Carlson1

CivilEngineering:InterworkingFactorsHelpingtheCommunity

JonathonA.Carlson

Mrs.Kopp
EnglishIII
February26,2015

Carlson2

JonCarlson

Ms.Kopp
English11
6February2015
CivilEngineering:InterworkingFactorsHelpingtheCommunity
Thescienceofengineeringhasexistedforalmostaslongasmankindhaswalkedthe
earth.Thefirstdocumentedengineer,Imhotep,pavedthewayforfutureengineerstocome
whenhebuiltKingZoserasteppedpyramidwhichresidesinSaqqarah,anancientEgyptiancity.
Imhotepsthegeniusbehindthismonumentalfeatideaofbuildingstructureswiththeuseof
shapedstones(WhatIsCivil).Hisrealizationsofhowtoproperlyconstructandbuild
structuresledtothemodernsectofengineeringknownascivilengineering.
Engineersingeneralwillalwayshavejobsduetothehighneedforalldifferenttypesof
engineers.ThankstothediscoveriesmadebyImhotep,thefieldofcivilengineeringthrivesin
todayssociety.Modernengineershaveevenexpandeduponhisfindingstobreakcivil
engineeringintomorespecializedgroups.Thesesubsectionsofcivilengineeringincludesoil
expertengineering,transportationengineering,andstructuralengineering.Allofthesejobtypes
dealwiththestructureofsomesortofbuildingorbridgeatoneleveloranother.Civil
engineering,arenownedcareerknownforitsinterestingandengagingnature,willalwayshavea
highdemandintheAmericanandinternationalworkforce.
Soilexpertstestthesoilunderneaththegroundtofindthebestplacestoputthemain
structuralpoints(Stewart).Soilexpertsalwaysappearfirstonsitestotestthesoilbeforethe
otherengineerscanproperlycompletetheirjobs.Thesoilexperts,alongwiththehelpofthe

Carlson3

transportationengineersandstructuralengineers,worktogethertoconstructthebeststructure
theypossiblycan.Allofthecivilengineersworktogethertoconstructthebeststructurethey
can.
Thesoilexpertdecideswhereeverythinggoesonthefoundationbaseduponthe
underlyingsoil.Ifthesoilexpertsdeterminewherethefoundationshouldgo,theywillalso
determinewherethemainbeamgoesinthehome(Stewart).Soilexpertsdonotonlyworkon
homesthoughsoilexpertsworkonbridges,skyscrapers,traintracks,parkinglotsaswellas
homes(Stewart).Soilexpertsmuststartallofthestructuralengineeringprojects.Inalljob
sites,astructuralengineerwillnotalwayshavetoseethesoilexpertbutwillalwayshaveto
haveonetohelpthem.Oncesoilexpertsfindthebestplacetobuildtheirstructure,theywilldig
downtofindthestrongestsoilpossible.Theywillreachthatpointeventuallythentheywilluse
aformofconcreteinordertohaveastrongfoundationunderthefoundationofthestructure.
Soilexpertshavetodothisonhomes,bridges,andskyscrapers(Stewart).Thesoilexpert
completesallofthemultiplecomponentsthatgointothebasicstructureunderneaththeearth,
whichmusttakeplacebeforeallotherengineerscanoperate.
Oncethesoilexpertsfinishtheirtasks,othercivilengineersmuststartworkingontheir
portionofthestructures.Engineerswhoworkonanyformoftransportationarereferredtoas
transportationengineers(Alan).Transportationengineersworkonbridges,traintracks,
highwaysandparkinglotsandanyotherformoftransportation.Theyworkwithstructural
engineersandsoilexpertstocompletethesetasks.
Mosttransportationengineersmustfacethechallengingtaskofbuildingbridges,oneof
themostdifficultthingstoconstructintheengineeringfield.Transportationengineersmust

Carlson4

buildabridgesothattheweightoftheconcreteitsbuiltonaswellasthecarsandtrucksthat
traveloverithaveenoughsupporttomakeitacrosswithoutthebridgecollapsing.While
buildingabridge,structuralengineersmustusethepropermaterialsinordertofindthebest
placetoplantthebridge.Whenfindingthebestplacetoputthepillarsofabridge,theengineer
hastofindthebestplacewiththestrongestsoil(Wood).Oncetheideallocationforpillarshas
beenfound,onewouldmaketheappropriatesizepillarsabletosupporttheentireweightofthe
bridgeaswellasmultiplevehicles.Whenbuildingthepillarsandotherstructuresofabridge,
transportationengineersmustusesolidconcreteinordertobeartheloadofnumerousmultiton
vehicles(Wood).Mostofthetime,thestructuralengineerwillobtainarelationshipwitha
transportationengineerbecausetheyworktogethersoofteninthesebridgebuildingsituations.
Transportationengineersworkoneverythingthathasamodeoftransportationinvolved
whichincludesallbridgesandallrailroads.Railroadsdonotchallengetransportationengineers
asmuchasbridges.Becausethebridgemusthavetheabilitytoholditsownweightaswellas
thevehiclesthattravelovertopofit,bridgesposeagreatchallengetotheengineersbuilding
them.Onlyafewpillarsunderneaththebridgeholdallofthatweight,makingitevenmore
difficult(Alan).Theseengineersmustplacethesepillarsunderneaththeareasthathaveto
supportthemostweight.Buildingabridgehasmanyothercomplicatedfactorsthatbuildinga
railroaddoesnotrequire.Whenbuildingabridge,onewouldalsohavetocalculatemanythings
likethethicknessoftheconcretepillarsorthethicknessoftheconcretewherethecarswilldrive
over.Transportationengineersdonotonlybuildbridges,butalsorailroadsandother
transportationstructures.Railroadstendtotakelesstimetobuildthanbridgesbecausetheydo
nothaveasmanydemandsandrequirementsasbridgesdo.Themostchallengingtasksrequired

Carlson5

forbuildingarailroadcomeaboutwhenitcomestocreatingtheintersectinglanesfortwo
differenttracksaswellascreatingtransitlocationsfortherailways.
Civilengineersdesign,construct,andmaintainroads,bridges,canals,and
buildings.Thisbroadjobdescriptionincludesdifferenttypesofengineersthatcanfitthe
descriptionofacivilengineer.Structuralengineering,knowsasthebranchofcivilengineering
thatworksonlargemodeledbuildingandsimilarstructures(Canipe).Structuralengineers
structurehowhomeswillbebuilt.Theyalsostructurebridgesandseekthehelpof
transportationengineerswhilebuildingbridges.
Structuralengineeringasanindustrywillneverceasetoexistduetothecontinuousneed
ofhouses,bridges,skyscrapers,railroads,andparkinglots.Structuralengineersplayabigrole
insocietybecausetheyhelpgivecitizensbettershelterandamodeoftransportation(Canipe).
Civilengineeringtakesquiteagreatdealoftimeandrequireshighqualitymathskills.
Therefore,ifonedesirespursuingtherouteofbecomingastructuralengineer,thenheorshe
mustenjoyandexcelatmathverymuch.Manypeoplehopetobecomestructuralengineers,and
thosesamepeoplewillhavetheopportunitytodosoiftheneedforstructuralengineers
continuesthewaythatithas.Structuralengineersobviouslyhavetostartfromthebottomatan
entrylevelpositionandworktheirwayup.Havingtheproperdriveandskillswillmakeany
potentialstructuralengineersuccessful.
Structuralengineers,knownasoneofthemostdifficulttypesofengineeringamongcivil
engineers,hasthisreputationduetothethefactthatpotentialengineersmustendurerigorous
amountsofeducationandtraining.Allstructuralengineershavecertainrequirementstheymust
achieveinordertobecomesuccessfulinthefield.Entrylevelstructuralengineeringjobs

Carlson6

requiredaBachelorofScienceinCivilEngineering.Ifonewishestoclimbtheladderandgeta
higherpayingjob,aMasterofScienceoranMBAhelptoattainthesejobs.Inadditiontothese
degree(s),eachstatehasrulesandregulationsofacquiringanengineeringlicense.A
ProfessionalEngineerlicensurerequirespotentialengineerstopassasequenceofNational
CouncilofExaminersforEngineeringandSurveying(NCEES)examswhichincludesa
FundamentalsofEngineeringexamusuallytakenpriortocollegegraduation.Further
verificationvariesbystate,butmostallrequireafewmoreexaminationsinadditiontomore
licensures(StructuralEngineerCareer).Thereasonstructuralengineersgothroughagreat
dealofschoolingcomesfromtheimportanceofknowinghowtoformatthefoundationofa
structureandtofullycomprehendtheexactplacementofthematerialmeantforuse.Becauseof
theconstantdemandforbuildingandmaintainingstructuresinallcommunities,degreesin
structuralengineeringwillalwayshaveahighregardasasmartcareerchoice.
Structuralengineersprimaryservicetothecommunityhappensthroughthebuildingof
homes.Thedesiredsizeofthehomewilldictatethewaytheengineerswillcreatethefoundation
andputitintoplace.Themainformofahomesstructure,whichwithstandsthewallsofthe
home,requiresthestrongestpartofthefoundation.Themainstructureofthebuildingthatholds
upthewallsandpartsoftheroof,alsoknownasbeams,theregenerallyfoundinthemiddleof
thehouse,disguisedasawallthatstretchesuptotheroofandholdsitup(Canipe).Thoughthe
middlebeamholdsupmostofthehomesweight,otherbeamshaveimportanceinholdingup
other,noncentralpartsofthehouse.Withoutthesebeams,homeswouldnothaveanystructure
whatsoeverandwouldcollapseconstantly.Thoughhomestakeupagreatdealofthestructural
engineeringfield,manyotherstructuresrequiretheattentionoftheseengineers.

Carlson7

Structuralengineersdonotonlyworkonhomes,theyalsobuildmassiveskyscrapersfor
communitiestoformbusinessesin.Duetotheexaggeratedsizesofmoderndaymultilevel
buildings,workingonskyscrapersposesasignificantchallengetotheseengineers.Findingouta
waytostructuresomethingtwentytimestallerthanitsbaseproveschallengingforanyone.
Weatherhasmuchsignificancetothebuildingofskyscrapers.Poorweatherconditionscould
resultincollapsedbuildings,whichmakesitsomethingallstructuralengineersshouldknow
about.Iftheengineerutilizesthepropermaterials,however,externalthingssuchasweather
cannotaffectthestructure.
Alloftheengineersmustusethebestmaterialsforthejobiftheywantthebestresults.If
onebuildsahousehe/shewilluseaplethoraofdifferentmaterials.Thefoundationofahome
requirestheuseofconcretematerials.Likethefoundation,thepillarsofabridgemustalso
utilizecementmaterialsformaximumstrength(Canipe).Thereasononehastochoosethe
correctmaterialscomesfromthefactthatthehomestheybuiltneedtostayforalongtime
withoutrustingorrotting.Althoughmetalhasmorestrength,woodsthebestmaterialtouse
becauseitdoesnotgetrustyfromtheseassaltwaterasametalstiltstructurewould(Canipe).
Unlikestiltsunderahome,theballbearingshaveametalmaterialwithagellikefeelingonthe
insidetoabsorbtheshockoftheearth.Ifanengineerusedanymaterialthatsnotmeantforthe
structure,thenthefinalproductwillnothavegreatqualityandmaypossiblybreaksoon.
Ballbearingshelpstructuresmadebycivilandstructuralengineerstoabsorbtheshockof
anearthquakesothebuildingdoesnotfall(Madan).Metalballbearingsconnecttothetectonic
playsbelowthestructurethroughametalrodtoabsorbtheshockoftheearth.Skyscrapersalso
challengeengineerswhenfacedwiththeproblemoftheweightofeachbuilding.These

Carlson8

structureshavesuchdensitythattheymaysinkintothegroundduetoweatherorsomeother
factorunlessproperlytreated.Preventingsinkingfromhappeninghappensbydiggingintothe
groundverydeepuntilanengineerfindsasoilsostrongthatitcansupportaskyscraper.After
findingapropersoil,thestructuralengineerwillbuildverythickmetalrodsthatgointothe
groundtosupporttheweightofthebuilding(Madan).Thismethod,usedonhomesaswell,
allowsforthestructuralengineersandsoilexpertstoworktogethertocreatethebestpossible
buildingstructures.
Inthesamewaystructuralengineeringprotectsskyscrapersandbridgesfromweather,
manyhomeownersseektheguidanceofstructuralengineerstohelpprotecttheirhomesfrombad
weather.Anexampleofthiscomesintoplayinbeachhomes.Whenvisitingthebeach,onesees
manyhomesbuiltuponstilts.Onemightwonderhowthehomesstayuponthosestiltsdueto
thesignificantheightabovethegroundstructuralengineersbuildthesebeachhomesbyusing
thesametechniquesthattheyusetoholdupskyscrapers.Theywilldigintothegroundtoa
pointwherethesoilhasmuchstiffnessandcansupporttheweightofthestructure.The
structuralengineerswillthenplanttheappropriatesizedwoodenplanksunderthehomeuntil
theyreachthepreviouslytested,strongsoil(Madan).Theyusewoodenplanksinsteadofthe
metalonesunlikeskyscrapersbecausethewoodenonesdonotrust.Thesaltwaterwill
eventuallyrustonthemetaltomakeitbecomeweakerwhichmakesthewoodoptionmuchmore
appealing(Canipe).Theyusestiltstostayhigherabovesealevelincaseofahurricaneor
tsunamisothewaterwillstayunderneathinsteadofruiningthehome.Usingdifferenttechniques
toadaptastructuretoworkwellwithinitsweatherandclimatehasmuchimportanceinthe
engineeringprocess.

Carlson9

Allofthesedifferenttypesofcivilengineersmustworktogetherfordifferentprojectsto
havesuccess.Thestructuralengineeringprocessinvolvesmanyinterworkingpartsandpeople.
Structuralengineeringprojectsstartwiththesoiltomakesurethatithasastrongenoughsurface
towithstandthestructurebeingbuiltontopofit.Asoilexpertwhohasexperiencedtrainingon
howtotestthesoilmustcompletethistask(Stewart).Oncethesoilexpertshavethesoiltested,
theywillhavetheabilitytobeginconstructiononthefoundation.Thefoundation,madeoutof
concrete,requiresthehometohavethesamematerialusedforthewalls.Ifahomeincludesa
basement,alsomadeofconcrete,theengineerwillhavetobuildcementwallstoconstructthe
foundationontopofthat(Flinchbaugh).Alloftheinterworkingpartsinvolvedhavesignificant
importance,makingtheskillsoftheexpertsandengineersallthemorevitaltoeachproject.
Civilengineersdonotalwayshaveasimpledayatwork.Theseengineerswilljump
aroundfromworksitetoworksiteallwithinaday(Groesbeck).Civilengineersdonotonlywork
onjobsitestheyalsomanagethemoneyusedfortheirprojects.Thereisnotatypicalworkday
forcivilengineers.Mostofthetime,civilengineerscommunicatedirectlywiththeownersof
thestructuresbeingbuilt,sohavingpeopleskillshelpstremendously(Groesbeck).Also,
engineerswillneedtohavestrictruleswhenworkingwiththegroupofpeoplethathelphimor
hertofinishthehomeinordertostayonschedule.Oncethegroupfinallyfinishesaprojectit
bringsarewardingfeelingtotheleadengineer.Despitetherewardingnatureofthecivil
engineeringfield,thejobcanalsoconsumealotoftheengineer'stime.Onewouldusuallywork
fiftyormorehoursinaweek(Groesbeck).Civilengineersputinthoselonghours,butbenefit
fromtheirhardworkwhentheygettheirpayday.Civilengineerssalarystartsat$70,000per
yearandcangrowthroughexperienceandtraining(Groesbeck).Manyactivelyworkingcivil

Carlson10

engineerstellstudentswhofindthejobinterestingtotakehardmathclasses,scienceclasses,
and,onceincollege,challengingengineeringclasses.Inreferencetocollege,studentsmust
graduatewithacivilengineeringdegreeinordertoobtainajobinthefieldatall.Anycollege
withastrongengineeringprogramwouldlookmoreprestigiouswhenapplyingforajob
(Groesbeck).Forajobincivilengineering,onemustputinatremendousamountofeffortin
ordertobecomesuccessful.
Inordertobecomeasuccessfulcivilengineer,onemusttakeonhardprojectandmakeit
great.Ifanengineerwantstobecomethevicepresidentorpresidentofacivilengineering
company,theyhavetoputinmorethanfiftyorsixtyhoursaweektogetthejobdone.Onemust
dothisinordertoprovetheirknowledgetotheirsuperiors.Onewouldhavetoshowthatthey
canworkhardandfocusinonprojects.Vicepresidentsandpresidentmakeasubstantialmore
amountthanjustastructuralengineerwillevermake.Thesuperiorworkersofthecivil
engineeringfieldmakebetween$200,000and$300,000peryear(Groesbeck).Thishandsome
payincreasehelpstomotivateentrylevelworkerstoworktheirwayuptheladderandbecome
successfulinthebusiness.
Civilengineeringasanoccupationcanbenefitanyonewhoexcelsatmathandfindsthe
constructionofhomesinteresting.Civilengineeringoverallhasmanydifferentjobstochoose
from,andnotjusttheonesstatedabove.Structuralengineers,consideredoneofthehardestcivil
engineeringjobs,constructafoundationandmustfullyunderstandhowandwhyhomesmust
followtheexistingconstructionrulesandregulations.Transportationalengineershaveajobthat
impactssocietygreatly.Thesespecificcivilengineershelpbymakingbridgesallowingpeople
theluxuryofcrossingoverlakes,rivers,andotherbodiesofwatermakingtransportationmore

Carlson11

convenientforsociety(Madan).Theyalsomakethehighwaysthatmanycitizensdriveontogo
backandforthfromworkandhome.Soilengineersgetpaidtheleastoutofallofthecivil
engineers,butstillserveanimportantpurposeliketheotherengineers.Theseengineershaveto
testmanyplacestoseeiftheycanhandlethemassiveloadofskyscrapers,bridges,homes,and
otherstructures,impactingsocietygreatly.Allcivilengineershavesomesortofimpactonthe
waypeoplegoabouttheirdailylivesandmanypeopletakeforgrantedtheseservices.Civil
engineersdoatremendousamountforsocietyanddonotalwaysreceivethedeservedrespectin
return.Eventhoughcivilengineersdonotgetalotback,theystillgettoknowthattheymadea
differenceinsocietyandhaveimpactedfamiliesbygivingthemsafe,properlyconstructed
homesandotherstructuresusedinsociety.
Civilengineeringdoesnotonlyimpactsocietythroughhelpingconstructhomes,italso
helpstocreateanewfutureforpotentialemployees.Withtechnologyontherise,thepeoplewho
buildthesestructuresalsofindnewwaystofinishthejobmoreefficientlyandfaster.This
technologyhashelpedengineerslikesoilexpertstohaveamoreefficientjob.Sincethe
September11thterroristattacks,thegovernmenthastriedtogivemoremoneyandtechnologyto
civilengineeringsothatbuildingnewbuildingswillcomewithmoreimprovementsthan
struggles.Soilexpertshavegottennewtoolssotheycangettheirjobsdonefaster.Soilexperts
previouslyhadtomanuallydigdownandtestthesoilbygettingasamplenowthesesoilexperts
havetoolssotheycanseehowfardowntheyneedtodigtohavesupportivesoilbeforebreaking
throughtheearth.Thenewtoolsalsoshowthemthewheretheyneedtodigsotheywasteno
time(Stewart).Advancementsintechnologyhavepavedthewayforabrighter,moresuccessful
futureinthecivilengineeringfield.

Carlson12

Civilengineeringhelpspeopleintheirdaytodaylives.Havingajobthatactuallymatter
andaffectspeoplelifemakecivilengineersfeellikethereimportantinhowamericagrows.Civil
engineershaveadifficultjobsduetoallthemaththeyhavetoconcludebeforeworkingona
project.Ifyoucanmakeitthrewallthelongworkdaysasacivilengineeryouwillbecome
successfulinthefield.Civilengineeringshouldcontinuetohavetheneedformoreandmore
civilengineerseachyear.Civilengineershavehardworkbutitsallworthitwhentheyhave
finishedtheirprojectandfeelcompleted.

Carlson13

WorksCited
Alan,Wood."UserfriendlyAccesswaysdowntoGoodTransportEngineering."ThePress.
EBSCOhost,5Mar.2013.Web.5January.2015.
Canipe,Steve."CivilEngineeringandtheScienceofStructures."EBSCOhost,September.2013
Web.3January2015.
Flinchbaugh,Jamie."Redirecting."Redirecting.N.p.,n.d.Web.03Feb.2015.
Madan,Alok."StructuralControlofBuildingFramesSubjectedtoEarthquakeinduced
ExcitationsUsingShapeMemoryAlloys."EBSCOhost,25November.2014.Web.4
January.2015

Stewart,Libby."Redirecting."Redirecting.N.p.,15May2014.Web.03February.2015.

"StructuralEngineerCareerInfo."EducationPortal.EducationPortal,n.d.Web.18February.
2015.

"WhatIsCivilEngineering?"WhatIsCivilEngineering?CivilEngineeringinCanada,n.d.
Web.19February.2015.
BillGroesbeck.onlineinterview.thur.26february.2015.