CEORNT120

Civil Engineering and Society and Other

Professions
 Civil Engineering & Society
& Other Professions

1 Civil Engineering: Knowledge and Skills

2 Roles of Civil Engineers

3 Civil Engineering and other Professions

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Civil Engineering:
Knowledge and Skills
 What is Civil Engineering?
• Civil engineering is the oldest and quintessential engineering
profession
• 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

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What do engineers need to know?
• A global vision and approach to problem identification and
problem solving in areas such as infrastructure, environment,
facilities, and systems
• A basic management knowledge base in areas such as
business, resources, personnel management, communication
skills, costs and value judgments, and time management

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What do engineers need to know?

• A solid foundation in personal and inter-personal attributes

ethics.
• An involvement with engineering practice as the formal
education evolve

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Civil Engineering Basics Knowledge

• supervise project construction and maintenance

• must possess a very broad skill set, from cost
accounting to geology
• Many civil engineers have jobs that require a very
hands-on role in construction, while others may have
positions more heavily weighted toward supervisory and
administrative skills
The important skills needed to succeed in Civil
Engineering

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Civil Engineering Basics Technical Skills

➢should have a level of Mathematics and Physics that

allows for the identification and solving of engineering
problems
➢be skilled in design techniques and working with maps,
drawings, and models, as well as CAD software
➢to be able to predict any possible future problems and
find solutions for them
 Civil Engineering Basics Technical Skills

➢Math skills
Civil engineers use the principles of calculus,
trigonometry, and other advanced topics in mathematics for
analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work
➢Tests of Building Materials
A good civil engineer should have proper knowledge
of different tests of building materials. e.g.: Concrete Test:
Slump test, compression test, split tensile test, soundness etc.
Civil Engineering Basics Technical Skills

➢Investigation of soil
Various soil tests are conducted to determine the
settlement and stability of soils before starting construction. So as
a civil engineer, you should have enough knowledge of these tests
which are performed at the site
➢Uses of Surveying Instruments
Usages of surveying instruments like the total station,
theodolite, etc. are also mandatory knowledge for every civil
engineer. These instruments are used for marking and
measurement.
 Civil Engineering Basics Technical Skills

➢Standard Codes Used In Construction

Every country has its standard safety specifications (e.g.: NSCP,
NBCP) for construction-related works. All new construction should be done
by following all the rules and procedures mentioned in the standard codes.
Otherwise, the chances of failure of a structure will be always high.
➢Bar Bending Schedule
The bar bending schedule is an essential chart for civil
engineers and civil engineering basics skill, It provides the reinforcement
calculation of the RC beam such as cutting length, type of bending, the
length of bending, etc.
Civil Engineering Basics Technical Skills

➢Drawing and Design

Drawing and design are the primary keys of an
ongoing project. It provides all the required specifications
of that project. Every site engineer should have the
analyzing power of such drawings and designs.
 Managerial Skills

When problems arise, it is common for people involved in

the project on all levels to look to the engineer for guidance and
resolution. Civil engineers must be able to step up to the task and
manage a diverse team of professionals whilst maintaining the
confidence of clients.

➢ Scheduling- project scheduling is a core project management

skill.
 Managerial Skills

➢ Cost Control- critical topic for project managers. Those without

this skill will be at a disadvantage because budgets are tight. You
need to show that you can deliver your project within the cost
constraints and by managing the project finances intelligently.
➢ Risk Management-The more ‘routine’ the project, the more it is
likely to get outsourced or given to a functional manager who shows
an aptitude for getting things done. Project managers will work on
the more complex, transformative, unique endeavors that require
decent risk
 Managerial Skills

➢ Contract Management-is about being able to actively manage that

procurement. Previously many project managers have been able to rely
on their Finance departments to get this sort of work done (and Legal
teams for managing the terms of the deal)
➢ Critical Thinking-is core to being able to make good decisions. You
must weigh up the pros and cons of solutions to problems before
choosing the right way forward. This is what distinguishes a project
manager who is good at managing issues to someone who blows issues
out of the water every time.
 Managerial Skills

➢ Project Recovery-showing you know how to turn around a poorly

performing team and the project will certainly set you aside from your
peers.
➢ Task Management-be able to create a task list, delegate work to others
and keep on top of progress.
➢ Quality management- ensures that you deliver a product that is fit for
purpose. Unfortunately, project managers often don’t spend enough time
on the quality angle of their projects – it’s one of those processes and set
of tasks that are overlooked as an administrative overhead
 Managerial Skills

➢ Meetings Management- Being able to sense when a meeting is going off

the rails and people aren’t paying attention is a key skill for project
managers. It’s helped by sticking to the agenda but it’s also about being
able to read the body language of people in the room to check that you are
getting through the material quickly and comprehensively.
 Leadership Skills

Civil engineers take ultimate responsibility for the projects that

they manage or research that they perform. Therefore, they must be able
to lead planners, surveyors, construction managers, civil engineering
technicians, civil engineering technologists, and others in implementing
their project plan

➢ Decision-making-Civil engineers often balance multiple and frequently

conflicting objectives, such as determining the feasibility of plans regarding
financial costs and safety concerns. Civil engineers must be able to make good
decisions based on best practices, their own technical knowledge, and their own
experience.
 Leadership Skills

➢Negotiation-Project managers with good negotiation skills will be an

asset to their teams as they seek to resolve conflicts by finding the
win-win scenarios for everyone.
➢ Organizational skills- be able to monitor and evaluate the work at
the jobsite as a project progresses. That way, they can ensure
compliance with the design documents. Civil engineers also often
manage several projects at the same time, and thus must be able to
balance time needs and to effectively allocate resources.
 Leadership Skills

➢Problem-solving skills -Civil engineers work at the highest level of

the planning, design, construction, and operation of multifaceted
projects or research. The many variables involved require that they
possess the ability to identify and evaluate complex problems. They
must be able to then utilize their skill and training to develop cost-
effective, safe, and efficient solutions.
 Communication Skills

The ability to communicate effectively is a highly sought-

after skill. Whether dealing with Management or a client,
Engineers need to be able to clearly communicate ideas and give
direction leaving no ambiguity. They must also be able to listen
and benefit from the ideas of others in the team

➢ Written communication skills-From technicians to project

managers, civil engineers at every level need to be able to
communicate via written reports and correspondence concisely.
 Communication Skills

➢ Oral communication skills-This entails being able to listen to

clients, officials, team members, and other skilled workers in order to
grasp their concerns and requests effectively. Strong speaking skills
are also necessary for civil engineers when explaining complex
technical information to the people they work and interact within a
concise fashion so that they can easily comprehend the information
being shared.
 Communication Skills

➢Business Case Writing-With the ongoing focus on delivering

business value, being able to write business case (or at least
contribute one) will be a good skill to have.
➢ Sense of Humor- Getting through your projects largely relies on a
good sense of humor and the goodwill of colleagues prepared to pick
up the slack or wait another 24 hours. An ability to see the funny side
of project management will keep you on an even keel.
 Other Skills

➢Creativity -the role of Civil Engineers is applying Engineering

principles to develop solutions within the built environment. Often,
this requires a certain level of creativity. Engineers need to be able to
innovate and improve solutions.
➢Visualization skills -must be flexible and dynamic in order to identify
and resolve issues before they can become problems. Because there
are so many component parts to large-scale projects, civil engineers
must be able to envision how the interrelationships change when one
or more individual aspects are changed.
 Other Skills

➢Critical thinking-also one of the civil engineering basics skills

required for civil engineers to often overcome the complex problems
and need to find efficient solutions for them. They need to be able to
assess the pros and cons of all possible solutions, and they need to be
decisive in order to choose the best one.
Roles and Functions of
Civil Engineers
 Civil engineers play an extremely important role in the society. They are
responsible for maintaining the overall safety of society in several ways
including rural engineering. From constructing highways and buildings to
bridges and tunnels, the 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.
 Civil Engineers main
role is in
• Surveying
• Planning
• Designing
• Estimation
• Executions of structures like
--buildings
-- roads
--bridges
--railways,
--ports
--airports
--dams

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 Roles of Civil Engineers

➢ To use scientific and engineering principles for solutions of different

engineering problems
➢ To solve engineering problems with the help of field experience, laboratory
techniques, mathematical models, computer and information technology
➢ To implement management techniques for better management of man,
material, machines and money
➢ To carry out planning of building as per its functional needs, as suggested
by clients or user. He must plan the building as per the bylaws.
➢ To carry out soil investigations for the design of foundation of structures.

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 Roles of Civil Engineers

➢ To carry out principles of structures as per the principles of structural

analysis and design. Ensures that the design is safe, durable and economical.
➢ To prepare the estimates to know the probable cost of completion of work.
➢ To invite tender and to select contractors for the work.
➢ To carry out valuation of land or building for the purpose of finding its sale
or purchase price or taxation.
➢ Civil engineers must work for the general welfare of people.

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Functions of Civil Engineering

Civil engineering functions can be

classified in three categories:
➢ Before Construction
➢ During Construction
➢ After Construction

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Before Construction

➢
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 Before Construction

✓ In the beginning technical feasibility, environmental impact assessment and

economical viability of the project are studied. Surveying includes preparing site plan,
contour map and measurement of field dimensions and level

✓ Soil investigation includes collecting data regarding soil and bearing capacity of soil.

✓ Based on the collected planning, designing, are carried and drawings are prepared.
Estimates to know the probable cost of completion of work and detailed planning and
scheduling are prepared to carry out different activities in time without delay.

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 During Construction

➢
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 During Construction
✓ Owner, engineer and contractor are the three constituents of a construction team in
engineering profession, hence continuous liaison among themselves is very essential
for the speedy progress of the work.
✓ Execution of work is actual construction carried out on the site with materials and
equipment's by the skilled and unskilled work force, under technical guidance and
supervision or engineer in charge.
✓ During construction engineer must supervise the work carried out as per the
specifications for quality control. Costing is the key procedure in arriving the actual
cost of construction
✓ During construction engineer must supervise the work carried out as per the
specifications for quality control. Costing is the key procedure in arriving the actual
cost of construction
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 After Construction

➢
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 References

➢https://www.civil.columbia.edu/about/what-civil-engineering
➢https://www.livescience.com/47612-civil-engineering.html
➢https://www.constructionplacements.com/civil-engineeringbasics-skill-to-become-a-successful-civil-engineer/

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 Thank you for
joining the class!
Does anyone have any questions?

Prepared by: Engr. Eden S. Ditchella, CE

editchella.unor.ce@gmail.com

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