Mayo, Alexandra Charisse M.

CE 401 – Civil Engineering

Orientation
CE 2109 Essay No.
3
SR Code: 19-04611 October 14,
2020

To Constantly Keep Up

The heights that civil engineers are taking are not ordinary steps but rather a steep and
difficult path. Within the ever changing society, civil engineers have adapted to various changes
and even pioneered development for its betterment. And along the fast growth, civil engineers must
also be geared to jive with its flow. Civil Engineers are unarguably essential cornerstones to the
world towards a promising future.

As there are other professions with specific duties in the society, Civil Engineers play
important roles in its development. They are responsible for maintaining the overall safety of
society in a number of ways including rural engineering. From constructing highways and
buildings to bridges and tunnels, the responsibilities of civil engineers are many. They are also
responsible for planning and overseeing different construction efforts and apply civil engineering
principles to ensure that the constructed structures are safe and sturdy.

A civil engineer is responsible for analyzing different factors regarding a construction

project. They analyze the site of the construction and the surrounding area. The process includes
search and investigation, verifying whether that location is feasible for construction purposes or
not. Civil engineers also analyze the entire construction work that needs to be completed at the site.
They have to analyze every step of the processes required for completing the construction job. 

Once they have properly analyzed the situation, they need to prepare detailed reports. The
report encompasses a detailed description of the various factors present and also the factors that
need to be changed before commencing the construction work. Once the proposed changes have
been implemented, it’s up to the civil engineer to review the plans and project site once again. This
is to ensure that all proposed changes have been. They are also responsible for planning the
construction project. He/she is required to inspect the project for ensuring that all rules, regulations
and guidelines are been properly followed.

A civil engineer has to follow a construction project from beginning to end and make
necessary changes along the way to completion. They are responsible for checking whether the
safety features of the project are maintained or not and must ensure that all the processes are
followed. 

A civil engineer also needs to use different figures, equation and applications to ensure that
the processes are been implemented accurately. They need to conduct a number of functions such
as conducting chemical testing using various applications, use a drafting and design software
throughout the project, and conducting electrical testing of devices and equipment. They also need
to be aware of land surveying techniques and the metric system.

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 One can always think of a civil engineer whenever they see a paved road, drive to work or
school through roads and bridges, open the tap when taking a shower, and even when you roam
your eyes at every corner of your house. A civil engineer’s work is evident in many possible ways.
Civil engineering is “the modification of nature to create and improve human
habitats.” Civil engineers work toward an ideal that is “a standard of perfection, beauty, or
moral and physical excellence, especially as an aim of attainment or realization.” Civil
engineers strive to “match deep functionality with aesthetics in every manifestation of the
profession.” Engineers should be mindful that there is a “moral compact between the engineer and
world society.”

“Professional engineers should work for the welfare of the public. They are responsible for
observing societal needs, and often have the position and resources to improve society. As
professionals, engineers are expected to set examples in the work field and to establish themselves
as assets to society.” T.D. Oates, 1993

“Engineering is concerned with the implementation of a solution to a practical problem. A

scientist may ask "why?" and proceed to research the answer to the question. By contrast,
engineers want to know how to solve a problem and how to implement that solution. In other
words, scientists investigate phenomena, whereas engineers create solutions to problems or
improve upon existing solutions.

Even the etymology of the word “engineer” reveals their problem-solving nature: “It is a
myth that engineer originated to describe those who built engines. In fact, the words engine and
engineer (as well as ingenious) developed in parallel from the Latin root ingeniosus, meaning
"skilled". An engineer is thus a clever, practical, problem solver.”

More is expected of engineers than any other profession. Civil Engineers are responsible
for the well-being of the entire population via water treatment, wastewater treatment, air pollution
control, road design and design of dams, buildings and bridges. But their work often goes
unrecognized. The public tends to take the quality of our work for granted – until something goes
wrong or performs below expectations. In fact, many of the US Top 7 “Critical Technologies”
identified by the National Government are related to Civil Engineering like top 2, Environmental
Quality, 6th, Materials, and 7th, Transportation.

Every job and career path is different. Every, person, every employer, and each job is
different and there are no specific rules. Expect the unexpected. Variety and diversity are the key
trait of civil engineering. There is always a key fit to the skills and aspirations of every individual.

“You must learn how to learn. This is part of your preparation for being an engineer; our
profession will require that you keep up with new development while you work: Life-long
learning”.
Dave DiLaura, “Being Smart is Not Enough.”

It really is a tough job for civil engineers to cope up with the demands and needs of the
world around them but they as well stand as pillars of constant development. To constantly learn
and provide requires great effort and passion along with dedication. These gears are the essentials
to be ready enough to support the needs of the society.

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 To be a civil engineer is to be an individual fully equipped and has the courage to
constantly keep up.

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References:
N.A., May 10, 2017, Roles and Responsibilities of a Civil Engineer, http://istonline.org.in/roles-
responsibilities-civil-engineer/#:~:text=Civil%20engineers%20play%20an%20extremely,of
%20civil%20engineers%20are%20many.

American Society of Civil Engineers, nd., About Civil Engineering,

https://www.asce.org/about_civil_engineering/.

Bugliarello, G. 1994. “Ideal of Civil Engineering.” Journal of Professional Issues in

Engineering Education and Practice. Vol 120(3): 290-294.

DiLaura, Dave. 1996. “Being Smart is Not Enough: Chautauquas for First Year Engineering
Students.” Notes.

Holton, Ed. 1992/93. “The Critical First Year on the Job.” CPC Annual, Vol. 1, p. 72-75
Magar, Victor S. Personal Interview in 1997. PE. PhD in Civil Engineering at the University of
Washington.

T.D. Oates. 1993. “Practice of Professionalism” Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering

Education and Practice. 119(1): 44-45.

Phillips, Winfred M. “The Challenge of Change for Engineering Education.” Presentation at the
1997 NSF Engineering Education Scholars Workshop.

Welch, John F. Jr. 1989. Competitiveness: The Real Stuff of American Engineering

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