Vignette for Glaciers, Water and Wind, Oh My!
Civil engineers need to carefully
study the surrounding environment
and soil type in order to safely build
any sort of structure. Buildings,
roads and bridges need to be built
on a solid foundation and, if
possible, in an area that is not
prone to erosion (e.g., a flood
plain). Engineers can also use
materials that can resist the type of erosion that a particular area is
exposed to (e.g., water-proof materials or materials that are not
affected by acid rain). Environmental engineers plant trees and other
vegetation in order to help prevent wind and water erosion (the roots
make the land more stable and less exposed). Vegetation can also help
neutralize acid rain. Engineers also design roads, bridges, and
sidewalks in a way that allows them to expand and contract with
temperature changes so that they will not crack too much (e.g., the
grooves in the sidewalk and bridge expansion joints).
Your engineering firm has been hired to explore various designs to
protect landscapes and structures from erosion, list several different
types of erosion, compare and contrast the effects of various types of
erosion.