Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering

Civil engineers manage the essential services and infrastructure we use on a daily basis as well as planning and designing prospective ventures. They manage and monitor the roads we use for travel, the water we drink, and the energy we use for heat, light and powering our PlayStations and GHDs. A civil engineer can work on a huge diversity of projects ranging from sport stadiums to sewerage systems,  hydroelectric power stations to high seas oil rigs.

There are a number of different branches of civil engineering, most of which you will encounter on a third-level Civil Engineering course. These branches include structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, transportation engineering, environmental engineering and hydraulic engineering.

For students with an aptitude for maths, who are looking for a career that combines varied, indoor and outdoor work, civil engineering is definitely worth considering.

Education

Students considering Civil Engineering at third-level have a number of options open to them, including degrees and higher certificates at levels six, seven and eight. The CAO points for these courses range from under 200 to over 500. A good grade for Leaving Cert Maths is necessary for some courses.

The subjects you will take on a Civil Engineering course include Mathematics, Engineering Mechanics, Building Technology, Computer Applications, Materials Testing and Structural Design, while there is the option of specialisation in subjects such as Water Quality Management, Soil Mechanics, Highway & Transportation, Environmental Engineering and Hydraulics.

Practical work, involving extensive use of Computer-Aided Design (CAD), forms a major part of the course and some students also undertake a period of work experience.

Two PLC courses that offer a good introduction to civil engineering are Construction Technology – Civil Engineering in Galway Technical Institute and Engineering – Construction Technology in Carlow Institute of Further Education.

The Work

Civil engineers are involved in every element of the construction process, from the planning stage, right through to the cutting of the ribbon on the finished building, road, facility or pipeline.

General civil engineers work closely with builders, surveyors and specialised civil engineers to oversee all elements of a project, dealing with the site, people and materials involved.

Structural engineers try to ensure that buildings are structurally sound and in particular, are responsible for the safe construction of tall buildings. This can mean using computer programmes to find solutions to complex mathematical problems, such as how thick the walls should be and what materials should be used. They work closely with architects and builders and are also regularly on-site during the construction process to ensure their instructions are being followed.

Geotechnical engineers get to the root of problems by dealing with foundations and earth materials. They study rock or soil types to make sure the building or bridge, for example, is sturdy and not liable to collapse. They also have to prepare for possible disasters such as earthquakes or floods.

Transportation engineers create roads, railways and pedestrian areas, and are also involved with transport infrastructure and traffic management. Their tasks include using computer models and statistical data to determine how many roads are needed and how long/wide they should be, as well as deciding which materials to use and where exactly to place roundabouts.

Environmental engineers identify and design solutions for environmental problems. This can mean designing plants and processes for water purification, sewage treatment and hazardous waste management.

An aptitude for maths and physics is useful in studying civil engineering. An interest in how things work and how they are built is important, as this is essentially the approach a civil engineer must have to everything. You should also like the challenge of finding solutions to technical problems and enjoy seeing projects through from start to finish.

Did you know?

The base of the Great Pyramid in Egypt is large enough to cover ten football fields. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, it took 400,000 men twenty years to construct this great monument.

Further Resources

• ICivilEngineer.com – online knowledge portal for professionals and students: www.icivilengineer.com
• National Development Plan: www.ndp.ie
• Engineers’ Week: www.engineersweek.ie