Tecnology University of Panama

Faculty of Civil Engineering

Bachelor in Maritime Port Engineering

Moisés Escudero

11L-121

English

Investigation

Anais Rodriguez

09/2/2019
 WHAT IS CIVIL ENGINEERING
Civil engineering is the design and construction of public works, such as dams,
bridges and other large infrastructure projects. It is one of the oldest branches of
engineering, dating back to when people first started living in permanent
settlements and began shaping their environments to suit their needs.

Early engineers built walls, roads, bridges, dams and levees; they dug wells,
irrigation ditches and trenches. As larger groups of people began living together in
towns and cities, these populations needed reliable sources of clean water, the
means to dispose of waste, a network of streets and roadways for commerce and
trade, and a way to defend themselves against hostile neighbors.

Ancient civil engineering projects include the roads of the Roman Empire, the
Great Wall of China, the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde and Mayan ruins at Copan,
Palenque and Tikal. Many early civilizations built monuments to their rulers or
gods. These may have been simple mounds or truly remarkable achievements,
such as the Pyramids of Giza and Stonehenge, whose construction by pre-
industrial societies remains mysterious. The names of the engineers who designed
these wonders are lost to antiquity.

Today, the public is more likely to remember the names of great civil engineering
projects than the names of the engineers who designed and built them. These
include the Brooklyn Bridge (designed by John August Roebling and son
Washington Roebling), the Hoover Dam (John L. Savage), the Panama Canal
(John Frank Stevens) and the Golden Gate Bridge (Joseph Strauss and Charles
Ellis). One notable exception is the Eiffel Tower, named after Gustave Eiffel, the
French civil engineer whose company built it.

WHAT DOES A CIVIL ENGINEER DO?

Civil engineers "design, construct, supervise, operate and maintain large
construction projects and systems, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels,
dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment," according to
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
These engineers may also handle site preparation activities, such as excavation,
earth moving and grading for large construction projects. Additionally, civil
engineers may conduct or write the specifications for destructive or nondestructive
testing of the performance, reliability and long-term durability of materials and
structures. Here are some recent and ongoing civil engineering projects of
note:
 A team of researchers from Johns Hopkins University conducted tests to
see how well buildings made of cold-formed steel can withstand
earthquakes.
 Engineers at the University of Maryland are working on smart bridges that
can send out warnings when they are in danger of collapsing.
 In Los Angeles, civil engineers who are experts in structural monitoring
helped art conservators preserve the iconic Watts Towers monument.

WHAT A CIVIL ENGINEER NEEDS TO KNOW

Today's civil engineers need in-depth understanding of physics, mathematics,
geology and hydrology. They must also know the properties of a wide range of
construction materials, such as concrete and structural steel, and the types and
capabilities of construction machinery. With this knowledge, engineers can design
structures that meet requirements for cost, safety, reliability, durability and energy
efficiency. Civil engineers also need a working knowledge of structural and
mechanical engineering.

These engineers can be involved in nearly every stage of a major construction

project. That can include site selection, writing specifications for processes and
materials, reviewing bids from subcontractors, ensuring compliance with building
codes, and supervising all phases of construction from grading and earth moving to
painting and finishing.

More and more, civil engineers rely on computer-aided design (CAD) systems;
therefore, proficiency with computers is essential. In addition to speeding up the
drafting process for civil engineering projects, CAD systems make it easy to modify
designs and generate working blueprints for construction crews. A comprehensive
list of necessary skills and abilities for civil engineers can be found at
MyMajors.com.

CIVIL ENGINEERING JOBS & SALARY

The BLS states, "Civil engineers generally work indoors in offices. However, many
spend time outdoors at construction sites so they can monitor operations or solve
problems onsite." Most civil engineers employed in the private sector work for large
construction contractors or as consultants. Government institutions that employ
civil engineers include state transportation departments and the military.

Most civil engineering jobs require at least a bachelor's degree in engineering.

Many employers, particularly those that offer engineering consulting services, also
require state certification as a professional engineer. Additionally, many employers
require certification from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). A
master's degree is often required for promotion to management, and ongoing
education and training are needed to keep up with advances in technology,
equipment, computer hardware and software, building codes, and other
government regulations.

According to Salary.com, as of July 2014, the salary range for a newly graduated
civil engineer with a bachelor's degree is $55,570 to $73,908. The range for a mid-
level engineer with a master's degree and five to 10 years of experience is $74,007
to $108,640, and the range for a senior engineer with a master's degree or
doctorate and over 15 years of experience is $97,434 to $138,296. Many
experienced engineers with advanced degrees are promoted to management
positions or start their own businesses where they can earn even more.

THE FUTURE OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Employment of civil engineers is projected to grow 20 percent from now to 2022,
faster than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS. "As infrastructure
continues to age, civil engineers will be needed to manage projects to rebuild
bridges, repair roads, and upgrade levees and dams," the BLS said. There should
be many opportunities for qualified applicants, particularly those who have kept
abreast of the latest developments in technology and regulations. Having good
grades from a highly rated institution should give a job seeker an advantage over
the competition.
 WHAT IS PORT
Seaports are important interfaces within the supply chain that connect to sea and
land transport with cargo distribution components such as the entry of products,
goods and passengers to a country, as well as the exit door for All exports to
international markets.

Seaports operate different types of operations:

 Boarding, disembarking and transfer of passengers and crew.

 Boarding, disembarking and transferring cargo to and from a ship.
 Storage and storage of goods on land and stowage to and from ships.
 Internal access and intermodal connectivity.
 Complementary services to sea carriers.

The main functions of seaports are:

 Ensure security for devices on arrival, during operation and when leaving
the port.
 Provide the necessary facilities and equipment for passengers at anchor,
arrival, loading and unloading, as well as boarding and disembarking
passengers.
 Provide the transport of goods, loading and unloading, storage and
maintenance service at the port.
 Provide shelter, repair, maintenance of necessary services to others and
other ships in cases of emergency.
 Provide other services to employees, people and cargo.

Container port operations include four steps:

 Ship to dock: stage when the load is unloaded

 Transfer: the load is unloaded to a temporary area
 Storage: stage in which the containers are maintained for a longer period of
time
 Delivery and reception: it is the movement of the delivery (liberalization) of
the cargo or the reception in the terminal
WHAT IS PORT ENGINEERING
 Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales
personnel.
 Evaluate operation of marine equipment during acceptance testing and
shakedown cruises.
 Inspect marine equipment and machinery to draw up work requests and job
specifications.
 Prepare plans, estimates, design and construction schedules, and contract
specifications, including any special provisions.
 Prepare, or direct the preparation of, product or system layouts and detailed
drawings and schematics.
 Analyze data to determine feasibility of product proposals.
 Confer with research personnel to clarify or resolve problems and to develop
or modify designs.
 Investigate and observe tests on machinery and equipment for compliance
with standards.
 Maintain contact with, and formulate reports for, contractors and clients to
ensure completion of work at minimum cost.
 Design and oversee testing, installation, and repair of marine apparatus and
equipment.
 Conduct analytical, environmental, operational, or performance studies to
develop designs for products, such as marine engines, equipment, and
structures.
 Determine conditions under which tests are to be conducted, as well as
sequences and phases of test operations.
 Conduct environmental, operational, or performance tests on marine
machinery and equipment.
 Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies to ensure repairs and alterations
are at minimum cost, consistent with safety.
 Maintain and coordinate repair of marine machinery and equipment for
installation on vessels.
 Maintain records of engineering department activities, including expense
records and details of equipment maintenance and repairs.
 Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international
regulations and standards for life saving equipment and pollution
preventatives.
 Review work requests and compare them with previous work completed on
ships to ensure that costs are economically sound.