Introduction | Career Opportunities | Illustrative Example

Introduction
Civil engineers design and build many of the things that we use every day. Civil engineers work in the following fields: structures, transport, energy and water.

Many civil engineers work in the building industry together with architects, surveyors and building services engineers when designing structures and foundations for large buildings.

Civil engineers design transport systems: they build roads, stations and airports. They also design systems for controlling traffic to ensure effective and safe use of the road system and aim to reduce the impact of roads and traffic on the environment.

Civil engineers design and construct all types of power stations and hydroelectric projects. Civil engineers are also involved in the research that is taking place into the harnessing of renewable sources of energy such as geothermal and wave power.

Civil engineers design dams to create water storage reservoirs. Hydropower is used to generate electricity or the water may be diverted through tunnels, canals and pipelines to provide irrigation for the land, to transport water to cities, supply safe drinking water to home and industry after it has been treated. Engineers also provide the systems for the collection and treatment of sewage so that it can be returned to the environment without causing pollution.

Civil engineers need to be able to be good at maths, be able to communicate their ideas to people and be able to design. They need to be able to think in 3D.

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