining a culture of professional excellence for the young prospective engineers. It is now one of
the missions of PICE. The role of the 5 Specialty Divisions were further strengthened in upgrading the
level of practice thru specialization and the evaluation of members to the specialist category. From

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2000, the Five (5) SPECIALTY DIVISIONS developed the criteria and requirements to be upgraded
to the PICE Specialist Member Category.

The Activities of the Specialty Divisions are:

 periodic assessment of the quality of practice
 setting of standards and practices
 preparation of CPD Program for implementation by the various chapters
 administration of technical sessions during national conventions, conferences and seminars
 peer recognition

PICE Brunei, one of the International Chapter of PICE

The Members’ Welfare Program was also strengthened, aimed at providing opportunities and
perks for personal development of members. The PICE Library Facilities, the PICE Website are in
place and an e-mail network was started. Disaster Quick Response Program (DQRP), the PICE
program that combines the practice of profession with active community involvement, gave focus on
the concerns for safety/prevention of loss lives and destruction of properties. With the Office of Civil
Defense-National Disaster Coordinating Council’s support, The training of volunteers from our
Chapters continued. The training for Luzon chapter volunteers in Region I, II, III, NCR and part of
Region IV was conducted last June 14-15, 2002 at NIA Auditorium and attended by some 200
volunteers from PICE and the LGUs.The PICE-ASEP-DQRP Team in close coordination with the
Office of Civil Defense-National Disaster Coordinating Council (OCD-NDCC) thru Major General
Melchor Rosales (Ret.), OCD-NDCC Administrator, was involved in the rapid assessment of
Structures after the March 6, 2002 earthquake in the areas of General Santos city, Koronadal, Sultan
Kudarat and Sarangani Provinces. Our chapters in the areas were quick to provide information &
participated in the inspection of damaged structures.
In July 2002 PICE also participated in the Mini-Sagip Internal Assessment of Domestic
Response capability of the Philippines to National Disaster & also the Sagip 2002 Program of the DND
Sagip 2002 or the 3rd International Work Group Seminar & Exercises Multilateral Disaster Response
& Humanitarian Assistance Program.

Other Achievements:
 The use of the Manual of Practice for Civil Engineering was further promoted to set the civil
engineering professional standards and ethics.
 Upgrading of the civil engineering education through advocacy work; involvement in the review
of the Civil Engineering curriculum.

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  PICE submitted to Professional Regulation Commission PICE’s position on the WTO-GATS
issues on Cross Border Supply, Commercial Presence, Consumption Abroad, Mobility
Movement of Natural Persons.
 PICE was one of the signatories in the Code of Good Governance for all professions which was
initiated and formulated by the Professional Regulation Commission. The purpose is to define
the ethical environment in which all Filipino professionals shall discharge their professional
duties.
 PICE’s involvement in the revision of the Implementing Rules and Regulations for the National
Building Code intensified.
 The preparations of a Civil Engineering Code was started during the year.
 On the proposed amendments to the PICE By-laws, the Electoral College approved the following
amendments to the PICE by-laws at the Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel on June 28, 2002 during
the National Mid-Year Convention and the Referendum consisting of the Retirement of
Members; Deletion of Section 7 – Retirement of Members and replace it with President
Emeritus or Member Emeritus and Section 13, Article II was amended that approved the
amnesty for members and Proposed Fee Increases for the Ratification of the Electoral College.
 PBAC Representation - PICE has established partnership with Non-Government Agencies as
we participated in the various activities of some agencies: Land Bank, Bureau of Treasury,
Bureau of Fisheries , Civil Service Commission, University of the Philippines – Diliman,
Philippine Ports Authority.
 The Awards for Most Outstanding Chapter, Chapter Special Awards: Outstanding Community
Project and Outstanding Newsletter were given. Also the Most Outstanding Civil Engineering
Student Awards (MOCES) 2002; Best Celebrated Civil Engineering Week for 2002 and the
Mutya ng PICE 2002 Award.
 PICE has yet to install the Landmark Awards for The 1st National Outstanding Civil Engineering
Historic Landmark Award the IFUGAO RICE TERRACES and the 2nd National Outstanding
Civil Engineering Historic landmark Award the MT. SAMAT CROSS.

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 Assessment No. 2
1. Interview a professional engineer and ask the following questions:
a. Why did he/she choose Engineer as his/her career?
b. What are his/her experiences during his/her college life studying engineering?
c. What is his/her work experiences?
d. Advices he/she can give to students taking up Engineering.
2. Gather the data and have it in a paragraph form.

Life Experiences of an Engineer

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this lesson, the learner is expected to:

 Understand professional practice options within the disciplines of
engineering.
 Prepare civil engineering students for future challenges and to furnish them
with a fundamental education in basic sciences, engineering fields and
society, as well as the linking amongst them in a broad manner.
 Learn how to analyze and design structures to ensure safety and
performance.
 Use technical and management skills to turn a design on paper into a reality.
 Apply knowledge of construction methods and equipment along with
knowledge of financing, planning and managing into a successful facility.
 Apply soil properties and mechanics to solve problems. Laboratory and
field test data used to determine proper type of foundation for a particular
project.
 Deal with issues concerning the quality and quantity of water.
 Design, construction and maintenance of hydroelectric power facilities,
canals, dams, pipelines, locks and seaport facilities.
 Meet the increasing community travel needs on land, air, and sea.
 Protect the fragile resources of our planet, destroy toxic substances, remove
water pollutants, and reduce hazardous wastes, clean air and ground water.
 Provide safe drinking water, treat wastewater and manage solid wastes.

ALLOCATED TIME: 6 Hours

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 Civil engineering is regarded as one of the most important engineering fields across the globe.
The industry is about solving real world problems through designing, constructing, managing and
maintaining the infrastructure that plays a vital role in the development of countries and supports
modern society. This includes buildings, bridges, roads, airports, dams, sewage systems, flood
mitigation works and so on; the list is endless. Civil engineers are at the forefront of innovation in our
societies.
As you can see, although civil engineering is a profession that generally focuses on creating
physical manmade structures, it is an extremely broad field that encompasses multiple sub-disciplines.

3.1. STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

Structural engineering is a branch of civil engineering that involves the application of the laws
of physics, mathematics and empirical knowledge to safely design the ‘bones’ and load bearing
elements of man made structures. Modern day structural engineering provides a large and detailed body
of knowledge that can accurately predict the performance of different shapes and materials used in
structures to resist loads and stresses on structures. The principles of structural engineering were used
thousands of years ago when building structures like the pyramids in Egypt or the Acropolis in Greece.
Structural engineering — a specialty within the field of civil engineering — focuses on the
framework of structures, and on designing those structures to withstand the stresses and pressures of
their environment and remain safe, stable and secure throughout their use. In other words, structural
engineers make sure that buildings don't fall down and bridges don't collapse.

Structural engineering is among the oldest types of engineering, dating back to the first instance
of tree branches being lashed together with vines to make a shelter. Throughout recorded history,
people have been designing and building increasingly larger and more sophisticated structures, from
primitive huts to the International Space Station.
Structural engineers often work alongside civil engineers and architects as part of a construction
team. "In a nutshell," according to the Institution of Structural Engineers, "if a structure was a human
body, then the architect would be concerned with the body shape and appearance, and the structural
engineer would be concerned with the skeleton and sinews."
Structures must be able to deal with the conditions in which they are built. A house in Canada must
have a roof that can bear the weight of heavy snow and a stadium in California must be able to withstand
earthquakes, for example. When building bridges, designers must take into account the conditions of
terrain, wind, water and traffic volume. Structural engineers consider all of these factors and provide
technical advice about the project.

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 "Structural engineers battle gravity, wind, snow and rain every day to provide the world with
outstanding structures," Kate Leighton, a structural engineer, said in "Careers in Structural
Engineering, a publication of the Institution of Structural Engineers. "They are experts at solving
problems, meeting challenges and providing creative solutions."
Structural engineers "design roof framing (beams, rafters, joists, trusses), floor framing (floor
decks, joists, beams, trusses, girders), arches, columns, braces, frames, foundations and walls,"
according to the National Council of Structural Engineers Association. "In bridges, they design the
deck — or riding surface, girders or stringers, and piers. The materials they use include steel, concrete,
wood, masonry, and aluminum. Engineers design the structure to resist forces from gravity,
earthquakes, high winds, water, soil, collisions and blast explosions."

According to MyMajors.com, a structural engineer's job includes:

 Analyzing blueprints, maps, reports, and topographical and geological data;
 Estimating the cost and quantities of materials, equipment and labor;
 Computing load and grade requirements, water flow rates and material stress factors to
determine design specifications;
 Inspecting project sites to monitor progress and ensure the project is being constructed
according to design specifications;
 Conducting studies of traffic patterns or environmental conditions to identify potential
problems and assess how they will affect the project.

Critical skills that a person needs in structural engineering include an in-depth understanding
of physics and mathematics. A structural engineer must also know the properties of various materials,
such as their density, hardness, tensile strength, bulk modulus and bending strength. They need to be
able to calculate how different materials will perform under stresses such as compression, tension,
bending and twisting, as well as under various environmental conditions of temperature, pressure,
corrosive gases and liquids, and even radiation. They also need to be able to predict how these materials
will perform over an extended period of time.
Structural engineers rely increasingly on computer-aided design (CAD) systems, so proficiency
with computers is essential. In addition to speeding up the drafting process, CAD systems allow for
quick and easy modifications of designs and three-dimensional (3D) visualization of finished parts and
assemblies.
Structural engineers are trained professionals who are responsible for making sure that the
structures we use in our daily lives, like bridges and tall buildings, are safe, stable and don’t collapse
under applied loads. They do this by applying their technical knowledge to specify different types of
construction materials in various shapes and geometries and design structures that can withstand the
pressures and stresses of their environment such as gravity loads, storms and earthquakes.
Structural engineers are brought on to a project if an owner is planning on changing the use of a
building, introducing more floors to a building, or adding a significant expansion to a building. It’s
very important to understand that introducing alterations to any structural element without consulting
a professional engineer may result in serious damage to the structure and in some cases partial or
extensive collapse of the building.
Structural engineers are also brought on board if there is damage to a structure due to fire,
corrosion, environmental deterioration, impact or wear and tear that could result in a loss of capacity
and impose a threat to the public’s safety. When a structural engineer is contacted for an assessment of
an existing building, they would visually inspect the structure and determine the structural integrity of
the load bearing elements, potential concerns regarding the occupants safety, suggest repair techniques
and recommend structural details to restore the structure to its original conditions in order to resist the
applied loads
Structural design is a highly specialized area of civil engineering. It can be described as a set of
methods or tools that are used to determine safe and economical specifications for a structure, and to
ensure that a planned structure will be sufficiently strong to carry its intended load. Structural engineers
conduct a structural analysis to determine what internal and external forces could affect the structure,
then design a structure with the appropriate materials and reinforcements to satisfy the requirements.

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 There is a strong relationship between the professional disciplines of architecture and structural
engineering. While architects are normally tasked with designing the visually appealing features of a
project, structural engineers place their focus on strength, durability and safety when designing a
building.
Structural engineers combine the core principles of structural design with a sound background
in physics and materials science to ensure that structures are built to withstand the loads and forces that
they will encounter during their usage.
Civil engineers that design structure for construction projects must be excellent problem
solvers. The decisions that structural engineers make during the structural design phase of the project
will affect everything from the project cost and duration to the ultimate safety and viability of the
structure.

3.2. CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT

Construction engineering management, or CEM, involves the application of technical and scientific
knowledge to infrastructure construction projects. While engineering focuses on design and
construction management is concerned with overseeing the actual construction, CEM often represents
a blend of both disciplines, bridging design and management or project execution. Construction
engineering managers may have an educational background at both undergraduate and graduate levels
as well as experience in construction management techniques. Their skills may be applied widely to
the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.

Construction engineering managers are key players in the successful completion of construction
projects. Over the course of his or her career, a construction engineering manager is likely to work on
and oversee a broad range of projects. This may include the design of drainage and sewage systems,
building construction, or even larger infrastructure projects like developing highways or railroads.
Others choose to focus on one particular type of construction and build a career around it. Some
common specialties include:
 Commercial business or housing construction
 Electrical system design
 HVAC/mechanical
 Highway/heavy construction (bridge building, airport design, water waste management
systems, etc.)

Construction engineering managers are often called upon to use computers and construction
management software to produce and analyze designs for their projects. They are responsible for
assembling teams of qualified engineers who can ensure completion of a given project. Construction
engineering managers also need to possess the right knowledge for controlling estimation and planning
of associated costs for a project.
Construction engineering managers must possess a thorough understanding of laws, regulations, and
building codes, especially those that have a direct impact on the project at hand. They must also be able
to estimate the total cost of a given project with consideration to:
 Site inspections
 Drainage, sewage, and elevation level tests
 Equipment and materials

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  Labor

Construction engineering managers are also responsible for managing the workings of various
other entities involved in the project. They are responsible for providing expert supervision from
beginning to end while also keeping the project running on or ahead of schedule and within budget.
The job requires strong leadership and interpersonal skills and attention to detail. Like any other kind
of engineer, construction engineering managers need to possess strong problem-solving, analytical, and
mathematical skills.
The field of construction engineering and management addresses all aspects of project
development.
From a client/owner or consultant’s side, engineering managers need to understand the financial
aspects, risks, contracts, procurement strategies as well as aspects of constructability, safety and quality
for successful implementation and maintenance of infrastructure projects.
Similarly, contractors are starting to play a leadership role in the project delivery process. Project
leaders are expected to be well trained professional engineers, also competent in terms of legislation,
procurement practice and project feasibility. International changes in the project delivery field indicate
a marked shift necessitating the professionalisation of the construction industry. Engineers in general
have a high work ethic and projects teams are able to deliver increasingly competitive and technically
innovative projects. Engineering qualifications with sound scientific and engineering content remains
imperative, but needs to be enhanced by softer skills and project leadership.

3.3. GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

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 Geotechnical engineering is the branch of civil engineering concerned with the engineering
behavior of earth materials. Geotechnical engineering is important in civil engineering, but also has
applications in military, mining, petroleum and other engineering disciplines that are concerned with
construction occurring on the surface or within the ground.
A typical geotechnical engineering project begins with a review of project needs to define the
required material properties. Then follows a site investigation of soil, rock, fault distribution and
bedrock properties on and below an area of interest to determine their engineering properties including
how they will interact with, on or in a proposed construction. Site investigations are needed to gain an
understanding of the area in or on which the engineering will take place. Investigations can include the
assessment of the risk to humans, property and the environment from natural hazards such as
earthquakes, landslides, sinkholes, soil liquefaction, debris flows and rockfalls.
Geotechnical engineering is the discipline within civil engineering related to the performance
of soil mechanics, including their subsurface conditions, determination of the physical, mechanical,
and chemical properties that will influence the project under consideration, and the assessment of the
risks that may be created by conditions of the site. After necessary evaluation, design of the earthworks
is carried out, and subsequently supervision of the site, foundation, and construction is carried out.
Geotechnical engineering is also related to coastal engineering, which is involved with the design and
creation of harbors, quays and marinas. Ocean engineering is also concerned with geotechnical
engineering, and it deals with anchor systems for oil platforms and other offshore structures. Today
geotechnical engineering has evolved and geosynthetics has helped to solve many conventional
problems that are encountered by the engineers in the field. Geosynthetic products have a wide range
of applications and are currently used in many civil and geotechnical engineering applications
including roads, embankments, retaining structures, canals, landfills, bank protection, and coastal
engineering.
One major difference between civil engineering techniques and geotechnical engineering
practices is that geotechnical engineering requires competent relevant experiences for sound judgments
and relatively less dependency on code based design. A geotechnical engineer’s top priority must be to
recognize differences in soil and rock properties, evaluate the engineering properties of the rock and
soil on the site, and determine the suitable design and construction method, which is simultaneously
cost effective, durable, and safe. The scope of work for a geotechnical engineer is huge, and with the
invention of new investigative techniques and new materials supporting the work of geotechnical
engineer, the field has become even more interesting.
The major functions of geotechnical engineering are as follows:
 Evaluation of geotechnical hazards including potential of landslides.
 Determination of bearing capacity, deformations of foundations, and likely interactions
between soil, foundation and the structure.
 Assessment of earth pressure and the performance of retaining walls.
 Analysis of embankment behavior.
 Strength of excavations, caves, tunnels.
 Conducting of response analysis for a site.

Geotechnical Investigation is the first step of applying scientific methods and engineering
principles to obtain solutions of civil engineering problems. Identifying soil and rock types,
measurement of ground water levels, determining material strength, identifying geological constraints
are some of the aspects that a geotechnical engineer needs to study. Moving forward, geotechnical
design comes into the picture after investigation business is over and investigation results are taken
into due consideration. Feasible performance criterion for engineering structures are laid down through
the design process.

Important Aspects of Geotechnical Engineering

Soil Mechanics
Soil mechanics is a major field of the geotechnical engineering in which soil is analyzed prior
to any major construction, so as to ensure its suitability to support the load of the desired structures.
The soil normally consists of rock particles, while water and air are located in the empty spaces. It is
essential to determine the engineering characteristics of soils that are influenced by the size of rock
particles, form of mineral particles, distribution of grain size, and the amount of minerals, air and water
in the soil. The engineering properties of soils generally considered for carrying out the analysis of site

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conditions and design of structures are the unit weight, dry unit weight, saturated unit weight, porosity,
and permeability. Several laboratory tests are conducted to determine the suitability of soil, including
hydraulic conductivity, soil compaction, relative density and water content.

Foundations
Evaluation of foundations is an important element concerning the design of structures since the
loads from the buildings are transmitted to the earth through the foundations that should be adequately
strong to bear the applied loads. Properties of the soils and rock layer at the site also influence the
design of the foundations. Foundation support is affected by the bearing capacity, settlement and
movement of ground under the foundations. Bearing capacity is the capability of the soils to bear the
building or structure loads, and should be determined meticulously to ensure the safety of the building.
Settlements occur beneath nearly all foundations, though structures that are lightly loaded may
experience insignificant settlements. When structures are heavy or sites are soft, settlements may be of
a serious concern. Settlement that occurs over a period of time may have critical consequences. All
these aspects should be considered while carrying out the design of foundations.
Other than these, geosynthetics has also emerged as a reliable solution for civil engineering
problems. Their characteristic properties like water resistance and polymeric nature make them suitable
for resisting water drainage, providing reinforcement, structural containment, etc. Geofoam,
geosynthetic clay liners, geocells, infiltration cells, and geotextiles are some of the most commonly
used products in civil engineering works across the globe.

Geotechnical investigation
Geotechnical engineers and engineering geologists perform geotechnical investigations to
obtain information on the physical properties of soil and rock underlying (and sometimes adjacent to)
a site to design earthworks and foundations for proposed structures, and for repair of distress to
earthworks and structures caused by subsurface conditions.

Lateral earth support structures

A retaining wall is a structure that holds back earth. Retaining walls stabilize soil and rock from
downslope movement or erosion and provide support for vertical or near-vertical grade changes.
Cofferdams and bulkheads, structures to hold back water, are sometimes also considered retaining
walls.

Earthworks
Earthworks include excavation, filling, and compaction.

Ground Improvement
Ground Improvement is a technique that improves the engineering properties of the treated soil
mass. Usually, the properties modified are shear strength, stiffness and permeability. Ground
improvement has developed into a sophisticated tool to support foundations for a wide variety of
structures. Properly applied, i.e. after giving due consideration to the nature of the ground being
improved and the type and sensitivity of the structures being built, ground improvement often reduces
direct costs and saves time.

Slope stabilization
Slope stability is the potential of soil covered slopes to withstand and undergo movement.
Stability is determined by the balance of shear stress and shear strength.

Offshore geotechnical engineering

Offshore (or marine) geotechnical engineering is concerned with foundation design for human-
made structures in the sea, away from the coastline (in opposition to onshore or nearshore).

Geosynthetics
Geosynthetics are a type of plastic polymer products used in geotechnical engineering that
improve engineering performance while reducing costs.

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The Importance of Geotechnical Engineering

A Foundational Profession
Soil mechanic authorities, subsurface condition experts, foundation designers.
These titles all reference geotechnical engineers, professionals that ensure the long-term stability of
various structures and earthworks.
Tasked with designing foundations, slopes and retaining walls, geotechnical professionals rely
heavily on self-conducted site investigations, rather than code-based design. This reliance provides
them, and a project’s developer, a wealth of site-specific information that is applied during subsurface
design and utilized throughout construction.

Ground Assessment
When conducting a foundation investigation, engineers must oversee subsurface drilling, the
recovery and testing of soils, and in situ testing.
These operations enable professionals to analyze a host of soil mechanics including weight,
porosity, void-to-solid particle ratio, permeability, compressibility, maximum shear strength, bearing
capacity and deformations.
If the structure requires a deep foundation, engineers will utilize a cone penetration test to
estimate the amount of skin and end bearing resistance in the subsurface.
Groundwater levels and the stability of natural or designed slopes are also measured during
investigation.
When analyzing a slope’s balance of shear stress and shear strength, or its ability to withstand
and undergo movement, rotational slides and translational slides are commonly considered. Rotational
slides fail along a curved surface, with translational slides occurring on a planar surface. A
professional’s goal is to determine the conditions at which a slope failure could occur.
Findings from these investigation facets are typically crafted into an in-depth log, which is
referenced by the engineer during the design of a structure’s foundation and retaining walls.
Often, findings suggest that a site’s soil should be treated to improve its shear strength, stiffness
and permeability prior to design and construction.
When it comes time to lay out foundation plans, professionals are increasingly focused on
sustainability, more specifically how to reduce a foundation’s carbon footprint.

One tactic has been to replace 20 percent of a foundation’s cement with fly ash, a waste product
from coal fire power plants. The use of this ash is said to minimally effect the foundation’s concrete
properties while reducing costs and the base’s carbon footprint by 15 percent. A foundation accounts
for an estimated 80 percent of a structure’s total carbon footprint.

Above ground, Underground, Out at sea

Geotechnical engineering can be broken down into a trio of subcategories based on the location
and type of structure.
Professionals working on above-ground structures must have knowledge of both shallow and
deep foundations.

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 Shallow foundations include footings or a slab that transfers a building load near the surface.
Most slabs are on-grade and must be designed to allow for potential ground shifting, as soil conditions
routinely change at or near the surface.
Piles, drilled shafted, caissons, piers and earth-stabilized columns all represent deep
foundations that rely on end bearing resistance, frictional resistance along their length, or both.
For engineers working on underground and above-ground earthwork projects, retaining wall
design is of significant importance.
When designing these walls for tunnels, dikes, levees, landfills, channels and reservoirs,
professionals must ensure the weight of the retained material doesn’t create enough lateral earth
pressure to cause the wall to deform or fail. Undissipated groundwater behind the wall must also be
taken into account, as this fluid can cause additional horizontal hydraulic pressure on the wall.
Common types of lateral earth support structures include gravity and cantilever walls, along
with excavation shoring.
Gravity walls rely on their size and weight to resist pressures from behind. A number of these
walls feature soil reinforcement at their horizontal layers. Made from steel-reinforced, cast-in-place
concrete or mortared masonry, cantilever walls resist lateral pressures by friction at their base.
Sheet piles as well as soldier beams and lagging are commonly used excavation shoring which
extends below the base of excavation but not laterally beyond the retaining wall.
Besides designing and assessing the performance of retaining walls, engineers are also expected
to determine the strength of excavations, analyze embankment behavior, and monitor filling and
compaction jobs on earthwork projects.
Offshore engineering, a subsector of geotechnical, presents additional challenges to
professionals.
Because these human-made sea structures, mainly oil platforms, are exposed to wind, waves
and currents, the required foundation investigation is significantly more in-depth and expensive than
one for an onshore project. Additionally, an offshore foundation failure consequence is much more
severe than an onshore failure.
Structures like a pier or jetty can be fixed in place within the seabed, while oil platforms are
floating structures that remain roughly fixed relative to a geotechnical anchor point.
A tension-leg mooring system is the most common type of anchoring for offshore platforms.
The system features vertical tethers under tension, which provide large restoring moments during pitch
and roll movements.
Whether on land or sea, the tasks performed by geotechnical engineers are numerous, in-depth
and paramount to the long-term stability of structures and earthworks. With the advent of more ground
improvement techniques and sustainable design methods, professionals will be challenged moving
forward – having to ensure the strength of foundations, slopes, and walls, while reducing their
environmental impact.

3.4. WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING

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 Water resources engineers are concerned with the structures and processes related to water
supplies for human consumption and the removal of water for safety. Water resources engineering is a
specialty of civil engineering that focuses on water supplies, irrigation and waste disposal. It also
addresses methods for controlling water to avoid water-related damage and catastrophes.
Water resources engineering generally deals with the provision of water for human use, and the
development of techniques for the prevention of destruction from floods. Water resources engineering
also includes the planning and management of facilities that are constructed for these tasks like making
canals for irrigation and sewers for drainage and to avoid waterlogging, and all other issues related
with the usage and control of water.
To meet the water requirements of society and the environment, initially an estimate is carried
out regarding the water available, the demand now and projected demand when the work will complete
and future considerations, and then the requisite infrastructure is designed, including the water
treatment plants and the pipes network, for the conveyance of water to the taps and waste water from
the toilets to the treatment units.

Water resources are origin of water that are essentially required by humans, and water is
basically used for agriculture, industry, domestic purposes, and environmental events.
Water on the earth is mostly salt water with only 3% as fresh water. The majority of the fresh
water is frozen in glaciers and the polar ice caps, and the remainder is found as ground water, with only
a fraction available above the ground. Although fresh water is considered to be available as a renewable
resource, the supply of pure fresh water is gradually decreasing in the world. The rate of increase in
world population exceeds the rate at which the water supply is increasing so that there is an acute
shortage of water in many parts of the world. During the twentieth century, more than half of all global
wetlands were lost.

Water resources engineering also deals with:

 Sewer systems for storms and wastewater.
 Irrigation network.
 River engineering, including ice covered rivers.
 Hydraulic structures, including dams, spillways, floodways and reservoirs.
 Seepage control.
 Hydrology.
 Floods, flow of mud and debris.
 Wave analysis.

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 Study of surface water is an important field of the water resources engineering. Water in a
wetland, lake or a river is called surface water, and is lost by evaporation, seepage in sub-surface and
discharge to the oceans. The total quantity of water available in any system is dependent upon the
storage capacity of the reservoirs, the permeability of the soil below the storage reservoirs, the overflow
characteristics of the watershed, precipitation, and the rate of evaporation. The quantity of water
consumed fluctuates over a period of time due to which appropriate arrangements are necessary. For
example, some farms may need large quantities of water during the spring, and no water in other
seasons, thus necessitating a huge storage capacity for the collection of water throughout the year.
However, other users may require almost a constant quantity of water, such as provision of water for
cooling of power plants. Natural surface water can be increased by obtaining the additional quantities
from other watersheds through a pipeline or a canal.
The work you do as a water resources engineer is vital, making a real difference to people’s
lives and to the environment. Your work impacts on hundreds of thousands of people, sourcing water
and supplying it to homes, farmland and other businesses. This can be extremely rewarding, especially
in developing countries where reliable sources of water may be scarce.
Within the sector you will meet and work with a variety of people, including clients, contractors
and consultants, all of whom work closely in the planning, delivery and management of water resource
projects. You will also work with other key stakeholders such as government, local authorities,
landowners, regulatory bodies and members of the public. You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary
team and in partnership with other engineers and specialists to deliver projects.
The water resources industry is filled with opportunities to work across the globe due to its
universal reach. Major world issues such as climate change and urbanisation are presenting greater
challenges than ever – from providing irrigation water to farmers in the developing world to building
resilience into water and wastewater networks, in some of the most advanced water systems ever
constructed.
Water resources engineering is concerned with the collection and management of water (as a
natural resource). As a discipline it therefore combines hydrology, environmental science,
meteorology, geology, conservation, and resource management. This area of civil engineering relates
to the prediction and management of both the quality and the quantity of water in both underground
(aquifers) and aboveground (lakes, rivers, and streams) resources. Water resource engineers analyze
and model very small to very large areas of the earth to predict the amount and content of water as it
flows into, through, or out of a facility. Although the actual design of the facility may be left to other
engineers. Hydraulic engineering is concerned with the flow and conveyance of fluids, principally
water. This area of civil engineering is intimately related to the design of pipelines, water supply
network, drainage facilities (including bridges, dams, channels, culverts, levees, storm sewers), and
canals. Hydraulic engineers design these facilities using the concepts of fluid pressure, fluid statics,
fluid dynamics, and hydraulics, among others.

3.5. TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING

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 Transportation engineering is a branch of civil engineering that is involved in the planning,
design, operation, and maintenance of safe and efficient transportation systems. These systems include
roadways, railways, waterways, and intermodal operations. Typically, the demand is the amount of
traffic (people, cars, railcars, barges) that is expected to use a particular transportation facility, while
the supply is the quantity and type of infrastructure components (roadways, bridges, pavements, etc.).
These systems are typically large and expensive.
There are a number of attributes of transportation engineering that affect the types of statistical
theory that are used in the profession. One important aspect of transportation engineering is that the
transportation engineer is not only interested in the infrastructure (e.g., bridges, rails, etc.) and the
individual units (cars, trucks, railcars) that use the infrastructure, but also the user. Often it is necessary
to understand the interaction of all three of these entities—infrastructure, individual units, and user—
to understand the system as a whole. Typically the infrastructure and units are considered the supply
side of the equation, while the users are identified with demand.
Experimental studies, or designed experiments, are the mainstay of many standard statistics
books. They are used extensively in many engineering disciplines, including pavement engineering,
that are not necessarily applicable to transportation systems engineering. For example, consider an
engineer who is interested in the various factors that affect skid resistance and the relationship to crash
rate. From an ethical standpoint, she cannot place various types of pavement surfacing on different
sections of highway, observe what types of accidents occur, and then choose the best type of pavement
based on the empirical accident results. Instead, most transportation studies are observational in nature,
and as a result, the statistics used by transportation engineers reflect this characteristic. In addition, it
is sometimes very difficult to obtain certain data from the transportation system, so statistical
techniques that can handle missing data or use a priori knowledge are needed. Lastly, much of the data
are correlated and interdependent. For example, the travel time on a given link is often correlated to
the travel time on the immediate downstream link. Sometimes this correlation is negative: Consider,
for example, a driver stopped at a traffic signal that is red. If the signal system is coordinated properly,
the driver will have a lower probability of being stopped at the traffic signal on the next link. At other
times, however, the correlation is positive: If one link is experiencing high travel times because of
excessive demand, then other links also will experience high travel times because of the same demand.
Regardless, as this example demonstrates, the assumption that different transportation phenomena are
independent is not always valid.
Transportation has always played an essential role in the development of society, originally
with regard to trade routes and harbours, but more recently with regard to land- and air-based systems
as well. It is the transportation engineer's responsibility to plan, design, build, operate and maintain
these systems of transport, in such a way as to provide for the safe, efficient and convenient movement
of people and goods.
Increasing environmental concerns have revived an interest in the development and
management of public transportation systems. Professional activities can range from road and transit
design and operation at the urban scale, to railroad, seaway and airport location, construction and
operation at the regional and national scale. Transportation engineering in North America focuses on
automobile infrastructures, although it also encompasses sea, air and rail systems.
Automobile infrastructures can be split into the traditional area of highway design and planning,
and the rapidly growing area of traffic control systems. The transportation engineer faces the challenge
of developing both network links and major terminals to satisfy transportation demands, with due
regard for the resultant land-use, environmental and other impacts of these facilities.
The planning aspects of transport engineering relate to urban planning, and involve technical
forecasting decisions and political factors. Technical forecasting of passenger travel usually involves
an urban transportation planning model, requiring the estimation of trip generation (how many trips for
what purpose), trip distribution (destination choice, where is the traveler going), mode choice (what
mode is being taken), and route assignment (which streets or routes are being used). More sophisticated
forecasting can include other aspects of traveler decisions, including auto ownership, trip chaining (the
decision to link individual trips together in a tour) and the choice of residential or business location
(known as land use forecasting). Passenger trips are the focus of transport engineering because they
often represent the peak of demand on any transportation system.
Transportation engineering, as practiced by civil engineers, primarily involves planning,
design, construction, maintenance, and operation of transportation facilities. The facilities support air,
highway, railroad, pipeline, water, and even space transportation. The design aspects of transport engg
include the sizing of transportation facilities (how many lanes or how much capacity the facility has),

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determining the materials and thickness used in pavement designing the geometry (vertical and
horizontal alignment) of the roadway (or track). Beside these operations planning, logistics, network
analysis, financing, and policy analysis are also important to civil engineers, particularly to those
working in highway and urban transportation. Every country has some organization providing the
guildelines and specifiactions for design and operation of transport systems.
Before making any sort of planning, the Engineer must take an account of the database of the
area or if it is appropriate, the previous system in place. This inventory or database must include
information on:
 Population
 Land use
 Transportation facilities and services
 Economic activity
 Travel patterns and volumes
 Regional financial resources
 Community values and expectations
 Laws and ordinances

These inventories help the engineer create system models to accurately forecast the future demand or
conditions.
Transportation engineering is a broad field that can apply to work with roadways, waterways,
railways and more. These engineers develop faster, safer and more efficient means of transportation.
Understanding the scope of this career path can help you understand what transportation engineering
is and whether this field is right for you. In this article, we explore what a transportation engineer does
and how you can become one.
ransportation engineering is the application of modern technology and scientific principles to the
design, development and maintenance of transportation systems. This is a branch of civil engineering.
Civil engineering covers the broad area of infrastructure design.
The field of transportation engineering utilizes the latest developments in transportation and
uses them to create the most efficient and effective systems possible for various locales. Transportation
engineering applies to major terminals as well as the networks that connect them. Any product or
system that moves people and goods from one place to another falls under the scope of transportation
engineering.
Those working in the field of transportation engineering research, assess, design and develop
new solutions that include but are not limited to:
 Highways and roads
 Traffic control systems
 Public transit systems
 Railroads and depots
 Seaports
 Waterways
 Airports
 Bridges
 Pavements

Transportation engineers plan, design, construct, operate and maintain transportation systems.
They have a broad range of professional duties that begin with research for new projects and extend
through the ongoing care of existing structures and systems.
Transportation engineers carefully evaluate the supply and demand in their sector. The supply
for this type of engineer is the number of infrastructure components. Where supply is great, the engineer
may have access to numerous roadways within a city. If supply is low, there are few roads, bridges and
highways to work with. Engineers must consider the supply of materials and land for new structures as
well.
Demand in the transportation industry is determined by the number of people and vehicles in
an area. Trains, barges, commercial airplanes, commercial trucks and personal vehicles all contribute
to the demand in various types of transportation engineering projects. These engineers are tasked with
balancing the demand with the available supply to provide adequate transportation options for both
personal and professional use.

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A transportation engineer's job responsibilities may include:
 Supervising work on a construction site
 Determining the traffic impact caused by new development plans
 Setting forth goals and criteria for new projects
 Preparing work plans
 Creating transportation models or designs
 Researching and evaluating traffic volume, accidents, practices and efficiency
 Preparing reports on traffic and transportation matters
 Developing models of transportation scenarios
 Preparing budgets and schedules for transportation projects
 Identifying solutions for transportation problems
 Inspecting transportation systems for legal compliance
 Providing recommendations for traffic policies
 Designing new means of transportation

Transportation engineers typically spend a significant portion of their days in an office

environment. They will work on a computer evaluating data, preparing reports and generating
diagrams. These engineers also work closely with other engineers as well as management and
stakeholders. They may attend meetings and give presentations. In some cases, transportation engineers
will travel outside the office to assess traffic conditions or observe the progress on construction sites.

FIELDS UNDER TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING:

Highway Engineering
Highway engineering is an engineering discipline which involves the design, construction and
maintenance of Highway Roads & Systems, urban streets as well as parking facilities. Important
aspects of highway engineering include overall planning of routes, financing, environmental impact
evaluation, and value engineering to compare alternatives. Traffic engineering involves planning for
the volumes of traffic to be handled, the methods to accommodate these flows, the lighting and signing
of highways, and general layout.Older techniques include signs, signals, markings, and tolling. Newer
technologies involve intelligent transportation systems, including advanced traveler information
systems (such as variable message signs), advanced traffic control systems (such as ramp meters), and
vehicle infrastructure integration. Similarly, pavement and roadway engineering involves setting of
alignments, planning the cuts and fills to construct the roadway, designing the base course and
pavement, and selecting the drainage system. Whereas, bridge engineering involves the design of
highway bridges, retaining walls, tunnels, and other structures. Engineers in this specialization:
 Handle the planning, design, construction, and operation of highways, roads, and other
vehicular facilities as well as their related pedestrian realms.
 Estimate the transportation needs of the public and then secure the funding for the project.
 Analyze locations of high traffic volumes and high collisions for safety and capacity.
 Use civil engineering principles to improve the transportation system.
 Utilizes the three design controls which are the drivers, the vehicles, and the roadways
themselves.

Railway Engineering
It is a branch of civil engineering concerned with the design, construction, maintenance, and
operation of railways. Railway engineering includes elements of civil, mechanical, industrial, and
electrical engineering. Railway engineers handle the design, construction, and operation of railroads
and mass transit systems that use a fixed guideway (such as light rail or even monorails). Typical tasks
would include determining horizontal and vertical alignment design, station location and design,
construction cost estimating, and establishment of signalling & controlling system. Railroad engineers
can also move into the specialized field of train dispatching which focuses on train movement control.
Railway engineers also work to build a cleaner and safer transportation network by reinvesting
and revitalizing the rail system to meet future demands

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Port and Harbor Engineering
Port and harbor engineers handle the design, construction, and operation of ports, harbors,
canals, and other maritime facilities. A harbor (or haven) is a place for ships to enter and find shelter
from storms or other natural phenomena. The modern harbor is a place where ships are built, launched,
and repaired, as well as a terminal for incoming and outgoing ships. There are four principal classes of
harbors; commercial, naval, fishery, and refuge for small craft. Harbor may be natural or artificial.
A port is a harbor with the necessary terminal facilities to expedite the moving of cargo and
passengers at any stage of a journey. A good harbor must have a safe anchorage and a direct channel
to open water, and must be deep enough for large ships. An efficient port must have enough room for
docks, warehouses, and loading and unloading machinery. Geographically, a port or harbor is usually
limited to a comparatively small area of usable berthing space rather than an extended coastline. Some
ports along exposed coastal areas, for example, the western coast of South America, have little harbor
area.

Airport Engineering
Airport Engineering encompasses the planning, design, and construction of terminals, runways,
and navigation aids to provide for passenger and freight service. Airport engineers design and construct
airports. They must account for the impacts and demands of aircraft in their design of airport facilities.
These engineers must use the analysis of predominant wind direction to determine runway orientation,
determine the size of runway border and safety areas, different wing tip to wing tip clearances for all
gates and must designate the clear zones in the entire port.

Pipeline Engineering
Pipeline engineering embraces the design and construction of pipelines, pumping stations, and
storage facilities. Pipelines are used to transport liquids such as water, gas, and petroleum products
over great distances. Also, products such as pulverized coal and iron ore can be transported in a water
slurry.

3.6. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY ENGINEERING

Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineering is the branch of engineering that is concerned with protecting
people from the effects of adverse environmental effects, such as pollution, as well as improving
environmental quality. Environmental engineers work to improve recycling, waste disposal, public
health, and water and air pollution control.

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 The practice of environmental engineering dates back to the dawn of civilization. Ever since
groups of people began living in semi-permanent settlements, they have had to deal with the challenges
of providing clean water and disposing of solid waste and sewage. With the growth of cities and the
advent of large-scale farming and manufacturing, people have also had to worry about air quality and
soil contamination.
Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology and chemistry
to develop solutions to environmental problems.
One of the most important responsibilities of environmental engineering is to prevent the release of
harmful chemical and biological contaminants into the air, water and soil. This requires extensive
knowledge of the chemistry and biology of the potential contaminants as well as the industrial or
agricultural processes that might lead to their release. With this knowledge, new processes can be
designed, or existing processes can be modified, to reduce or eliminate the release of pollutants.
Another important function performed by environmental engineers is detecting the presence of
pollutants and tracking them back to their source. In some cases, this can present a significant challenge.
For instance, the source of contamination in a lake could be anywhere within several thousands of acres
of land surrounding the lake and its tributaries. Contamination of oceans can present even greater
challenges in identifying the source.
Once the environmental engineer identifies a source of contamination, it must be stopped or
significantly reduced. Simply shutting down a business is not always a viable option, because of the
potential for severe economic consequences. Environmental engineers often work with businesses to
determine ways to avoid or reduce the production of pollutants or to separate them so they can be
disposed of in a safe manner.
Critical skills needed by environmental engineers include a working knowledge of chemical
engineering, fluid dynamics, geography, geology and hydrology. Also, because of the numerous legal
issues involved and the prevalence of litigation in environmental issues, environmental engineers must
be familiar with applicable laws, and many of them are also practicing attorneys.
Projects in environmental engineering involve the treatment and distribution of drinking water;
the collection, treatment, and disposal of wastewater; the control of air pollution and noise pollution;
municipal solid-waste management and hazardous-waste management; the cleanup of hazardous-waste
sites; and the preparation of environmental assessments, audits, and impact studies. Mathematical
modeling and computer analysis are widely used to evaluate and design the systems required for such
tasks. Chemical and mechanical engineers may also be involved in the process. Environmental
engineering functions include applied research and teaching; project planning and management; the
design, construction, and operation of facilities; the sale and marketing of environmental-control
equipment; and the enforcement of environmental standards and regulations.
The goal of environmental engineering is to ensure that societal development and the use of water, land
and air resources are sustainable. This goal is achieved by managing these resources so that
environmental pollution and degradation is minimized.
Environmental engineers study water, soil and air pollution problems, and develop technical
solutions needed to solve, attenuate or control these problems in a manner that is compatible with
legislative, economic, social and political concerns. Civil engineers are particularly involved in such
activities as water supply and sewerage, management of surface water and groundwater quality,
remediation of contaminated sites and solid waste management.
The activities of such engineers include, but are not limited to, the planning, design,
construction and operation of water and wastewater treatment facilities in municipalities and industries,
modelling and analysis of surface water and groundwater quality, design of soil and remediation
systems, planning for the disposal and reuse of wastewaters and sludges, and the collection, transport,
processing, recovery and disposal of solid wastes according to accepted engineering practices.
Environmental engineers are called upon to play an important role in environmental protection,
because engineering solutions are required to meet the environmental standards set by legislation.
Consulting firms, municipalities, government agencies, industries and non-governmental
organizations and specialized contractors are potential employers for civil engineers with a
specialization in environmental engineering.
Environmental Engineers are really important for people and the planet. They work hard to keep the
environment safe. By doing their job, Environmental Engineers keep us safe, too!
Environmental Engineers give us good advice! Think about when a building is constructed. We
have to dig the dirt, cut down trees and put in cement. Environmental Engineers tell us how this kind
of project can affect the environment (including native plant and animal species).

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 Environmental Engineers design things! They design tools that help us measure things that are
bad for the environment, like car emissions. Sometimes, Environmental Engineers will work with big
companies to reduce their air pollution levels.
Environmental Engineers solve problems! They invent better ways to recycle paper, plastics
and glass. An Environmental Engineer may also help come up with ways to treat water that is
contaminated by bacteria and chemicals that could be harmful to our health and do the environment.
Environmental Engineers continually work to prevent pollution so that our air is safe to breathe
and our water is safe to drink. They explore new, creative ideas to lower air emissions, such as
designing more efficient vehicles, industrial filters to reduce the amount of particulate matter released
into the atmosphere, and indoor air filters to keep our indoor air clean.
Environmental Engineers guard the quality of our environmental resources in many ways
including: environmental cleanup, water quality treatment, smart waste disposal and preventing air
pollution. They design water and sewage treatment plants that clean water for human use. They design
industrial systems and filters that make sure factory-released water is not polluting our environment.
They are challenged to clean groundwater and restore it to a natural or usable state so that it remains
free of harmful chemicals that could make people sick.

Energy Engineering
Energy Engineering is a new yet exciting and unique field of engineering. Energy engineers not
only deal with the design and development of efficient technologies to produce energy but they also
devise methods to minimize the overall energy consumption and costs by optimizing systems.
Energy engineering (also known as energy systems engineering) is a new and broad field of engineering
which deals with renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency and management, energy audit and
environmental compliance.
Energy engineers may specialize in electrical systems; HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-
conditioning) systems; green buildings; lighting; air quality; or energy procurement. They use the
principles of engineering and economics as well as soft skills needed to solve practical problems in the
energy industry ranging from production to processing, storage, distribution, and consumption of
energy.

Energy engineers design and develop renewable energy systems (such as wind or solar
photovoltaic power plants). Energy engineers are involved in projects to increase energy efficiency and
decrease energy consumption, thus reducing overall costs. They do so by designing, building, auditing,
or remodeling existing energy systems or energy procurement methods.
Energy engineering is a very flexible discipline. Energy engineers not only work with industries
focusing on renewable or sustainable sources of energy such as hydro, biofuels, wind and solar power
but they are also employed in other industries such as in oil and gas extraction industry.
The main job of energy engineers is to find the most efficient and sustainable ways for the
operation of buildings and manufacturing processes. Energy engineers monitor and analyze the use of
energy in those processes and propose ways to tweak and optimize the systems or replace them with
more efficient ones. Energy consumption minimization is the key purpose of this discipline.

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Creativity and problem solving is the essence of engineering and thus energy engineers should be
creative problem solvers. Developing critical thinking skill is a must for every engineering student.
Energy engineers (energy technology engineers) also need to possess commercial awareness of the
global energy market and energy policies and maintain knowledge of the latest industry trends.
In addition to effective technical skills, an energy engineer needs to have creativity,
management skills, verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work in team.
The modern world runs by energy and the demand is increasing at a rapid pace and energy
engineers are working to meet the demand by designing renewable energy systems (such as solar and
wind power plants), optimizing existing energy systems, and researching and designing new renewable
technologies and methods. The society needs energy engineers for an energy-sufficient and a greener
future.
Energy Engineering is all about reducing the World’s energy consumption. Energy is the
building blocks of everything and is required to build or power anything that is used in the World.
Engineering applied to the energy sector focuses on increasing the energy efficiency of machinery,
companies and households. Energy Engineers achieve the energy saving through clever building
designs, better use of materials and through renewable energy devices. Engineers often conduct
building audits and inspections to first identify where energy can be saved. They use light level meters,
thermo guns and data logging to measure the energy losses.

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 Assessment No.3
Give the Summary of the Fields or Careers of Civil Engineering.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this lesson, the learner is expected to:

 Develop a multidisciplinary skills, concepts and analysis of sustainability

(environmental, economic, and social).
 Deal with complexity, uncertainty, environmental limits, change, people,
tradeoffs, other disciplines and whole life costs for sustainability.
 Work amidst the challenges of the 21st century and to inquire the state of
profession.
 Effectively involved on the projects guided by the fundamental principles
of CE.
 Acquiring more output from less resource, with less waste, and less damage
to the environment to ensure sustainability.

ALLOCATED TIME: 8 Hours

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 In today’s society the idea of sustainability is possibly more prevalent than at any other point
and time. Across our everyday lives we encounter the practice of sustainability from renewable nergy
resources to curbside recycling programs. As our demand for products, infrastructure and lifestyle
amenities grow, so should our awareness that we live in a fragile balance between meeting these needs
and meeting these needs in a way that has minimal impact to the environment and does not jeopardize
our own public health and safety. We as Civil Engineers and future Civil Engineers play a vital role in
the Sustainable Development in meeting the needs of the public. We are those designing and building
the infrastructures that support us as a society. A Civil Engineers utmost responsibility is sustainability.

Practice of Sustainable Development

As civil engineers we play a vital role in Sustainable Development. When a client approaches
a Civil Engineer to design a new project this immediately incorporates a multi-discipline process that
may involve biologists, geologists, community interests groups, regulatory enforcement agencies and
the business community. All of these groups have an interest in the project and seeing that the project
is completed in a way not to put their interests at risk. It is the Civil Engineers responsibility to ethically
combine all the disciplines interests and produce a design that meets the client’s goals. For an example
of this in practice we can take a look at a new manufacturing facility being built. The area that this new
facility is being built was once used as cropland and will continue to have active cropland around it
once completed. There is also a major body of water close to the facility that is used for shipping and
recreation. A civil engineer will be responsible to determine: if the land used will be adequate to support
the characteristics of the facility (i.e., soil characteristics, layout of facilities, site drainage, past land
usage); if the transportation system to the new facility will be adequate; provide a design that will take
into account the needs of the aquatic habitat and flora and fauna; design a facility that will minimally
impact residents that may surround the facility; design a facility that meets EPA and OSHA
requirements; and a design that is in conjunction with other businesses in the area. In order to
successfully combine these needs as an engineer one must have a knowledge and understanding of
multiple disciplines. The combination of this knowledge is projected out through the concept of
Sustainable Development. As civil engineers ethically you cannot discount other disciplines and must
always be aware of how they may affect your work. The concept of Sustainable Development is one
that an engineer should never feel that they must violate in order to ethically complete a project. For
an engineer to violate the concept of Sustainable Development in a project the size of a manufacturing
facility, or any project they are jeopardizing the safety, health and well being of the public and
potentially damaging the environment. Knowingly doing this not only is unethical but in severe cases
may even be considered criminal. At no time should violation of sustainable development be a solution
to issues encountered in the practice of engineering. An engineer that practices sustainable development
should never feel that they are acting unethically. During the design stages of the manufacturing facility
if an engineer has taken all appropriate steps to gather the information needed from all involved parties

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to provide a client with a sound design, that engineer has acted ethically. Sustainable development
should always take into account what is best for society and best for the environment in providing a
client with a design that meets their goals.
Civil engineers have a very unique duty to society. We have a responsibility to advance the
infrastructures of our society in a way that not only meets the demand needs, but also meets those needs
in a way that is both environmentally and socially responsible. Professionally, we must push forward
to meet the needs of an ever growing and ever changing society. We must find a way to design and
practice within our field in a manner that is always ethical and true to the practice of sustainable
development.
The concept of sustainability is taking a more prominent role in civil engineering and
construction curricula all over the world. Sustainability has environmental, economic and social
dimensions; however, there is a tendency for the social dimension to receive less focus than the other
two. Certainly, with their technical backgrounds and training, the majority of civil engineering and
construction students are better prepared to understand and contribute to the environmental and
economic dimensions of sustainability. Yet, an understanding of all dimensions is necessary to provide
optimal, sustainable solutions to technical problems. The research described in this paper assesses the
evolution of students' understanding of sustainability based on the Global Reporting Initiative's
Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. Understanding of sustainability is assessed at the beginning and
end of a Sustainable Construction course. In addition, students in the course perform one of two types
of class projects; a case-study learning project, and a project with a service learning component.
Comparing the results between students performing each project type will provide insight into each
project type's effectiveness in developing students' understanding of sustainability. This research will
reveal the understanding of sustainability inherent in a select group of Civil Engineering students. The
research will also describe the progression of this understanding during a SustainableConstruction
course and during problem-based and service-learning type projects.
Civil engineering is one of the most important production activities that human affecting the
natural environment. Among them, the construction materials production and use, engineering design,
construction, use of the project after completed and removal after scrapped and other processes have
to consume large amounts of energy, and continue to produce waste, and these issues will cause
significant influence on ecological environment. Therefore, as a pillar industry of the national
economy, we not only need to develop civil engineering in order to meet the needs of economic and
social development, but also pay attention to environmental protection, resource conservation, as well
as promote sustainable development strategies. Based on the above reasons and understanding the
concept of sustainable development and connotation rightly, the paper studies sustainable development
strategy of civil engineering and discusses the sustainable development in the stage of civil engineering
design from the preliminary design stage, technical design stage and construction design stage
respectively.
Civil engineering are inseparable with people's daily life. Skyscrapers that can be seen
everywhere, developed road traffic, good looking bridges and solid fortress-like irrigation facilities are
the indispensable part of our lives. After entering the new century, in the environment of rapid
economic development, we will usher in a new infrastructure construction boom. The main project of
Three Gorges Project started in last century has been completed in the new century, but the appropriate
satellite construction is a relatively long process. In particular, the successful bid of 2008 Beijing
Olympic Games led to a wave of constructing stadiums and infrastructure in Beijing and its surrounding
region. The rapid development of economic construction is a double edged sword. It gives us a great
wealth but also causes the deterioration of ecological environment. China's rapid economic
development is based on large-scale energy consumption at the expense of large tracts of grassland and
arable land having been cleared, large tracts of forest having been cut down, limited reserves of oil,
coal and other natural resources being mined, and so on, triggering a large river basins soil erosion, and
the disappearance of rare species, severe weather anomalies and air pollution, lack of mineral resources
and a series of serious problems. Combined with the global trend of sustainable development, as civil
engineering practitioners, we should eliminate or mitigate the environmental problems may arise in the
project, such as reduction of water resources, deterioration of water quality, ground subsidence, soil
erosion, landslides, buildings thaw settlement, cracking ...... and many other disasters, in the bud in
large-scale economic constructions, so that the construction can make benefit for mankind and make
life environment get sustainable development and improvement. Therefore, civil engineering
sustainable development has become a very worthy of discussion and study. Influence of civil
engineering for the national economic construction and people's life is obvious. As the most popular

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topic of concern in the 21st century around the world, sustainable development affects all areas of daily
life. Therefore, the paper studies sustainable development for civil engineering systematically, and put
the idea of sustainable development through civil engineering materials, design, construction, use and
demolition process, constantly creating a veritable "green project" to contribute for the sustainable
development of our country and the whole of human society.

Sustainable Development Of Civil Engineering Materials

Civil engineering material refers to a variety of materials and products used in civil engineering,
which is the material basis of all civil engineering. All of the buildings, bridges, roads, etc. are
constructed from a variety of different materials through design, construction; it occupies an extremely
important role in China's modernization. Therefore, the correct selection and rational use of civil
engineering materials play an important role in the security of the entire civil engineering, practical,
beautiful, durable properties and cost. For this reason, people began to carry out research and
development of new materials, looking for "sustainable development" material that meets the
performance requirements, without destroying the environment, but also to improve the environment.
"Green material" was firstly proposed at the 1988 International Material Subject Symposium, and then
in 1992, the United Nations Environment and Development Conference was held, and "sustainable
product development" working group 125 was established in 1994]. Countries have developed "green
building material" performance standards. Civil engineering material technical workers in the domestic
are also committed to the development of new materials, and made a series of research results. Here,
we talk about the tradition of civil engineering materials, and then extended to the Sustainable
Development Strategy of engineering materials.

Ecological Building Materials

Different researchers have different understanding of ecological building materials. We

generally believe that the ecological building materials should have the following three characteristics:
Ecological building materials should be advanced that cannot only expand the areas of human life, but
also to develop a broader space for humanity; Ecological building materials should have environmental
compatibility. It cannot only reduce environmental pollution hazards from sustainable development
and social progress, ensuring that the scope of human activities and external environment coordinate
best, and minimally consume matter and energy in the manufacturing process, so that the generation
of waste and recycling to minimize and the waste generated can be processed, recovered and recycled,
and this process does not produce pollution; Ecological building materials should be comfort, and it
cannot only create a healthy living environment in harmony with nature, but also make human life in
a more beautiful, comfortable environment. The building materials integrated with the three
characteristics form the ecological building materials. In other words, building materials or technology
having the above characteristics can be called "eco-building" or "ecological building materials
technology." The difference between ecological building materials and traditional building materials is
that the latter is given particularly excellent ecological environment coordination, or those building
materials having functions of cleaning environment and repairing the environment directly. Ecological
Building Materials is a guiding principle, and the purpose is to prevent harming the ecological
environment and promote the protection of human activities on natural resources and the environment,
to ensure that materials having better properties. We should recognize the concept of ecological
building material is uncertain, and it is a dynamic and developing concept. When all the materials fit
"ecological environment", the term of ecological building materials may also complete its historic
mission. The purpose of ecological building materials research is to find the necessary material having
the lowest environmental load in the processing, manufacturing, use and reproduction, to meet the
needs of human survival and development. In theory review and summary of the building materials
rationality and scientificity in the fight for survival and development, and unify the environment load
of building materials development, preparation, processing, use and recycling and materials
performance and function and capacity of the environment in one, and strive to coordination. The
essence of this thinking is to ask people in using building materials to reach harmonious development
of people and nature.

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Sustainable Development of the preliminary design stage

Preliminary design as a concept design stage of the project, its concerning degree for the
environment directly affects the impact on the environment of the project entity in construction,
operation and ultimate dismantling stage. On the basis of making sure the safety, convenience, comfort,
economy, environment concept shall be introduced into all aspects of the project planning and design,
which is a complex system involving multiple engineering disciplines. Planning and design must
combine the local ecological, geographical, cultural and environmental characteristics, to collect
information about the climate, water resources, land use, transportation, infrastructure, energy systems,
human environment, etc., and strive to achieve organic combination of project and the surrounding
ecological and cultural environment, increasing human comfort and health to maximize the efficient
use of energy and materials, so that getting sustainable development. In other words, introduce the
concept of sustainable development into the preliminary design stage of civil engineering and offer
new design criteria and methods for civil engineering. To sum up, civil engineering design criteria and
method includes the following four aspects:

Symbiosis of project and nature. The purpose of project and nature symbiosis is to protect the
environment, use the environment and defense nature. To protect the environment, we must take into
account the following issues in the preliminary design phase: the protection of the global eco-system,
reducing emissions of CO2 and other atmospheric pollutants: engineering waste treatment and disposal;
focus on climatic conditions and territorial resources; maintain the balance of the ecosystem with
surrounding environment. To take advantage of the environment, we can take advantage of solar, wind,
geothermal for heating, heat supplying, power generation, lighting and ventilation with engineering
structures: the efficient use of water, setting the water recycling system; fully consider the natural
environment surrounding areas, reducing the artificial environment construction: taking use of other
harmless natural resources.

Apply energy-saving technologies to reduce the environmental impact. In order to reduce the
environmental impact of the project, we should actively adopt new energy-saving technologies. In
order to reduce energy consumption, we should save and use energy efficiently, such as water-saving
systems, automatic adjustment lighting system based on sunlight intensity, local ventilation systems; it
should also try to recycle energy, for example secondary energy use, heat storage system, waste heat
recovery systems. In order to extend the life of the project, in preliminary design stage, people should
make full use of durable materials; and in design phase, people should take future maintenance, repair,
update of the structure into account; equipment shaft, room, building area, the floor height, load, etc.
should leave room for development. Increase the use of the environment-friendly material that does
not produce fluoride, NO in disintegration, regeneration; the use intensity of natural materials should
take no destroying of natural regeneration system as the precondition; vigorously promoting the use of
recycled, renewable materials.

Recycling project. Recycling type projects include the following: in engineering use, they can
keep the economical running state of equipment system, introduce intelligent management systems to
reduce project management, operating expenses; use easy regeneration and long life engineering
consumables; in engineering course, the generated wastewater, waste gas are discharged after being
processed sound. In order to facilitate regeneration of projects, the equipments should be moved as far
as possible from the center toward the outer wall in order to facilitate replacement of equipment; give
full play to the possibility of using the project and use old works by updating technology and
equipment; old engineering for energy transformation.

Create a healthy and comfortable environment. Healthy and comfortable environment requires
project using materials without harm for human health, suppressing harmful radiation, radio waves,
gas, etc., in line with ergonomic design, and can ensure good air quality, temperature and humidity,
light environmental sight and sound environment. Thus, the preliminary design stage of civil
engineering construction is to meet the construction principles of sustainable development that a lot of
work needs to do, therefore, as a civil engineering practitioner, we must take full consideration of issues
in civil engineering and always notice the coordination of engineering and the environment, taking use
f all the new green materials and processes that can be used to prepare in the preliminary design phase,

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laying the foundation for the subsequent technical design and construction design, to make the
completion of the project truly achieve sustainable development.

The Future of Civil Engineering

Reshaping Transportation Engineering
Transportation engineering is a discipline of civil engineering that deals with the infrastructures
required to transport people and goods around. With the emergence of semi-autonomous and electric
vehicles such as those made by Tesla, roads will have to be changed to adapt to these self-driving
vehicles. For example, highway lanes could be organised by the different types of traffic on the road
to separate autonomous vehicles from commuter cars and bicycles. The number of charging stations
will also need to be increased as more people make the switch to electric vehicles.
Additionally, new ideas such as the Hyperloop can change the future of how people travel. This
concept was proposed by Elon Musk and involves the construction of massive tubes extending from
one place to another, with pods travelling inside these tubes at speeds of over 700 mph. Since this
project involves the construction of massive tubes to house a low-pressure environment, new
infrastructures will have to be designed to accommodate these tubes and terminal stations.

Artificial Intelligence and Construction Engineering

Artificial intelligence, or AI, involves machines learning by themselves from previous
experience. Some famous examples of AI include chess-playing computers and self-driving cars. In
the construction industry, AI has the potential to replace many professional tasks normally delegated
to younger engineers. This is because big data, which are large amounts of data banks collected from
various projects, can be processed by computers to use as learning experiences. This means that AI can
help make many of the crucial decisions traditionally delegated to engineers on a construction site. This
will result in huge improvements in the speed of the project delivery and reductions in the overall costs
and carbon emissions.

Structural Engineering and the High-Tech Revolution

Structural engineering is another discipline of civil engineering that is facing major changes
due to high-tech advancements in the industry. In fact, the future of structural engineering might see
structural engineers being made completely redundant. This is mainly due to the advancements in
computer modelling that enables the generation of highly complex structures via AI without the help
of human power. Cloud computing can enable access to enormous calculating power which will reduce
the time and skill required to make these complex designs. For example, the selection of member sizes
used in steel-frame structures can now be done within seconds via a computer instead of many days as
required by a structural engineer using traditional methods.
One such example of a high-profile project is the construction of the Burj Khalifa, which is the
world’s tallest building located in Dubai. The building was designed by structural engineers using
computer simulation and modelling to choose the best form after many possible iterations. This final
design has been optimized for minimal wind loads and material quantities. Engineers were also able to
work on the proposed form directly with architects instead of waiting until the architects’ plans were
drawn up.

Nanotechnology in Civil Engineering

Nanotechnology involves the study of materials that are 0.1 to 100 nanometers in size. It is a
field that emerged in the past several decades and has numerous applications across a wide variety of
fields, including civil engineering. In the construction industry alone, investments have been made by
venture capitalists and corporations in the concrete and steel used to build structures. For example,
incorporating nano silica, nano-clays, or nano iron particles in the concrete can improve the pore
structure of the concrete as well as combat the problem of low strength at the early stages. In the
production of steel beams, copper nanoparticles can be added to the surface of the finished product to
reduce the roughness which will then reduce the overall stress and fatigue of the structure. Other
problems such as corrosion and fatigue can also be reduced with the addition of various types of
nanoparticles.

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 Assessment No. 4
Site an example of a structure that can define the future of Civil Engineering. It should
state the following:
 Actual Picture
 Location
 Date started and finished.
 Designer, project manager, contractor and other involved in the project
 Reason for building it
 Other trivia

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this lesson, the learner is expected to:

 Understand the environmental challenges in a scientific manner and to find

out viable solutions.
 Meet the needs of current generations without infringing upon the needs
of future generations or compromising their abilities to maintain a similar
standard of living with minimal environmental degradation.
 Attain sustainable ecosystems that integrate human society with its natural
environment for the benefit of both.
 Stress some important components of what should be covered including the
implications of climate change for engineering and the need for carbon
critical design and construction, and the importance of ethics and
environmental justice, and an awareness of resource scarcity.

ALLOCATED TIME: 8 Hours

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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
The environment is an evergreen subject because it matters a lot to our daily lives. It’s where
we live, eat, breathe, and bring up our children. Our life support systems entirely rely on the well-being
of every organism living on planet earth. This is why a lot has been written and spoken about the
protection and conservation of the environment. There are even high-value courses dedicated to the
study of the environment. A typical example is an environmental science.
Environmental science is a field that deals with the study of the interaction between human
systems and natural systems. Natural systems involve the earth itself and life. Human systems are
primarily the populations of the earth.

According to Wikipedia,

“Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical, biological and
information sciences (including ecology, biology, physics, chemistry, plant science, zoology,
mineralogy, oceanography, limnology, soil science, geology and physical geography, and atmospheric
science) to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems.
Environmental science emerged from the fields of natural history and medicine during the
Enlightenment. Today it provides an integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the
study of environmental systems.”

Environmental science is the academic field that takes physical, biological, and chemical
sciences to study the environment and discover solutions to environmental problems. Sciences used in
environmental science include geography, zoology, physics, ecology, oceanology, and geology.
Environmental science also branches out into environmental studies and environmental
engineering. It provides an integrated and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental
problems.

 Environmental studies are the study of social sciences to understand human interactions with
the environment.

 Environmental engineering is the focus on analyzing and deducing problems with the
environment and the effect of man-made programs on the environment, and for finding
solutions to help protect and preserve the environment by disposing of pollution in the air,
water, and land.

Environmental science involves different fields of study. Most often, the study of environmental
science includes the study of climate change, natural resources, energy, pollution, and environmental
issues.
In environmental sciences, ecologists study how plants and animals interact with each other,
chemists study the living and non-living components of the environment, geologists study the
formation, structure, and history of the earth, biologists study the biodiversity, physicists are involved
in thermodynamics, computer scientists are involved in technical innovations and computer modeling
and biomedical experts study the impact of environmental issues on our health and social lives.
The growing complexity of environmental problems is creating a need for scientists with
rigorous, interdisciplinary training in environmental science. Environmental scientists and specialists
use their knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment and human health. They must
have a solid background in economics, sociology, and political science.

Importance of Environmental Science

1. To Realize That Environmental Problems are Global

Environmental science lets you recognize that environmental problems such as climate change,
global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid rains, and impacts on biodiversity and marine life are not
just national problems, but global problems as well. So, concerted effort from across the world is
needed to tackle these problems.

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2. To Understand the Impacts of Development on the Environment
It’s well documented and quantified that development results in Industrial growth, urbanization,
expansion of telecommunication and transport systems, hi-tech agriculture, and expansion of housing.
Environmental science seeks to teach the general population about the need for decentralization of
industries to reduce congestion in urban areas. Decentralization means many people will move out of
urban centers to reduce pollution resulting from overpopulation.
The goal is to achieve all this sustainably without compromising the future generation’s ability
to satisfy their own needs.

3. To Discover Sustainable Ways of Living

Environmental science is more concerned with discovering ways to live more sustainably. This
means utilizing present resources in a manner that conserves their supplies for the future.
Environmental sustainability doesn’t have to outlaw living luxuriously, but it advocates for
creating awareness about the consumption of resources and minimizing unnecessary waste.
This includes minimizing household energy consumption, using disposals to dispose of waste,
eating locally, recycling more, growing your own food, drinking from the tap, conserving household
water, and driving your car less.

4. To Utilize Natural Resources Efficiently

Natural resources bring a whole lot of benefits to a country. A country’s natural resources may
not be utilized efficiently because of low-level training and a lack of management skills. Environmental
science teaches us to use natural resources efficiently by:
 Appropriately putting into practice environmental conservation methods
 Using the right tools to explore resources
 Adding value to our resources
 Making sure machines are maintained appropriately
 Thorough training of human resources
 Provision of effective and efficient supervision
 Using the right techniques to minimize exploitation
 To understand the behavior of organisms under natural conditions

Behavior is what organisms manifest to respond to, interact with, and control their environment.
An animal exhibits behavior as the first line of defense in response to any change of environment.
So, critical look at organism’s behavior can offer insightful information about animal’s needs,
dislikes, preferences, and internal conditions providing that your evaluation of those observations
firmly hinge on knowledge of species’-natural behavior.

5. To Shed Light on Contemporary Concepts Such as How to Conserve Biodiversity

 Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth. The present rate of biodiversity loss is at an all-time
high. Environmental science aims to teach people how to reverse this trend by:
 Using sustainable wood products
 Using organic foods
 Embracing the 3R’s, reduce, reuse, and recycle
 Purchasing sustainable seafood
 Supporting conservation campaigns at local levels
 Conserving power
 Minimizing the consumption of meat
 Utilizing eco-friendly cleaning products
 To understand the interrelationship between organisms in population and communities

Organisms and humans depend on each other to get by. Environmental science is important
because it enables you to understand how these relationships work.
For example, humans breathe out carbon dioxide, which plants need for photosynthesis. Plants,
on the other hand, produce and release oxygen to the atmosphere, which humans need for respiration.
Animal droppings are sources of nutrients for plants and other microorganisms. Plants are
sources of food for humans and animals. In short, organisms and humans depend on each other for
survival.

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6. To Learn and Create Awareness About Environmental Problems at Local, National and
International Levels
Environmental problems at local, national, and international levels mostly occur due to lack of
awareness. Environmental science aims to educate and equip learners with the necessary environmental
skills to pass to the community in order to create awareness.
Environmental awareness can be created through social media, creating a blog dedicated to
creating awareness, community-centered green clubs, women forums, and religious podiums.

Components of Environmental Science

1. Ecology
Ecology is the study of organisms and the environment interacting with one another. Ecologists,
who make up a part of environmental scientists, try to find relations between the status of the
environment and the population of a particular species within that environment, and if there are any
correlations to be drawn between the two.
For example, ecologists might take the populations of a particular type of bird with the status
of the part of the Amazon Rainforest that the population is living in.
The ecologists will study and may or may not come to the conclusion that the bird population
is increasing or decreasing as a result of air pollution in the rainforest. They may also take multiple
species of birds and see if they can find any relation to one another, allowing the scientists to come to
a conclusion if the habitat is suitable or not for that species to live in.

2. Geoscience
Geoscience concerns the study of geology, soil science, volcanoes, and the Earth’s crust as they relate
to the environment. As an example, scientists may study the erosion of the Earth’s surface in a particular
area. Soil scientists, physicists, biologists, and geomorphologists would all take part in the study.
Geomorphologists would study the movement of solid particles (sediments), biologists would
study the impacts of the study to the plants and animals of the immediate environment, physicists would
study the light transmission changes in the water causing the erosion, and the soil scientists would make
the final calculations on the flow of the water when it infiltrates the soil to full capacity causing the
erosion in the first place.

3. Atmospheric Science
Atmospheric science is the study of the Earth’s atmosphere. It analyzes the relation of the
Earth’s atmosphere to the atmospheres of other systems. This encompasses a wide variety of scientific
studies relating to space, astrology, and the Earth’s atmosphere: meteorology, pollution, gas emissions,
and airborne contaminants.

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 An example of atmospheric science is where physicists study the atmospheric circulation of a
part of the atmosphere, chemists would study the chemicals existent in this part and their relationships
with the environment, meteorologists study the dynamics of the atmosphere, and biologists study how
the plants and animals have affected and their relationship with the environment.

4. Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry is the study of the changes chemicals make in the environment, such
as contamination of the soil, pollution of the water, degradation of chemicals, and the transport of
chemicals upon the plants and animals of the immediate environment.
An example of environmental chemistry would be the introduction of a chemical object into an
environment, in which chemists would then study the chemical bonding to the soil or sand of the
environment. Biologists would then study the now chemically induced soil to see its relationship with
the plants and animals of the environment.
Environmental science is an active and growing part of the scientific world accelerated by the
need to address problems with the Earth’s environment. It encompasses multiple scientific fields and
sciences to see how all interchange and relate with one another in any of the above four components.

Top 5 Environmental Science Careers

1. Environmental Scientist
An environmental scientist performs research to pinpoint, minimize the grave impacts of, or get rid of
hazards and pollutants to the environments or the health of the globe’s population. His or her main aim
is to protect and conserve Mother Nature.

2. Environmental Engineer
An environmental engineer finds solutions to problems in the environment by leveraging his or her
knowledge of soil science, engineering, biology, and chemistry. His or her area of focus includes the
control of pollution, recycling, and Public health aspects.

An environmental engineer should be able to:

 Offer suggestions for maintaining and beefing up the environmental performance
 Find out, evaluate and apply stormwater good management practices for municipal, industrial
and construction stormwater programs
 Evaluate environmental regulations and seek counsel with applicability determination
 He or she should document all environmental incidences
 Develop and keep in line environmental management systems to conform to air and permit
regulations
 Lead from the front in the negotiation and of permit applications
 Liaise with regulatory bodies, prepare required documentation, organize any testing sessions,
and provide more follow-up documentation needed.

3. Environmental Biologist
An environmental biologist deals with the ecosystem and wildlife that reside in it. However,
environmental biologist focuses a lot on the biological side of any ecosystem, which means his or her
duties are more inclined to biology. The duties of an environmental biologist include:
 Administering biological and project schedules using scientific techniques, statistical tools and
in-depth knowledge in the domain
 Scheduling and conducting biological experiments and follow up with field and laboratory
operating processes
 Pinpoint project technicalities and counteract them effectively without compromising resources
and time
 Bring up findings of experiments to colleagues and stakeholders
 Ensure scientific integrity by working with a team in conjunction with peer review data

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4. Environmental Geologist
Environmental geology is a field of study that blends the main cornerstone of environmental
science and puts more emphasis on geology and how to apply it in a real-world scenario to solve
environmental problems.
An environmental geologist goes beyond interest in the environment and correlation between
humans and wildlife in it. He or she also focuses on fossil fuels, non-renewable resources, minerals,
and the earth’s crust.
An environmental geologist will spend most of his or her work life serving as a consultant,
assisting in the mitigation of soil and groundwater contamination by determining the right location for
new landfills and drawing up a plan for underground waste disposal.

5. Environmental Biotechnologist
This professional synchronize engineering and biology to create and utilize procedures that
correct contaminated sites. For instance, there is a wide range of bacteria, microbes, and fungi that are
able to consume pollutants and later break them down into safe elements over time.
An environmental biotechnologist finds out, utilize, and create necessary microbes for
correcting a specific area and the pollutants unique to it. Contaminated soil might be corrected or
remedied on-site or loaded into containers and transported for treatment. Environmental
biotechnologists perform the following duties:
 Develop plant-based bioplastics
 Transform plants into biofuels
 Draw up correction plans for specific sites that abide by environmental regulations
 Develop procedures to convert waste into biogas or other cleaner sources of energy
 Develops cleaner industrial processes by substituting chemicals with biological processes
 Utilize GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to pinpoint contaminated sites and distribution
of pollutants

By its nature, therefore, environmental science is interdisciplinary. It includes activities that are
descriptive (such as studies of the ranges and distributions of individual species) as well as analytical
(such as studies of the factors influencing those distributions, and of the ways in which they may alter
in response to environmental change). Indeed, given that the earth system is dynamic - in other words,
is constantly changing at all spatial and temporal scales - and because environmental changes can have
profound consequences for human societies and economies, the work of environmental scientists
frequently focuses on the investigation of process and change. In fact, the task of understanding
environmental change is central to environmental science - yet it is a task that may present formidable
challenges, for several reasons:

 scientific knowledge is cumulative, limited and partial; many environmental changes involve
parts of the earth system that are not yet fully known or understood - as in the case of the
extinction of species that have not yet been formally discovered or identified
 environmental changes may be cryptic: in other words, impossible (or extremely difficult) to
detect, even using modern scientific techniques - as in the case of changes that occur in the
genetic material of organisms but which are not immediately apparent in the structure or
behaviour of those organisms
 environmental changes may occur over vast spatial scales, making it difficult to establish
effective scientific monitoring programmes - as in the case of changes in the strength or
direction of oceanic currents at the global scale
 conversely, environmental changes may occur over extremely small spatial scales, again
making observation and monitoring difficult - as in the case of the contamination of soils and
groundwater by nanoparticles
 environmental changes may occur over very long temporal scales, including the geological
timescale, and they may be imperceptible over the average human lifespan - as in the case of
changes in the amount of solar radiation received due to variations in the earth's orbit
 conversely, environmental changes may be extremely rapid and their significance may not be
appreciated until it is too late to conduct scientific monitoring and to establish baselines - as in
the case of the collapse of an animal population following the outbreak of a virulent disease

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  environmental changes may have occurred in the past when scientific monitoring techniques
were not available, or were not used - as in the case of the historical rapid depletion of some
whale species due to the operation of commercial fisheries
 environmental changes may involve complex environmental systems and subsystems,
including myriad feedback mechanisms, and the causal relationships between the various
components may not be known with sufficient certainty - as in the case of regional and local
climate change due to radiative forcing
 environmental changes may have both natural and human (anthropogenic) causes, and it may
be extremely difficult to disentangle the relative significance of each - as in the case of
vegetation change in pastoral areas that have become drought-prone and desiccated

For reasons such as these, many concerns have been expressed about the accuracy and
reliability of scientific knowledge and understanding of environmental change. Indeed, the subject of
environmental change has become one of the most problematic and fiercely contested aspects of
environmental science.

It is important to emphasise a further point about environmental science: it is a subjective and

value-laden activity. Despite the fact that most professional scientists attempt to use standardised,
rigorous, replicable approaches and methods in their work, the pursuit of science is never truly
objective. Even if scientists themselves are motivated by the highest, noblest principles, their work is
produced in diverse social, political and cultural contexts that are influenced by a variety of concerns
besides the pursuit of impartial scientific knowledge and understanding. At a coarse level, decisions
about which scientific studies receive funding tend to reflect contemporary economic, social, political
and cultural priorities. A further issue is the fact that scientific disciplines are invariably highly
specialised and technical, with the result that the communication between scientists and policy-makers
often falls far short of being ideal. Consequently, articulate, eminent or well-connected representatives
of the scientific community are sometimes able to wield undue influence in decision-making about the
allocation of research funds. Added to this is the fact that governments, corporations, industry lobby
groups and other campaigning organisations sometimes devote copious resources to their attempts to
influence the conduct - and even the outcome - of scientific research studies. Therefore, the pursuit of
science - including environmental science - is intrinsically political and, at times, highly controversial.
The political nature of environmental science has been highlighted in many international negotiations
about global environmental issues, including biodiversity loss and climate change. Some people would
go further and argue that environmental science contains an ethical and moral, as well as a political,
dimension; such a view is typically held by those who claim that environmental science should be used
to support efforts, at all scales, to promote environmental stewardship, conservation and protection.
Others disagree, arguing instead that (environmental) science should be free of subjective influences,
as far as possible, and should not advocate a particular viewpoint; instead, it should focus purely on the
collection and communication of robust, verifiable data.

Environmental science and engineering are young professions compared to many other
disciplines in the physical and natural sciences and engineering. In a span of just a few decades,
advances and new environmental applications of science, engineering, and their associated
technologies have coalesced into a whole new way to see the world. Science is the explanation of the
physical world, while engineering encompasses applications of science to achieve results. Thus, what
we have learned about the environment by trial and error has incrementally grown into what is now
standard practice of environmental science and engineering. This heuristically attained knowledge has
come at a great cost in terms of the loss of lives and diseases associated with mistakes, poor decisions
(at least in retrospect), and the lack of appreciation of environmental effects.

Environmental awareness is certainly more “mainstream” and less a polarizing issue than it was
in the 1970s, when key legislation reflected the new environmental ethos. The number of laws intended
to protection natural resources, including air quality, grew steadily throughout the 20th century.
Following the 1960s, the growth of such legislation grew exponentially with increased public
awareness and concern. There has been a steady march of advances in environmental science and
engineering for several decades, as evidenced by the increasing number of Ph.D. dissertations and
credible scientific journal articles addressing a myriad of environmental issues. Corporations and

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government agencies, even those whose missions are not considered to be “environmental”, have
established environmental programs.

Arguably, a more complete understanding of atmospheric processes is one of the more emergent
areas of environmental science and technology; growing from the increasing awareness of air pollution
and advances of control technologies in the twentieth century. However, the roots of the science of air
pollution can be traced to the Ancients.

The environmental sciences, including its subdisciplines specializing in air pollution, apply the
fundamentals of chemistry, physics, and biology, and their derivative sciences such as meteorology, to
understand these abiotic6 and biotic relationships. Expanding these observations to begin to control
outcomes is the province of environmental engineering.

As scientists often do, systematic and specific explanations must be applied to practical
knowledge. So, biologists and their subdisciplines began to specialize in what came to be known as the
environmental sciences. Health scientists, like Paracelsus and William Harvey, provided insights into
how the human body interacts with and reacts to environmental stimuli. In fact, Paracelsus' studies of
metal contamination and exposure to miners may well be among the earliest examples of environmental
epidemiology.

Not only are the environmental disciplines young, but also many of the environmental problems
faced today differ from those throughout most of human history. The difference is in both kind and
degree. For example, the synthesis of chemicals, especially organic compounds has grown
exponentially since the mid-1900s. Most organisms lack mechanisms to metabolize and eliminate these
new compounds. Also, stresses put on ecosystems prior to the Industrial Revolution were
comparatively small in extent of damage. Pollutants have been emitted into the atmosphere throughout
human history, but only recently were such emissions so large and long-lasting, or of pollutants with
such high toxicity, that they have diminished the quality of entire airsheds.

In environmental sciences, the term “experiment” is commonly used in a somewhat wider

context than has typically been applied in the more traditional, or “natural,” sciences. The reason for
this is the compromise that has to be made in order to meet a position in the precision–realism–
generalism triangle that generates an answer to the question being addressed by the experiment

Environmental science and engineering are evolving endeavors. When public and scientific
interests began to accelerate in the second half of the twentieth century, pollutants of any type and in
any environmental compartment were addressed on a contaminant-by-contaminant control basis.

As there is need to protect the environment in everypossible way, it must also be noted that the
need for the existence of infrastructure as an indispensablepart of any economy cannot be over
emphasized. Asthose infrastructures come into existence, there areresulting positive effects as well as
adverse effects,which in many cases tend to out-number the positiveeffects; and yet not usually noticed.
This inability totake cognizance of the adverse effects of civilengineering infrastructural development
projects hasbecome a source of worry to the environmentalists, civil engineers, and, indeed all
stakeholders in the environment. The impact of these projects on the environment range from
cumulative to long term and short term impacts; and include impacts on human beings and man made
features, agriculture, effects on flora,fauna and geology, effects on land, effects on water,air and climate
and, of course, the indirect and secondary impacts associated with the project. Environmental impact
assessment may be said to be one of the vital steps required for careful planning and management of
natural resources resulting frompressures placed on virtually all areas of the earth from the need to
provide food, water, minerals, fuel, and other necessities for such increasing number of people.
Since the environment itself is multi dimensional in nature, it means that the circumstances that
create(adverse) impacts on it are multi-dimensional; and therefore require some sort of multi
dimensional or multidisciplinary handling. It is therefore very necessary to involve as many disciplines
as should be interested or connected to the environment aspossible. These professionals will carry out
comprehensive investigations prior to the actual project execution. These investigations are usually
geared towards the matching of ecological and technological requirements of land use with the qualities
of land and the effect of the proposed use of such land on the environment.

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 Assessment No. 5
Make a proposed project that can help the environment with the use of civil engineering
ideas and techniques.

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