The high-rise apartments, curvilinear flyovers, neatly laid roads, robust metro stations, beautiful residential and commercial spaces — all are magnificent creations of civil engineering. Civil engineering is all around us. It’s a part of our daily lives. Right from the home we live in to the roads to we use to the theatres we go to, civil engineering is one of the most important fields of modern world.
The inventions of civil engineering have brought much relief to the world. This profession prides itself in the fact that it works towards the betterment, well-being and safety of the human race. In fact, it is the beautiful interplay of humans and technology. Civil engineering is a field that deals with design, manufacturing, implementing and maintaining environments. In this discipline, one can get the knowledge of construction materials, strength of elements, land surveying, plans of building, load concepts, design of structures, road and water supply, quantity surveying and estimation, hydrology and so on.
Better with experience
The best aspect of civil engineering is that the talent of the engineer gets groomed over time. The work is mainly done with the help of human assistance with the contribution of mechanical instruments and devices. Getting the work done despite obstacles is one of the main factors which determines the quality of a civil engineer. Minimising the wastage of materials from construction is also a great quality which develops with experience.
Civil engineering gives high priority to time and money. Thus, a good and sound understanding of the design from the drawings can prevent the wastage of both materials and time. Here, time is almost equivalent to money. Delay leads to the price rise in materials and can affect the economic viability of the project.
The job entails a clear-cut test of concentration and attention to detail. An engineer’s presence of mind adds value in various situations at work. Just knowing the technical aspects of the field won’t help you survive here. You also need to be flexible and learn to adapt to the evolving world quickly. Today, every aspect of our lives is constantly changing and civil engineers should be equipped to factor those changes in their projects too.
Skills needed
Civil engineering demands a vast repertoire of skills. Right from patience to dedication to creativity to self-discipline to humility, every virtue counts here. Enterprising skills can be a winning trait in this field, as every project is nothing short of adventure, especially in challenging work environments. Knack of executing the projects with optimum co-ordination and minimum damage is an imperative skill. The ability to read the drawings flawlessly truly rewards an engineer in bringing out quality work.
To survive in this field, one must also possess strong imagination and visualisation skills. Like in any other branch of work, a sharp mind is the prerequisite for faster outputs here too. Planning, of course, is a major part of construction sector. A planned action of work definitely yields better results as each and every part are dealt with tact and intelligence. Civil engineering works much better if you have set goals in mind. In this arena, its significance can be felt almost daily as the tasks or assignments given should be achieved on time. When the goals are well defined and are within achievable limits, the expected outcome is obtained much faster.
The work station of civil engineer is quite interesting, unlike other fields where the work happens in closed chambers. Here, the work takes place on the open ground, sometimes even in harsh conditions. Today, the concept of going green is immensely popular and the same remains true for civil engineering too. The civil engineer also needs to focus on the eco-sensible aspects of his project.
Civil engineering, no doubt, is one of the most exciting professions to be in. It allows you to imagine and create your vision in the real world. So, if you have a desire to change the world, civil engineering is for you!
(The author is assistant professor, department of civil engineering, Government Engineering College, Yeramaras)