Civil
Engineering
Laura
Harris
10/15/01
Desantis
per. 6
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract of the report/field report ………………………………….…………PAGE #1-3
College Courses/Descriptions ……………………………………………… PAGE #5-8
Summary... ……………………………………………………..………... PAGE #9
Work Cited... ……………………………………………………..………... PAGE #10
Field Description
Civil engineers have a wide range of important functions. They design and supervise the
construction of buildings, roads, dams, airports, tunnels, bridges, and water supply and sewage
systems. There are many specialties within the field of civil engineering. These include
construction, environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation, urban planning, water
resources, and construction engineering. (1)
Construction engineering deals with the construction of buildings. The construction phase
of a project represents the first tangible result of a design. Construction engineers, using technical
and management skills, help turn designs into reality. These people need knowledge of
construction methods and equipment, along with principles of financing, planning, and
management, to turn the designs of other engineers into successful facilities.
Another specialty is environmental engineering. The skills of environmental engineers are
becoming increasingly important as we attempt to protect the fragile resources of our planet.
Environmental engineers translate physical, chemical, and biological processes into systems to
destroy toxic substances, remove pollutants from the air, and develop groundwater supplies.
Engineers in this field are called upon to resolve problems of providing safe drinking water,
cleaning up sites contaminated with hazardous material, cleaning up and preventing air pollution,
treating wastewater, and managing solid wastes.
Geotechnical engineering is the discipline that deals with applications of technology to solve
problems related to earth materials. These engineers are extremely important because almost all of
the facilities that make up our infrastructure are constructed in, on or with these earth materials.
Examples of facilities in the earth are tunnels, deep foundations, and pipelines. Highway pavements
and many buildings are supported on the earth. And earth dams, levees, embankments, and slopes
are constructed with the earth. In addition, many soil-like waste materials are deposited in
containment areas. To design these facilities, geotechnical engineers must conduct analyses based
on the principles of mechanics and mathematics. These analyses require input data to quantify the
properties of the earth materials, and this information is usually obtained form laboratory or field
tests.
Structural engineers face the challenge of analyzing and designing structures to ensure that
they safely perform their purpose. They must support their own weight and resist dynamic
environmental loads such as hurricanes, earthquakes, blizzards, and floods. Stadiums, arenas,
skyscrapers, offshore oil structures, space platforms, amusement park rides, bridges, office
buildings, and homes are a few of the many types of projects in which structural engineers are
involved. These people develop and utilize knowledge of the properties and behaviors of steel,
concrete, aluminum, timber, and plastic as well as new and exotic materials. To make certain that
the plans are being followed, structural engineers are often on the construction site inspecting and
verifying the work.
The function of transportation engineers is the move people, goods, and materials safely and
efficiently. These engineers find ways to meet the increasing travel needs on land, air and sea.
They design, construct, and maintain all types of facilities, including highways, railroads, airfields,
and ports. An important part of transportation engineering is to upgrade our transportation
capability by improving traffic control and mass transit systems, and by introducing high-speed
trains, people mover, and other new transportation methods.
Urban Planning is an engineering field that is concerned with the full development of a
community. Analyzing a variety of information will help urban planners coordinate projects, such
as projecting street patterns, identifying park and recreation areas, and determining areas for
industrial and residential growth. To ensure ready access to a community, coordination with other
authorities may be required to integrate freeways, airports, and other related facilities.
The final engineering specialty deals with water resources. Water resources engineers deal
with issues concerning the quality and quantity of water. They work to prevent floods, to supply
water for cities, industry and irrigation, to treat wastewater, to protect beaches, or to manage and
redirect rivers. They are involved in the design, construction, or maintenance of hydroelectric
power facilities, canals, dams, pipelines, pumping stations, locks, or seaport facilities. (5)
Many civil engineers hold supervisory or administrative positions, form supervisor of a
construction site to city engineer. Others may work in design, construction, research, and teaching.
Civil engineers held about 195,000 jobs in 1998. Almost half were employed by firms
providing engineering consulting services, primarily developing designs for new construction
projects. Another one third of the jobs were in Federal, State and local government agencies. The
construction industry, public utilities, transportation, and manufacturing industries accounted for
most of the remaining employment. About 12,000 civil engineers were self-employed, many as
consultants. (3)
Civil engineers usually work near major industrial and commercial centers, often at
construction sites. Some projects are situated in remote areas or in foreign countries. In some jobs,
civil engineers move from place to place to work on different projects.
A professional engineer is a person who performs a professional service such as
consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, design or supervision of construction or operation
in connection with any utilities, structures, buildings, machines, equipment, processes, works, or
projects wherein the safeguarding of life, health and property is concerned, when such service or
work requires the application of engineering principles and data. A professional engineer must also
be licensed by the state. To get licensed, a person has to have gotten a baccalaureate degree in some
field of engineering, be at least 21 years of age, have at least four years of experience working in the
field, and pass an examination. (2)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Baccalaureate Program – Civil Engineering
Year 1 – Fall Semester
Total – 16 credit hours
Course
ENGR-1100
MATH-1010
ENGR-1500
STSH-1110
Credit hours
Introduction to Engineering Analysis
Calculus I
Chemistry of Materials I
Introduction to Science and Technology Studies
4
4
4
4
Year 1 – Spring Semester
Total – 17 credit hours
Course
CIVL-2030
CIVL-2630
CIVL-2670
ENGR-2600
Introduction to Transportation Engineering
Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering
Introduction to Structural Engineering
Modeling & Analysis of Uncertainty
Credit hours
4
4
4
3
Year 2 – Fall Semester
Total – 17 credit hours
Course
ENGR-2050
MATH-2400
PHYS-1200
ENGR-1200
PHIL-1110
Introduction to Engineering Design
Introduction to Differential Equations
Physics II
Engineering Graphics & CAD
Introduction to Philosophy
Credit hours
4
4
4
1
4
Year 2 – Spring Semester
Total –17 credit hours
Courses
ENGR-2090
ENGR-2530
ENGR-2250
STSH-4720
CSCI-1190
Engineering Dynamics
Strength of Materials
Thermal & Fluids Engineering I
Metaphysics
Beginning C Programming for Engineers
Credit hours
4
4
4
4
1
Year 3 – Fall Semester
Total – 15 credit hours
ENGR-4300
CIVL-4150
ENGR-1010
STSH-4300
ECON-1200
Course
Electronic Instrumentation.
Experimental Soil Mechanics
Professional Development I
Environmental Philosophy
Introductory Economics
Credit hours
4
3
2
4
4
Year 3 – Spring Semester
Total – 17 credit hours
Course
CIVL-4920
ENGR-4010
CIVL-4240
BMED-2200
PSYC-1200
Civil Eng. Capstone Design
Professional Development II
Introduction to Finite Elements
Dynamic Systems for Biomedical Engineering
General Psychology
Credit hours
4
4
3
3
4
Year 4 – Fall Semester
Total – 15 credit hours
Course
ENVE-2110
CIVL-4120
CIVL-4070
ECON-2020
Introduction to Environmental Engineering
Civil Engineering Instrumentation & Sensors
Steel Design
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Credit hours
4
4
3
4
Year 4 – Spring Semester
Total – 18 credit hours
Course
ENVE-2110
CIVL-4120
CIVL-4070
ECON-2020
Introduction to Environmental Engineering
Civil Engineering Instrumentation & Sensors
Steel Design
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Credit hours
4
4
3
4
Interview
Harry J. Williams, P.E.
Associate Building Construction Engineer
New York State Office of General Services
Albany, New York 12065
(518) 371-7743
harry.williams@ogs.state.ny.us
Q: Describe the duties and responsibilities of someone working in civil engineering. What are
some specific jobs in this field?
A: Specific jobs in civil engineering are varied as you know if you’ve done any research. Civil
engineers are involved in design of bridges, buildings, dams, and water treatment facilities.
Q: What is your specialty in civil engineering?
A: My specialty in civil engineering at this point is construction supervision. I’ve been a project
manager, and an engineer in charge for several multimillion dollar projects that the state has put up.
Q: What are some of the projects you’ve worked on?
A: I’ve worked on the prison at Coxsackie Correctional Facility which is now called Green
Correctional Facility. I was in charge of the construction for the state when it was going up, that
was a 20 million dollar project. And I was in charge of a project at the Albany Airport, to erect an
office building, an armory and some other buildings for the Division of Military and Naval Affairs,
and that was about a 20 million dollar project.
Q: Do you have assignments that seem to drag on forever, or are they usually pretty quick?
A: In construction, you have assignments where you go out, you start, you finish, and then go on to
the next assignment. Usually you can see a specific end when you do construction.
Q: How much of your time is spent on the computer?
A: Well, right now I’m working in the office as an administrator so I spend probably one-third of
my time using the computer
Q: Does your job deal mainly with people, data or things?
A: Well, my job deals with people, there is a lot of interaction with people in the office. And it
deals a lot with data, too.
Q: Are there any specific tools or equipment required for your job?
A: Right now my main tool is the computer. A lot of people in design use the computer for CAD
design. And there is surveying equipment that I’ve used from time to time.
Q: What are the advantages of this occupation?
A: Well, one of the advantages is that you get to see something built. When you’re done you get to
actually see something. When I’m working on a project it starts as a field and when it was done it’s
a building. There some real advantage to that.
Q: Are there any disadvantages?
A: I don’t know if there are any disadvantages. I really haven’t found any. I’ve really liked my job
all of the years I’ve been doing it.
Q: How about advancement opportunities?
A: Well there are advancement opportunities. I was lucky enough to get several promotions early
on in my career. I got up to a pretty high standing in the state at an early point and even now there
still are advancement opportunities for me.
Q: Are employers evenly distributed or are they concentrated in certain areas of the country?
A: Engineering is all around the country. There are several really big engineering firms, but there
are many, many, smaller ones that are all around the country.
Q: So do most people work for themselves, private industry, or the government?
A: Most civil engineers, I believe, work for private industry.
Q: What are the beginning, average, and top pay one could expect to earn working in civil
engineering?
A: I would think beginning pay right now with a Bachelor’s degree would be somewhere between
45 and 50 thousand dollars. An average salary with a few years of experience would be 60 to 70
thousand. And there are some engineers that make 150 to 200 thousand dollars.
Q: Does where you live make a difference in your salary?
A: Yeah, to some extent. There probably are more engineering opportunities in the South because
there is more building down there.
Q: Is there overtime pay?
A: Usually not. I’m on salary and I don’t get paid for overtime.
Q: How many hours do you work per week?
A: I currently work thirty-seven and a half hours a week and I often put in a few more than that to
get things done at the end of the day. Then its more quiet and I don’t have as many people asking
me questions.
Q: What about vacations?
A: I work for the state so I have pretty good vacations. I have more than four weeks of vacation a
year. Plus I get personal time.
Q: Is there further education offered where you work?
A: Yes, there is further education for things I’ve taken over the years.
Q: Do you have to travel?
A: I personally don’t travel too much, but there are people who do travel. As a matter of fact, in
construction engineering you tend to travel quite a bit because you have to go where the jobs are.
Q: What are the retirement benefits?
A: Well, the state gives me good retirement benefits. I get a percentage of my salary when I retire
for the rest of my life. It’s a pretty good system.
Q: In what kind of environment is the work done? Indoors? Outdoors?
A: Right now I work indoors. I work in the Corning Tower. But when I was out in the field I used
to work in construction trailers that were on the site. I spend a lot of my time out on the job actually
looking at the work that going on. It was maybe 60 percent in the trailer, 40 percent in the field.
Q: Is it possible to work at home (like if you’re sick)?
A: I probably could work do some things at home. I never have before.
Q: Do you work alone or with other people?
A: I usually work with other people.
Q: Were there any tests or licenses you had to get before you became an engineer?
A: Yes I have a license. I am a licensed professional engineer in New York State. I have to take
that test. It’s a two-part test. I took the first part while I was still in school and then the second part
you can take after you have four years to five years of engineering experience.
Q: What is your most satisfying experience so far?
A: Back a few years ago there was a major power outage in the Empire State Plaza. I don’t know
if you remember it but back in 1993, there was a major switch gear fire and I was in charge of
overseeing the temporary repairs. I also made sure that people weren’t hurt and that things got
done. There were dozens upon dozens of people working all the time and I was kind of the
coordinator to keep it going. And we got people back to work in about a week. We spent a lot of
money to do it, but it was nice to see it when it got to the point where it was done and people could
get back to work.
Q: Is this what you thought you were going to do in high school?
A: No, then I had no idea.
Q: How about in college?
A: Well, I went to RPI, so I knew that I was going to do some type of engineering. I didn’t know
what. Even when you’re in college you don’t pick one direction to go in until at least your
Sophomore year.
Q: What degree did you get in college?
A: I have a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering.
Q: How long have you work in your profession?
A: I’ve been a civil engineer for twenty-six years.
Q: Do you know anything about the employment opportunities for people my age?
A: I would think that engineering has got a lot of good employment opportunities for people in
high school now. If you look at the statistics, whenever RPI or any other engineering school has a
graduating class, a good percentage of the graduating seniors go on to get a Master’s Degree or get
a good paying job. There are a lot of good opportunities in this field.
Q: Do you have any advice for someone looking to go into civil engineering?
A: Well if you are in high school and you want to go into civil engineering, my advice would be to
make sure that you take math and science classes and try to do well in them. That’s what you’re
going to need when you get to college.
Q: That’s about it. Is there anything you want to add?
A: One thing is that engineering is a great career for women these days. We have many women in
our office who’ve been very successful. It used to be a very male-dominated profession, but not
anymore.
Summary
I like civil engineering. It is cool.I would think that engineering has got a lot of good employment
opportunities for people in high school now. If you look at the statistics, whenever RPI or any
other engineering school has a graduating class, a good percentage of the graduating seniors go
on to get a Master’s Degree or get a good paying job. There are a lot of good opportunities in
this field.
Works Cited
1. “The American Society of Civil Engineers” <http://www.asce.org>
2. Hagerty, D. Joseph. Opportunities in Civil Engineering Careers. Skokie: VGM Career
Horizons, 1977.
3. Occupational Outlook Handbook 2000-2001 Edition VGM Career Books, 2000
4. “RPI College Website” <http://www.rpi.edu>
5. Straub, Hans. A History of Civil Engineering; an Outline from Ancient to Modern Times.
Cambridge: M.I.T. Press, 1994.
6. Williams, Harry J. Personal interview. 15 October 2001