Unit – 2
Understanding the importance of Civil Engineering in shaping and impacting the world
Q1) What is the importance of civil engineering in shaping and impacting the world?
A1)
Shaping the World uses the knowledge and experience of civil engineers to help find solutions to some of the world's most pressing problems. These global challenges range from population pressures and growing urbanisation, climate change effects, energy and water shortages, to natural and human disasters.
Civil engineers design, construct, supervise, operate, and maintain large construction projects and systems, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment.
Civil engineers design, build, and maintain the foundation for our modern society – our roads and bridges, drinking water and energy systems, sea ports and airports, and the infrastructure for a cleaner environment, to name just a few. Civil engineering touches us throughout our day.
Q2) How does civil engineering helps the environment?
A2)
They design complex treatment systems that remove contaminants from our air, water, and wastewater. Environmental engineers also examine the quality of our soil.
They help plan dams and levees to regulate water flow through the area. They even coordinate the placement and the design of landfills and quarries to minimize environmental impact on surrounding homes and businesses. Transportation civil engineers help us all move around our communities and our country.
Transportation civil engineers help us all move around our communities and our country. They work with local and regional planning boards to identify areas of growth and development. They also look for opportunities to alleviate traffic snarls. Once they understand the needs of drivers in a region, they design plans and develop cost estimates for construction projects. Once a new plan has been funded, transportation engineers oversee a variety of subcontractors who build new roads, highways, and bridges. Once the building has been completed, transportation engineers assure citizens that roads are properly maintained and repaired as necessary. Throughout the process of serving the public, transportation engineers must comply with a myriad of local and federal policies for safe construction and maintenance.
Q3) What are career opportunities in Civil Engineering?
A3)
Civil engineers are employed by various organizations, including consulting/design firms, construction firms, local, state or federal government, laboratories or research/development firms, law firms, insurance firms, and colleges/universities. Below is a description of the various areas of specialization for civil engineers:
Structural civil engineers work with architects and builders to assure that steel and other material used in construction projects exceeds the needs of a given project. With advances in technology and an abundance of creative new building materials, structural civil engineers work on a wider variety of projects than ever before. For example, structural engineers work with entertainment companies to design state of the art amusement park rides that hurl patrons through twists and turns at otherwise unsafe speeds. Structural engineers work in the petroleum industry, developing innovative new offshore oil rigs in locations that were previously considered unstable.
Geotechnical civil engineers help builders excavate underground projects and work with experts who manage challenging land renewal projects. When cities want to expand their underground mass transit systems, the call in geo-technical engineers to oversee the tunneling As more developers erect skyscrapers and other large buildings in urban centres, geo-technical engineers assure that the bedrock can safely sustain the pressure of new structures and the people they will support. Outdoors, geo-technical civil engineers work with emergency management planners to reinforce the banks of flood-prone rivers near new housing developments.
Transportation civil engineers help us all move around our communities and our country. They work with local and regional planning boards to identify areas of growth and development. They also look for opportunities to alleviate traffic snarls. Once they understand the needs of drivers in a region, they design plans and develop cost estimates for construction projects. Once a new plan has been funded, transportation engineers oversee a variety of subcontractors who build new roads, highways, and bridges. Once the building has been completed, transportation engineers assure citizens that roads are properly maintained and repaired as necessary.
Q4. Explain how civil engineer can save the World through Resilience Planning?
A4)
1. Adapting to the “New Normal” With Climate-Resilient Design
The Fourth National Climate Assessment, released in November 2018, reports that average global temperatures will rise by up to 9 degrees by the end of this century. The report cites existing and projected hazards—for example, higher flood risk from heavy rainfall in Louisiana and water scarcity from drought in the Colorado River basin. The structural and human toll of these outcomes will depend, in large part, on the international community’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
2 .For Emergencies, Better Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation
The September 11 terrorist attacks—and more recently, the November 2015 Paris attacks and 2019 Sri Lanka bombings—have cast in tragically human terms infrastructure’s susceptibility to harmful intentions of bad actors. Kent Yu, the chair of ASCE’s Infrastructure Resilience Division, says the organization’s 2018 Policy Statement 499 provides a framework for civil engineers to support emergency response and recovery activities. The policy also supports investigating effects of natural and man-madehazards on infrastructure and improving new and aging infrastructure’s ability to “withstand and recover rapidly from disruption.”
3. Safer Transportation Using Cybernetics
As automakers and tech companies have poured money into autonomous vehicles, policy makers and civil engineers have been called upon to create connected roadways offering improved public safety and less congestion.
Yinhai Wang, a transportation engineering professor and the founding director of the Smart Transportation Applications and Research Laboratory (STAR Lab) at the University of Washington, says cybernetics—the science of connected, networked systems built to achieve collective goals and improve efficiency—has drawn attention from state and local transportation authorities.
Q5) Five Important Environmental Considerations for Civil Engineers?
A5)
Buildings have a big impact on climate change
Our buildings take up more than 40% of our global energy usage and contribute a third of our greenhouse gas emissions. This is true both for developed and developing regions of the world.
Most of these emissions come from the ongoing energy consumption in the buildings – electricity, lighting, heating and cooling. However, some non-CO2 emissions come from buildings too, like halocarbons. In the past, most emissions came from developed countries, but developing countries are catching up fast and it’s expected that emissions from buildings in newly-emerging countries will soon outstrip those from developed nations.
Civil engineering can play a huge role in combating climate change
The civil engineering and building sector are in a position to deliver significant, long-term reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Civil engineering companies like Lagan Construction Group are leading the way by using new technologies and techniques in their projects. These innovative new methods can reduce the ongoing energy consumption in buildings by up to 80% and the good news is that these methods can be used both in developed and developing countries.
Buildings are built to last
Once a building is up, the plan is for it to stay there for a while! This means that methods and techniques used in its construction will carry on paying environmental dividends for at least decades to come.
More than 80% of a building’s greenhouse emissions come from the phase when it’s in use – a busy office, a happy family home; the remainder of the emissions are created when it’s being built, renovated and then when it’s being demolished. By targeting the so-called operational phase, the time when the lights and the air-con are on, great reductions in CO2 can be achieved.
Older buildings still in their operational phase can be retrofitted, and new buildings can be made with environmental considerations. This is especially important in developing economies, as these areas will be building more structures than ever before.
Governments can help too
Governments have a role to play in making sure new buildings look to the future. They have to make the building and civil engineering sectors a priority in their climate change strategies and plans.
Each countries government can help its building sector by introducing credible, achievable and measurable energy performance standards and targets. There should also be training provided so that there are technicians and assessors who can assess the energy performance of buildings and make sure all available technologies and methods are used. Education is also key, with all parts of the building sector becoming engaged and motivated to reach emissions targets.
It’s good for the economy
If emissions from buildings are reduced then it’s good for the economy and the people in it. Globally, the building, renovation and maintenance of buildings – commercial and domestic – is around 25% of a country’s GDP and employs around 10% of the populace. By introducing extra measures to make buildings greener, there’s huge potential for new employment and new businesses to serve these drives and development goals.
Q6) How could civil engineers solve environmental problem?
A6)
Civil engineers create the structures, ranging from bridges and roads to airports and water treatment facilities, that society uses on a daily basis for living, working and transportation. Environmental engineers develop technology and processes to solve problems in the natural environment.
Engineers design and develop technology that affects the world around them. Two types of engineers, in particular, make a major impact on the world. Civil engineers create the structures, ranging from bridges and roads to airports and water treatment facilities ,that society uses on a daily basis for living, working and transportation. Environmental engineers develop technology and processes to solve problems in the natural environment. Both careers can be rewarding in many ways, and there is certainly overlap between the two disciplines. The benefits of choosing a civil engineering degree instead of an environmental engineering degree include having a more versatile education and broader set of career opportunities and seeing more rapid job growth.
Q7) What are the Civil Engineer’s Responsibilities?
A7)
Q8) What is requirement for civil engineers?
A8)
Q9) Describe some Ancient Eastern Engineering Marvels?
A9)
1. The Great Wall of China
Let’s start the list off with a creation that is touted as the longest man-made building in the world. Even though the official number when it comes to its length is set at 5500 miles, its original length is estimated at a whopping 13,170 miles.
It has been found that The Great Wall of China was not just built under one dynasty, but at least four different dynasties during the 7th and 8th century BC. This is to be expected as its construction lasted for at least 2500 years.
The wall was commissioned by the Emperor Qin Shi Huang who wanted to protect China from outside forces.
2. The Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Russia
Built in 16th century Moscow, the Saint Basil’s Cathedral is one among the most recognizable man-made building of the world. It is also among the list of world heritage sites by the UNESCO.
The Cathedral was built by Ivan the Terrible who had sanctioned it in the year 1554. The purpose of the cathedral was to showcase the military prowess that Ivan had over Russia during his reign.
3. The Taj Mahal, India
Taj Mahal is one among the seven man-made wonders of the world and is something of sheer beauty made in lustrous white marble. The structure was built between the years 1631 and 1648 and was ordered as a memorial by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to his late wife Mumtaz.
The Taj Mahal closely follows Islamic architecture melded with Persian and Indian design language. It is situated in Agra, India.
4. Horyuji Temple, Japan
Meet the world’s oldest wooden temple, the Horyuji Temple situated in the Japanese city of Nara. The temple was first constructed in 600 AD.
However, due to a fire breakout, some parts of it were destroyed. The damaged parts of the temple were reconstructed during the time 700 – 800 AD.
The Horyuji Temple is a Buddhist temple that perfectly encapsulates Japanese Architecture. After viewing the Horyuji temple, you’ll realize that most of the other Japanese structures including homes follow the same design language.
Q10) Spectacular Projects in India that are nothing short of Engineering Marvels
A10)
1. Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel, Jammu & Kashmir
The 11 km long tunnel across the treacherous Pir Panjal mountain range on the Banihal-Qazigund railway line in Jammu and Kashmir, is the longest such transportation passage in India and second longest in Asia.
2. Pamban Bridge, Tamil Nadu
You can never forget a train journey on the Pamban bridge, connecting Rameswaram island to the mainland India. With 143 piers, spanning 2 km, it is the second longest sea bridge in India.
3. Panval Nadi Viaduct, Ratnagiri
This 424 m long superstructure, built on the Panval river in Ratnagiri is the third highest viaduct in Asia. You get to see this engineering marvel while travelling with the Konkan Railways.
4. Bandra-Worli Sea Link, Mumbai
This eight-lane bridge constructed in Arabian Sea joins the two suburbs of Mumbai, Bandra and Worli. It is gigantic. It is majestic. It is an engineering marvel and an architectural wonder too. It is for the first time that cable-stay bridges have been attempted on open seas in India.
