Civil Civil EngineeringEngineering

Laura HarrisLaura Harris

10/15/01 10/15/01 Desantis Desantis

per. 6per. 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 DescriptionCivil 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 SemesterTotal – 16 credit hours

Year 1 –

Spring SemesterTotal – 17 credit hours

Year 2 – Fall

SemesterTotal – 17 credit hours

Year 2 – Spring SemesterTotal –17 credit hours

Year 3 – Fall

SemesterTotal – 15 credit hours

Course Credit hoursENGR-1100 Introduction to Engineering Analysis 4MATH-1010 Calculus I 4ENGR-1500 Chemistry of Materials I 4STSH-1110 Introduction to Science and Technology Studies 4

Course Credit hoursCIVL-2030 Introduction to Transportation Engineering 4CIVL-2630 Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering 4CIVL-2670 Introduction to Structural Engineering 4ENGR-2600 Modeling & Analysis of Uncertainty 3

Course Credit hoursENGR-2050 Introduction to Engineering Design 4MATH-2400 Introduction to Differential Equations 4PHYS-1200 Physics II  4ENGR-1200 Engineering Graphics & CAD 1PHIL-1110 Introduction to Philosophy   4

Courses Credit hoursENGR-2090 Engineering Dynamics 4ENGR-2530 Strength of Materials 4ENGR-2250 Thermal & Fluids Engineering I 4STSH-4720 Metaphysics   4CSCI-1190 Beginning C Programming for Engineers 1

Course Credit hoursENGR-4300 Electronic Instrumentation. 4CIVL-4150 Experimental Soil Mechanics 3ENGR-1010 Professional Development I 2STSH-4300 Environmental Philosophy 4ECON-1200 Introductory Economics 4

Year 3 – Spring SemesterTotal – 17 credit hours

Year 4 – Fall SemesterTotal – 15 credit hours

Year 4 – Spring Semester Total – 18 credit hours

Course Credit hoursENVE-2110 Introduction to Environmental Engineering 4CIVL-4120 Civil Engineering Instrumentation & Sensors 4CIVL-4070 Steel Design 3ECON-2020 Intermediate Macroeconomics   4

Course Credit hoursCIVL-4920 Civil Eng. Capstone Design 4ENGR-4010 Professional Development II 4CIVL-4240 Introduction to Finite Elements 3BMED-2200 Dynamic Systems for Biomedical Engineering   3PSYC-1200 General Psychology   4

Course Credit hoursENVE-2110 Introduction to Environmental Engineering 4CIVL-4120 Civil Engineering Instrumentation & Sensors 4CIVL-4070 Steel Design 3ECON-2020 Intermediate Macroeconomics   4

InterviewHarry J. Williams, P.E. Associate Building Construction EngineerNew York State Office of General ServicesAlbany, New York 12065(518) 371-7743harry.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.

SummaryI 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