Historically,Civil Engineering is the oldest branch of engineering and dates back at least 5000 years to the profession of "master builder" involving pyramids,temples and irrigation projects.Engineering has changed greatly since those days but the fundamental principles have stayed the same.Engineers solve people problems with applied science and innovation.Today's problems are more complex and the needs of current and future societies have created challenges for engineering unparalleled in our history.The use of electronic data collection methods and the application of computers have revolutionized the practice of Civil Engineering.To interpret and satisfy these needs,Civil Engineers currently direct the spending of more than one tenth of Canada's gross national product,more than any other professional group.The Civil Engineer must deal with the human impact of engineering.Social,moral and legal issues concern us to a far greater degree than ever before.
Civil Engineering has become an extremely diverse field with many areas of application.A summary of the major fields follow:
Structural Engineering
Structural Engineering deals with the design and construction of all types of structures including buildings and bridges.Emphasis is placed on mechanics and the behavior of materials.Infrastructure Management and Construction
Infrastructure Management and Construction deals with project management,construction materials,construction engineering and building engineering.Water and Waste Management Engineering
Water and Waste Management Engineering addresses water and waste water treatment,surface and ground water pollution and control,solid and hazardous waste management,contaminant transport and behavior in the environment.Support areas including aquatic chemistry,computer modeling,stimulation and laboratory experimentation as examples are also stressed.Transportation Engineering
Transportation Engineering deals with the planning,design construction,traffic operation and evaluation of streets,highways ,airports, and transit systems.Geotechnical Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering covers the engineering properties of soils,the fundamentals of soil mechanics, and the application of geotechnical data and fundamentals to the design of foundation elements,earth-retaining structures,excavations,earth embankments and highway pavements.Engineering Mechanics
Engineering Mechanics deals with the rigorous study of mechanics,applied mathematics and related fields.This leads to an understanding of advanced analysis and leads to study in structural engineering,hydraulics,mechanics of solids and fluids,or properties of materials.Experimental Mechanics
Experimental Mechanics involves the experimental investigations of the static and dynamic response of structures and machines, and in the development of improved techniques to obtained analyze experimental data.Water Resources Engineering
Water Resources Engineering covers the planning,management,design and operation of water supply and distribution systems,flood control and flood hazard mapping,hydrologic and hydraulic aspects of environmental issues, and application of remotely-sensed data to hydrologic and environmental problems.Materials
Materials study involves structural engineering,mechanics or properties of materials and relates to materials science.In addition,Civil Engineers often move outside traditional Civil Engineering fields.This translates into fields such as:
- Public Administration
- Planning
- Management Science
- Business Administration
- Bioengineering
- Environmental Health
