What does a Civil Engineer Do?

There are many different types of engineers in the work force today. At Hunter Structural Pty Ltd, Structural & Civil Engineering and to a lesser extend Mechanical Engineering is the primary focus. On many occasions we have been asked what does a Civil Engineer's do? So this page has been dedicated to help answer that question. The definition(s) listed below have been taken for the Institution of Engineers Web site (www.ieaust.org.au). Definitions of what other disciplines of engineers do can also be found at this address, eg Electrical Engineers, Mechanical Engineers etc. 

Civil Engineer

Much of the physical infrastructure of our modern society is provided by Civil Engineers. Civil Engineers are concerned with all types of structures including dams, bridges, pipelines, roads, towers and buildings. They are responsible for the design and construction of all our transport systems, the design and management of our gas and water supply, sewerage systems, harbours, airports and railways. Civil Engineers plan, design and test the structures of private and public buildings and facilities.

They are also involved in many environmental areas such as the assessment of the impact large scale projects have on the environment and the collection and treatment of sewage and industrial wastes, pollution control, environmental control and resource protection and management.

A Civil Engineer will work from an architect's drawings and consider whether the chosen materials for a particular building will be strong enough to hold a structure of that height or design. At the same time they would also think about how the structure might affect its surroundings. It is the responsibility of the civil engineer to produce safe, economical and environmentally-sound structures.

Civil engineers may specialise as chief civil engineers, construction engineers, municipal engineers, structural engineers, transport engineers, or water supply distribution engineers.

Civil and public health engineers may work in the private sector as consulting engineers, project managers or construction contractors or in a wide range of government departments.

Geotechnical Engineers provide information and knowledge on how the soil and rocks beneath a proposed structure will behave under pressure. An understanding of the structures being built is needed in order to assist in the design of their foundations. Geotechnical Engineers collect samples,  test ground areas and advise on work in progress.

Hydraulics (Water) Engineers are concerned with planning and organising how water is provided and removed both for large and local schemes. Hydraulics Engineers also deal with the treatment of waste from industry, the control of rivers and flood waters, the protection of the coastline and careful planning of harbours.

Structural Engineers - Natural forces such as wind, waves and earthquakes and their effects all need to be taken into account when a structure is designed and built. Certain stresses caused by the modern environment, such as the traffic of both cars and people, also need to be considered. A Structural Engineer ensures that structures are built in such a way that they stand up to these forces. Innovative solutions to these problems are researched, developed and tested by Structural Engineers.

Structural Engineers often work with Architects, builders and those in mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering to organise and supervise the construction of particular structures.

The study of structural engineering is often combined with civil engineering, but certain subjects can be chosen at university level in order to specialise in structural engineering, or work after graduation may be focussed in this particular area.

Transport Engineers  are concerned with the transport means for both people and freight.

Transport Engineers design, test and improve systems and structures used to move people, cars, trains, airplanes and ships. For example, it is vital that traffic intersections are designed in such a way that traffic flows freely and does not cause unnecessary congestion. The layout of train lines needs to be designed with similar objectives in mind. Transport engineers also plan future travel needs of city and country areas as populations increase and needs change.

Send mail to webmaster@hunterstructural.com.au with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: March 18, 2002