Aryabhatta Knowledge University (AKU)

Civil Engineering

Introduction to Civil Engineering

Solved Exam Paper 2019

Q.  What is Civil Engineering? Discuss various civil engineering infrastructures required

Answer:

Civil engineering is arguably the oldest engineering discipline. It deals with the built environment and can be dated to the first time someone placed a roof over his or her head or laid a tree trunk across a river to make it easier to get across.

The built environment encompasses much of what defines modern civilization. Buildings and bridges are often the first constructions that come to mind, as they are the most conspicuous creations of structural engineering, one of civil engineering's major sub-disciplines. Roads, railroads, subway systems, and airports are designed by transportation engineers, another category of civil engineering. And then there are the less visible creations of civil engineers. Every time you open a water faucet, you expect water to come out, without thinking that civil engineers made it possible. New York City has one of the world’s most impressive water supply systems, receiving billions of gallons of high-quality water from the Catskills over one hundred miles away. Similarly, not many people seem to worry about what happens to the water after it has served its purposes. The old civil engineering discipline of sanitary engineering has evolved into modern environmental engineering of such significance that most academic departments have changed their names to civil and environmental engineering.

Civil infrastructure systems involve the design, analysis, and management of infrastructure supporting human activities, including, for example, electric power, oil and gas, water and wastewater, communications, transportation, and the collections of buildings that make up urban and rural communities. These networks deliver essential services, provide shelter, and support social interactions and economic development. They are society’s lifelines.

a) Economic infrastructure:

It contributes directly to the economic development of any country. It consists of transport and communication, power supply, irrigation networks, financial institutions etc.

b) Social infrastructure:

It contributes to the process of economic development of any country indirectly. It consists of education & training, health & family welfare, housing & water supply and other civic amenities.

Q.  Explain the terms Planning Scheduling and Management as applied to project management, emphasizing their importance

Answer:

Planning and scheduling are distinct but inseparable aspects of managing the successful project. The process of planning primarily deals with selecting the appropriate policies and procedures in order to achieve the objectives of the project. Scheduling converts the project action plans for scope, time cost and quality into an operating timetable. The translating of the project criteria for scope, time, cost, and quality and the requirements for human resources, communications, risk and procurement into workable “machinery” for the project team a critical interface juncture for the project team. Taken together with the project plan and budget, the schedule becomes the major tool for the management of projects. In addition, the integrated cost-time schedule serves as the fundamental basis for monitoring and controlling project activity throughout its life cycle.

This basic level paper addresses the integrated processes of planning and scheduling of multifaceted/multidisciplinary programs. The paper presents a working level summary of the major Project Management topics involved in the planning process. The paper also details a systematic process for transforming the Project Plan into the Schedule and the use of the Project Schedule as a model for project control. Intended for the project management novice, the paper concludes with a suggested professional development scheme.

Scheduling in project management is the listing of activities, deliverables, and milestones within a project. A schedule also usually includes the planned start and finish date, duration, and resources assigned to each activity. Effective project scheduling is a critical component of successful time management.

In fact, when people discuss the processes for building a schedule, they are usually referring to the first six processes of time management:

1. Plan schedule management.
2. Define project activities.
3. Sequence activities.
4. Estimate resources.
5. Estimate durations.
6. Develop the project schedule.

Importance

●       Assists with tracking, reporting on, and communicating progress.

●       Ensures everyone is on the same page as far as tasks, dependencies, and deadlines.

●       Helps highlight issues and concerns, such as a lack of resources.

●       Helps identify task relationships.

●       Can be used to monitor progress and identify issues early.

Q. Briefly explain the principles of building planning

Answer:

1. Aspects:

The aspect of the house should be such that it enables the family members to live comfortably. Aspect is concerned with the orientation of the building. The arrangement of the doors and windows in the outside walls of the house should be in such a way that plenty of sunrays, breeze can enter into the house. All the rooms should be well ventilated and well lighted by the proper placement of doors and windows. Aspects of a building provide comfort, hygiene and pleasant views.

2. Prospect:

Prospect is the view from outside of a house. The house should have a proper prospect so that it can give a feeling of cheerfulness to the people living in it. It should create a good impression on a person who views it from outside. Prospect should reveal pleasant features and hide unpleasant and undesirable features of the house.

The house not only looks attractive from outside, but it must also possess good qualities like comfort, cheerfulness, security, labor saving and modern outlook. For e.g. Small Projections or bay window can have a good out-look as well as helps in providing breeze, light and sunlight to the room.

3. Privacy:

It is an important principle while planning a residential building.

4. Grouping:

It means the rooms must be arranged in relation to one another. Different activity areas should be separated. The public or common rooms such as drawing room, living room, family room and dining room should be grouped together. The bedroom, study room, dressing room and bathroom should be separated from public areas by a central hall or passage. Dining room should be close to the kitchen. The drawing room should not be near the kitchen. The bathrooms should be accessible to all rooms. Children’s room should be near the parent’s room.

5. Roominess:

The roominess could be produced in a house by using small proportions. An impression of spaciousness can be created even if the house is small. A square room may look smaller than a rectangular room of the same square meter area because of the change in proportion. The cupboards and shelves should be fixed in such a way as to make the best use of space available.

The built-in wall cupboards, show cases, shelves help in avoiding overcrowding of floor area. The space under the windowsill can be used for storage purposes. Wall cabinets in the kitchen provide enough storage space. The kitchen garden and the verandah should be so located that together they provide continuity of space.

6. Sanitation:

The health of the family members depends upon the sanitary condition of the house. Provision should be made for proper lighting, ventilation, cleanliness and other sanitary conveniences in the house. All the rooms should be well lighted and well ventilated. There should be windows on the opposite wall of the room to have cross ventilation. Instead of one window, there should be two to three windows in different walls of the room so that all the rooms can get enough light and air.

7.     Flexibility:

It means that the room can have multi-purpose use. When there is a shortage of space, flexibility of room becomes important. For e.g. a living room can be converted to a bedroom at night. Kitchen should serve both the purposes of cooking and dining

. Bedrooms can be used as study rooms. Flexibility is important for those who live in flats.

8. Communication:

Easy communication between rooms is one of the most important principles in residential house. This can be possible by the proper placement of doors, halls and staircases. The doors should be placed in such a way that we can move without crossing the center of the room. The passage in the room should not interfere with the furniture arrangement.

A straight, short and separate passage is very important for privacy of every room. It helps in avoiding disturbances in doing work. Easy communication or circulation helps in reducing the movements of the members doing household activities.

9. Practical Consideration:

Practical consideration plays an important role while constructing a house. The ease of cleaning and maintenance should be kept in mind while finishes are decided for floors and walls. Smooth and unbroken surfaces can be cleaned easily than the decorative pieces. The immediate surroundings of the house should be carefully considered. These are garden, courtyard or backyard. The garden around the house is important to beautify the house. The kitchen garden at the back of the house can be planned which can yield home grown vegetables and fruits.

Q.  What is super structure? Distinguish between load bearing and framed structure

Answer:

The superstructure of a building is where people will spend most of their time.  This area includes the first and second floors inside a home and any number of floors in larger buildings.  The superstructure includes beams, columns, finishes, windows, doors, the roof, floors, and anything else.

The parts of the superstructure are much lengthier than the parts of the substructure.  This shouldn’t be surprising since the superstructure is much larger than the substructure.

Parts of the Superstructure

●       The Floor

The floors of the superstructure are what separates the different levels of a building.  Of course, it is also the area where you walk around, place furniture on, and store numerous items.

●       The Roof

A roof is necessary on every building, because it keeps the floors, and the rest of the superstructure, out of the elements.  There is not a one roof fits all solution when it comes to roofing options, so depending on where you are constructing a building, you can choose from different types of roofs.  Flat roofs are often used within the plains, while sloped roofs are best near the mountains or where there is a lot of snow.

●       The Lintel

The lintel is the area over any doors and windows, and it is there to support the wall over the larger openings.  A lintel beam is normally made from reinforced cement concrete, but it can also be made from concrete and bricks.  The width of the lintel is usually the same as the width of the wall.  When it comes to the thickness though, the lintel should never be thinner than four and a half inches.  However, it should also never be thicker that its width.

●       The Parapet

The external walls that extend past the roof slab are called parapets.  The purpose of this part of the superstructure is to keep water from pouring over to the entrance of the building, while also offering a safe spot for those who are up on the roof.

The Sun Shade

The sunshade is put in place with the lintel and it protects both doors and windows from the sun and the rain.

●       The Beams

Beams are horizontal elements that withstands all vertical loads.  All the weight from those vertical loads are supported at the endpoints of the beams and that weight is then transferred to the columns or the beam supports.

●       The Columns

Columns are vertical structures that can hold a lot of weight.  Any columns that are not put in place properly will collapse once additional weight is put on top of them.  Of course, all that weight goes from the columns down to the foundation.

●       The Walls

Without walls inside a building or a home, we would all have large wide-open spaces.  However, since none of us want our bedroom right next to the kitchen, walls are always installed to enclose specific areas of buildings.  Most walls are made from concrete or masonry and they hold the weight from the roof, slabs, and even the beams.

●       The Doors, Windows, and Other Openings

All the doors, windows, and other openings in a house or building are also considered part of the superstructure.  The number of doors, windows, and other openings will be dependent on how large the building or house is.

Stairs, Ramps, Lifts, and Other Vertical Transportation Structures

All those vertical transportation structures that you see in buildings and homes are part of the superstructure.  While stairs and ramps are often the only things seen in homes, buildings will also usually have escalators and elevators.

●       All the Finishing Touches

Most people forget that all the finishing touches inside a building or a home are part of the superstructure.  This includes trim, flooring materials, curtains, blinds, and even the heating and cooling units.

●       Load Bearing Structure

a)     Load bearing walls are taken deep into the subsoil foundation.

b)    Any load bearing wall should have minimum thickness of 200 mm.

c)     Wall are usually constructed of bricks or stone

d)    In a multistoried building for every wall in the floor above there must be a corresponding wall in continuation in the floor below to support it.

e)     In a multi – storeyed building the thickness of the wall increase as we descend from a floor above to one below it.

f)       A load bearing wall once constructed shall remain in position and should never be dismantled in full or part.

g)    This type of construction does not favor too many openings for windows, doors, ventilation etc., in the ground floor as required for show room etc., as the load bearing length of wall is considerably reduced.

●       Frame Structure

a)     Only column is taken deep into subsoil and provided with foundation footing.

b)    Exterior wall subjected to weathering elements are generally 200 mm thick. All other wall can be 100 mm thick or even thinner.

c)     Column supporting beam supporting slab are all of R.C. C.

d)    There is no such necessity. As none of the walls are load bearing. Every floor may have wall independent of the one below it.

e)     These walls do not take the load and need not be thicker. They may not even continue in the floor below.

f)       The wall of framed structure can be displaced at will as they are lighter and non-load bearing.

g)    The space between column can remains as open space as the case with multi – stored residential flats where the ground floor is left with no walls for easy parking of vehicle.

h)     Thickness of wall remains uniform, therefore the carpet area in any floor remains the same.

Q. Explain the following materials and list their various uses in building construction:

Answer:

a)     Pain concrete

Plain concrete, also known as plain cement concrete or PCC, is most used for paving and flooring. Made from a mix of cement, aggregate, and water the different types of aggregate and ratio of materials used will give different types of cement with slightly different properties. This is one of the main selling points of ready-mix concrete as the exact values and types of aggregate can be measured and monitored precisely to provide the qualities that are needed without any variance. The automated manufacturing process limits the potential of human error while saving time and resources.

While there are differences in the composition of the concrete most plain concrete shares the same strengths and weaknesses. It is incredibly strong under compression whilst weak under tension, this means that when on a solid, unmoving surface it is capable of withstanding huge amounts of weight. However, when placed under tension it is much weaker and can often crack and buckle. This makes it the perfect material for ground floor layers and providing a stable and even base for reinforced concrete to be built onto while limiting its use in larger construction projects.

b)    Reinforced cement concrete

Reinforced concrete, or reinforced cement concrete (RCC), is actually very similar to PCC in terms of materials used. The one big difference in its composition is the addition of steel rebar. By casting the wet cement around reinforcing steel bars, the resultant composite material has much more strength under tension while still keeping the properties that make PCC so effective.

With the concrete maintaining its strength under compression and the steel resisting any bending or stretching thanks to its tensile strength the RCC is a much more versatile construction material.

Able to stand up to weight pushing down onto it as well as any wind pressure or shifting that results in slight twists and strains thanks to the increased flexural capacity of the concrete/steel mix, it is the ideal material for taller and heavier buildings and for roads and bridges.

Steel is the most common material used for the creation of rebar as it reacts to very similar variances in temperature as concrete, meaning it will expand and contract with the concrete rather than cracking it from the inside

c)     Prestressed concrete

Prestressed concrete is a system into which internal stresses are deliberately induced without any form of external loads to improve its performance. The internal stresses induced in the concrete structure is used to counteract the stresses coming from the external load application.

As mentioned before, prestressing is the application of an initial load on the concrete structure, so that the structure is able to counteract or withstand the stresses coming due to the service loads. The concept can be clearly understood by the example of a barrel.

A barrel used in olden periods to transports liquids and grains are tightly bound by metal bands as shown in figure 1. These metal bands are fitted so tightly that it creates a hoop compression around the barrel. When this barrel is filled with liquid, it exerts hoop tension.

The hoop compression that is created by the metal bands helps to counteract the hoop tension created by the fluid within. This is a prestressing system.

d)    Precast concrete

Precast concrete is simply concrete that is cast somewhere other than where it will be used. Most precast products are cast in a factory using a wet-cast method, but others are cast on site—such as tilt-up panels. There are lots of reasons—mostly advantages—why one would precast, and we'll get into those, but the biggest negative of precasting is that the resultant concrete item must be moved. Concrete is heavy—typically about 150 pounds per cubic foot—so concrete elements don't have to be very big before moving them becomes unrealistic.

Some decorative contractors, such as those that precast concrete countertops, stretch the boundaries on what's too big or heavy to move, developing special rigs to transport massive pieces of their concrete work. Other times, it's just simpler to cast the concrete in place as the precast advantages are outweighed by convenience, such as with concrete slabs and floors.

Q. Explain the properties and uses of different types of steel

Answer:

1. Light Gauge Steel

Made from thin sheets based on specific standards.

Easily workable to make a steel frame system with cold deformed steel (Steel shaped by a cold working process).

Light gauge steel joists and studs are readily available in shops.

It is flexible and safe.

One of the different types of steel used in construction which is popular in flooring.

2. Structural Steel

Structural Steel is yet another one of the popular types of steel used in construction which is used mainly to give a base or structure to the building. This is one of the popular types of steel available.

Used for developing the structure

Available in different specifications & shapes like – T shaped, Channel Sections, I-beam, Plate type, bar or rod-type, etc.

Corrosion check (When iron oxides to form rust).

3. Mild Steel

Plain carbon steel.

Known for its strength.

The most used steel for construction.

Used for both conventional and modern bolted pre-engineered buildings.

4. Rebar Steel

Reinforcing steel, reinforces the structure affixing well with concrete.

Also used in the form of a mesh of steel wires for building purposes.

Hot-rolled round carbon steel bars are mainly used.

Improves tensile strength.

It can be manufactured to very long lengths.

Types of Steel Gradation

Based on the physical properties and their composition, the four types of steel gradation are –

Stainless steel (Steel in combination with chromium)

Carbon steel (A combo of iron and carbon)

Alloy steel (Carbon steel along with various other alloying elements)

Tool steel (Carbon alloy steel well suited to manufacture tools).

Q.  What are the factors to be considered while selecting a site for a building?

Answer:

Natural defects of a site will involve considerable expenditure on construction and maintenance of the building. While unsatisfactory conditions about locality will cause unhappy living conditions on one hand and possible deterioration of the value of property on the other.

Therefore, the following general factors should be considered while selecting a site for building construction.

1. PURPOSE OF BUILDING

This is the most important factor to consider before purchasing or selecting a site for residential purpose. The site should be selected keeping in view the general scope or the purpose of building and based on extent or privacy required.

2. FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD

The site should be situated in locality, which is already fully developed, or which is fast developing. To secure happy living conditions, generally such neighborhood is preferred where the neighbors belong to an equal status in society and who should be social and friendly.

3. AVAILABLE FACILITIES

The plot should be in a locality where the various facilities as mentioned below are available.

Community services such as police and fire protection, clearing of waste and street cleaning

Utility services such as water supply, gas, electricity, and drainage

Amenities such as schools, hospitals, libraries, recreation, telephone, etc.

Shopping facilities

Means of transportation

4. GOVERNMENT LAWS

A site which comes within the limits of an area where the by-laws of the local authority enforce restrictions regarding proportions of plots to be built up, vacant spaces to be left in front and sides, heights of buildings, etc., should be preferred.

5. SHAPE & SIZE

Area of the plot of land should be such that the house constructed, keeping in view the restrictions of the local authority, would meet the requirements of the owner, preferably with possibilities of future extensions. The site should not be irregular in shape or having any sharp corners.

6. TERRAIN CONDITION

The site should be situated on an elevated place and also leveled with uniform slopes from one end to the other so as to provide good and quick drainage of rainwater.

7. TYPE OF GROUND SOIL

The ground soil of the site should be good enough to provide economical foundations for the intended building without causing and problems. Generally, for most satisfactory constructions, the site should have rock, sand or dense soil below 60 to 120 cm layer of light soil or even black cotton soil.

8. NATURAL LIGHT & AIR

The location of the site should be such as to ensure unobstructed natural light and air.

9. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION

The site should be available in a locality where natural beauty and man-made environment create healthy living and working conditions. Environment also affected by nearest factories, kiln etc.: so, these things also need to be considered.

10. LEGAL & FINANCIAL ASPECTS

The legal and financial aspects, which dictate upon ownership rights and the costs, should be given due consideration before the purchase of a plot.

11. OTHER FACTORS

A site should be abandoned under adverse circumstances such as unhealthy, noisy or crowded localities; immediate neighborhood or rivers carrying heavy floods, badly maintained drains; reclaimed soils or waterlogged areas, subject to submergence or settlement and; industrial vicinity having smoke and obnoxious odors.

Q.  What are the open space requirements as per National Building Code?

Answer:

●      Every room, habited by people, should open into an exterior or interior open space or verandah.

●      Open spaces should be counted in the FAR, as per the master plan.

●      These areas should be free of erections of any kind, except cornice, chajja or weather shade that is not more than 0.75 meters wide.

●      Every interior or exterior or air space should be maintained for the benefit of such building exclusively and shall be entirely within the owner’s own premises.

●      To ensure that all buildings follow a uniform safety code, the government has made it mandatory for all developers to follow building byelaws. As per these byelaws, every high-rise building must have a demarcated space, where people can take shelter in case of an emergency. This space is known as a ‘refuge area’.

Q.  Write short notes on the following:

Answer:

(a)  Total Station

A total station is an optical instrument commonly used in construction, surveying and civil engineering. It is useful for measuring horizontal angles, vertical angles and distance — it does this by analyzing the slope between itself and a specific point.

A high-quality total station combines surveying, imaging and high-speed 3D scanning into one precise and reliable instrument. It blends the latest field technologies with advanced technical features to create a tool that is trusty and dependable in demanding field situations while producing accurate results for analysis and engineering.

Total stations often contain a few different components:

●       Electronic transit theodolite

●       Electronic distance meter (EDM)

●       Microprocessor

●       Electronic data collector and storage system

Accuracy: How accurate is a total station? Total stations are highly accurate — to a fraction of an arc second as well as measure distances to hundredths of a foot over thousands of feet.

Ease of use: Total stations are easy and intuitive to use. They can take simultaneous distance and horizontal measurements, and they make it easy to calculate coordinates. So, operators can spend more of their time and energy on critical engineering and analytical problems that demand their attention.

Speed: Total stations collect information quickly, so operators can get in and out of the field efficiently.

Convenience: Total stations offer quick and convenient setup. With a total station, an operator can take multiple surveys from one location.

Effortless CAD interface: It’s easy to download survey data to a computer-assisted drawing (CAD) program to avoid time-consuming data manipulation.

Ii) Global Positioning System

Stands for "Global Positioning System." GPS is a satellite navigation system used to determine the ground position of an object. GPS technology was first used by the United States military in the 1960s and expanded into civilian use over the next few decades. Today, GPS receivers are included in many commercial products, such as automobiles, smartphones, exercise watches, and GIS devices.

The GPS system includes 24 satellites deployed in space about 12,000 miles (19,300 kilometers) above the earth's surface. They orbit the earth once every 12 hours at an extremely fast pace of roughly 7,000 miles per hour (11,200 kilometers per hour). The satellites are evenly spread out so that four satellites are accessible via direct line-of-sight from anywhere on the globe.

Each GPS satellite broadcasts a message that includes the satellite's current position, orbit, and exact time. A GPS receiver combines the broadcasts from multiple satellites to calculate its exact position using a process called triangulation. Three satellites are required in order to determine a receiver's location, though a connection to four satellites is ideal since it provides greater accuracy.

Q. What is a mass transportation system?

Answer:

Mass transportation is any kind of transportation system in which large numbers of people are carried within a single vehicle or combination of vehicles. Airplanes, railways, buses, trolleys, light rail systems, and subways are examples of mass transportation systems. The term mass transit is commonly used as a synonym for mass transportation.

In many parts of the world, mass transit systems are an important component of a nation's transportation system. Where people are too poor to buy automobiles, they depend on bicycles or animals or mass transit systems such as bus lines to travel within a city and from city to city. During the twentieth century, however, the role of mass transit systems in developed nations such as the United States has declined dramatically. The primary means of transportation has become the private automobile, which typically carries only one or two passengers at a time.

Q.  What is hydrology? What are its applications?

Answer:

Water is an essential resource that is required by all life on Earth.  Studying the movement, availability, and quality of water are the jobs of a hydrologist.  More specifically hydrologists study the chemical properties, biological interactions, and the physical processes that govern the water cycle.

The water cycle or hydrologic cycle is a process by which water is continuously cycled around the earth.  This happens through different pathways and at different rates but the central concepts remain the same.   Water evaporates from the ocean, condenses as clouds, moves over land, and precipitates.  From there it can enter groundwater, evaporate again, or enter a stream or lake.  It will eventually find its way back to the ocean either by falling as precipitation, flowing with a river, or by moving ever so slowly with groundwater.  The hydrologic cycle is also a process that transfers heat energy.  Heat is transported pole ward by water being evaporated and then condensing which releases heat.  Without the water cycle the climate would be much more frigid and areas away from the equator would be much less habitable.

Q.  Which are the various aids and devices used to control, regulate and guide traffic in the cities?

Answer:

●       Arrow boards are portable, illuminated, high-visibility panels that are used to alert motorists of an approaching lane closure and to specify the direction in which to merge.

●       Traffic cones are channelizing devices shaped like cones, thus the name. They are made from bright orange flexible materials, not less than 18 inches (0.46 m) in height. Cones used at night must have bands of reflective material near the top. These are used to close a area or divide traffic lanes temporarily.

●       Tubular markers are cylindrical in shape. They are also orange, with bands of reflective material near the top. They must be at least 18 inches (0.46 m) in height and 2 inches (51 mm) in body diameter. Tubular markers are made of flexible plastic and have a wider base that is glued or screwed to the pavement. They are used in a similar way as cones.

●       Vertical panels are reflective traffic control devices which measure at least 8 inches (200 mm) wide and 24 inches (610 mm) high. They are bright orange with diagonal white stripes. These panels are used to guide vehicle traffic. They can be more conspicuous than cones or tubular markers when viewed head-on but are very thin and hard to see from the side.

●       Construction barrels or drums are cylindrical devices that are used when conspicuity is vital. These devices are made with industrial-grade orange plastic and covered with alternating orange and white retro reflective stripes. These drums are usually ballasted with a heavy rubber base or a sandbag in the bottom for added stability.

●       Barricades are channelizing devices used to redirect traffic on high-speed roads and expressways. There are different types of barricades depending on its size, design and applications. Barricades may be a fixed or portable traffic control device. Barricades are also used to close roads and/or sidewalks.

●       Temporary raised islands are pavements that are usually 4 inches (100 mm) in height and 18 inches (460 mm) wide that are used for temporary traffic control applications. This device follows the standard design set by the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide.

●       Jersey barriers are installed to provide added protection of the work zone from adjacent traffic and vice versa.

Q.  List down the basic software applications used in Civil Engineering Also compare the benefit of cache

Answer:

1. AutoCad Civil 3D

AutoCAD Civil 3DEasily the most used program in the industry, Civil 3D is a civil engineering drafting software with a multitude of design, analysis and simulation tools for civil engineering design. If we’re talking high level, we use CAD to create sets of plans known as construction documentation. From polylines to feature lines, pipe networks to profiles, Civil 3D’s range of tools will allow you to create innovative and detailed designs.

2. HEC-HMS

Considered a standard for hydrologic simulation, The Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) is designed to simulate the hydrologic process of watershed systems and provides you with nearly all the drainage values you could need. In the program, you describe the physical properties of a watershed and the meteorology that act on the watershed during a defined time span of simulation. The simulation results are easy to understand. Summary tables for each element are provided including peak flow, total volume, depth and storage values in reservoirs and ponds, and more.

3. HEC-RAS

In addition to HEC-HMS, the Hydrologic Engineering Center of the US Army Corps of Engineers has also created the River Analysis System (HEC-RAS). This program models the hydraulics of water flow through rivers and channels of many cross sections. This program will help you determine if water can travel through specific structures (channel, stream, bridge, culvert, etc.…) safely without causing adverse flooding in the area. The system can analyze both steady and unsteady flow, sediment transport computations and water quality components and is often used for floodplain management with the help of its mapping tools.

4. Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project is Microsoft’s project management tool. It is similar to Microsoft Office, specifically Excel, with its user interface, making navigating the program easy. Scheduling is very important when it comes to managing engineering projects. With the knowledge of basic scheduling concepts such as activity relationships, critical paths, Gantt Charts, and more, Microsoft Project will enable you to create detailed schedules to manage your different projects.

5. StormCAD

StormCAD is a modeling and analysis program for drainage system, stormwater and sanitary sewer design. Civil engineers use it daily to size pipes and structures for a variety of development projects. StormCAD can provide calculations for drainage area runoff, inlet capacity, gutters and pipe network flow and more. The outputs and custom report generator are helpful in providing necessary information to ensure your system is engineered correctly. With GIS and AutoCAD support, importing and exporting between programs makes doing the job that much easier!

6. SSA

Comparable to StormCAD is Autodesk’s Storm and Sanitary Analysis (SSA) application. SSA can also be used to analyze and design drainage systems, stormwater, and sanitary sewers. As the maker of AutoCAD, Autodesk created SSA as an extension within CAD so that users could utilize both software’s with the ability to import and export back and forth as you update your design. Whether you need to design/size pipes, detention facilities, or drainage channels, SSA is a user-friendly program that can do it all.

SSA is a feature of Civil 3D.

7. WaterCAD

WaterCAD sample WaterCAD is another Bentley program used for utility design – specifically water distribution networks. It is a hydraulic model that helps you design improvements such as the sizing and location of pipes, pumps, and more, using details of the network such as appurtenances and fire flow data.

8. EPANET

A free alternative to WaterCAD is EPANET. Released by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, EPANET models water distribution systems and will output the flow of water in each pipe, the pressure at each node, and more.

Q. Briefly explain the basic professional ethics of Civil Engineer

Answer:

Engineering is an important and learned profession. Engineers are expected to exhibit the highest standards of honesty and integrity. Engineering has a direct and vital impact on the quality of life for all people. Accordingly, the services provided by engineers require honesty, impartiality, fairness, and equity, and must be dedicated to the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare. Engineers must perform under a standard of professional behavior that requires adherence to the highest principles of ethical conduct.

Thus, ethics is not peripheral to, or an add-on to, engineering. It is integral to the practice of engineering, part of engineering problem solving. Safety and guarding against avoidable harm are built into engineering; they are the principles that underlie engineering codes and standards.

Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall:

●      Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.

●      Perform services only in areas of their competence.

●      Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.

●      Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.

●      Avoid deceptive acts.

●      Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession.

Rules of Practice

●      Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.

●      If engineers' judgment is overruled under circumstances that endanger life or property, they shall notify their employer or client and such other authority as may be appropriate.

●      Engineers shall approve only those engineering documents that are in conformity with applicable standards.

●      Engineers shall not reveal facts, data, or information without the prior consent of the client or employer except as authorized or required by law or this Code.

●      Engineers shall not permit the use of their name or associate in business ventures with any person or firm that they believe is engaged in fraudulent or dishonest enterprise.

●      Engineers shall not aid or abet the unlawful practice of engineering by a person or firm.

●      Engineers having knowledge of any alleged violation of this Code shall report thereon to appropriate professional bodies and, when relevant, also to public authorities, and cooperate with the proper authorities in furnishing such information or assistance as may be required.

●      Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their competence.

●      Engineers shall undertake assignments only when qualified by education or experience in the specific technical fields involved.

●      Engineers shall not affix their signatures to any plans or documents dealing with subject matter in which they lack competence, nor to any plan or document not prepared under their direction and control.

●      Engineers may accept assignments and assume responsibility for coordination of an entire project and sign and seal the engineering documents for the entire project, provided that each technical segment is signed and sealed only by the qualified engineers who prepared the segment.

●      Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.

●      Engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional reports, statements, or testimony. They shall include all relevant and pertinent information in such reports, statements, or testimony, which should bear the date indicating when it was current.

●      Engineers may express publicly technical opinions that are founded upon knowledge of the facts and competence in the subject matter.

●      Engineers shall issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments on technical matters that are inspired or paid for by interested parties, unless they have prefaced their comments by explicitly identifying the interested parties on whose behalf they are speaking, and by revealing the existence of any interest the engineers may have in the matters.

●      Engineers shall act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.

●      Engineers shall disclose all known or potential conflicts of interest that could influence or appear to influence their judgment or the quality of their services.

●      Engineers shall not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one party for services on the same project, or for services pertaining to the same project, unless the circumstances are fully disclosed and agreed to by all interested parties.

●      Engineers shall not solicit or accept financial or other valuable consideration, directly or indirectly, from outside agents in connection with the work for which they are responsible.

●      Engineers in public service as members, advisors, or employees of a governmental or quasi-governmental body or department shall not participate in decisions with respect to services solicited or provided by them or their organizations in private or public engineering practice.

●      Engineers shall not solicit or accept a contract from a governmental body on which a principal or officer of their organization serves as a member.

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Q.  What do you understand by the HSE system in construction?

Answer:

HSE in construction is committed to ensure the following: 

1. Meeting and exceeding customer’s HSE requirements and expectations;
2. Good Health & Safety of Employees, contractual workers while safeguarding material and equipment from damage; 
3. Environment protection by minimizing pollution and optimizing the use of natural resources; 
4. Compliance of all safety and regulatory requirements; 
5. Continual improvement of HSE performance through teamwork, innovation, skill and competence; 
6. Spreading awareness of HSE among employees, contractors and interested parties

The objectives of HSE in construction are: 

1. Operations without incidents and accidents; 
2. The assurance of safe working conditions in order to reduce the level of professional diseases, personal traumatism and loss of time caused by it.
3. Taking measures to expect the unsafe working conditions. 
4. The timely identification and estimation of industrial dangers and risks for the company employees and the inhabitants within areas of company’s activities, decreasing possibilities of their occurrence and preventing any losses. 
5. The betterment of environment & care for nature to reduce the effects of construction wastes, contaminants dumping. 
6. The efficient use of natural resources;

HSE Management

The following elements are mandatory in the HSE Management: 

●      Management & Responsibilities; 

●      Policy & General tasks; 

●      Organization chart, policy, resources, standards and documentation; 

●      Risks assessment & management; 

●      Plans and development of procedures; 

●      Plans of emergency responses; 

●      Implementation and execution control;

●      Performing audits and inspection