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 involvementwith engineeringpractice 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
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--dams
 Roles of Civil Engineers

 To use scientific and engineeringprinciples 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 managementtechniquesfor better managementof
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. 30
 To carry out soil investigations for the design of foundation of
 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

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

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