A civil engineer designs and oversees the construction of public works, such as roads, bridges, dams, tunnels, buildings, airports, water and sewage systems, and other large infrastructure projects.
Buildings and bridges are often the first structures to come to mind, because they are the most obvious engineering creations. But civil engineers are also responsible for less visible creations and contributions. Every time we open a water tap, we expect water to come out, without thinking that civil engineers made it possible, in many cases by designing systems that transport water to cities from mountain sources that are sometimes hundreds of miles away.
So, in the broadest of terms, What is a civil engineer? A civil engineer is someone who applies scientific knowledge to improve infrastructure and common utilities that meet basic human needs.
Civil engineers design buildings, roads, dams, bridges, tunnels, airports, and sewer and water supply systems. When responsible for a project, civil engineers must consider costs, environmental hazards, government regulations, ability to withstand natural disasters, and durability of the infrastructure.
Civil engineering can be divided in the following categories: water resource, construction, structural, environmental, geotechnical, and transportation engineering. Many engineers serve in administrative or supervisory roles, an example being a supervisor of a construction site. These engineers can also work in teaching, construction, and research.
The projects that civil engineers work on are broad in scope and quite complex. As a result, they typically specialize in one particular area.
Geotechnical engineers make sure that structures have secure foundations. Their work deals with the earth, and the way that structures (like tunnels and buildings) interact with it. They also design retaining walls, slopes, and tunnels.
Structural engineers ensure that major projects, like dams or bridges, are sufficiently strong and durable.
Transportation engineers work with the systems of everyday transportation, like roads and highways. They plan and design these systems as well as larger projects, like harbors, ports and airports.
Civil engineers spend most of their time working in offices, but they may occasionally need to visit outdoor construction sites to oversee the building process or solve any issues that may arise. They may also need to travel to other countries to work on engineering projects abroad.
Civil engineers work 40 hours a week. They typically work on a project-to-project basis, and may therefore need to work extra hours to ensure that the projects meet their deadlines.
The average salary for a civil engineer in Kenya is around KSH130,000 per month, with juniors starting out at around KSH70,000. Salaries may vary based on location and increase with experience.
The job market in this sector will remain favorable. Aging infrastructure ensures that civil engineers will be needed and in demand to manage projects to reinforce and rebuild bridges, repair roads, design and build airports and tunnels, and upgrade levees and dams.
Growing populations will necessitate increased maintenance and repair of existing water systems and waste treatment plants, as well as the construction of new and more efficient ones.
Although state and local budget constraints may periodically impact demand in the field, delayed projects will ultimately have to be completed to preserve or replace critical infrastructure. In other words, the mandatory nature of a significant part of the work carried out by civil engineers translates into typically long-term job stability for these professionals.
In addition, civil engineering projects are less conducive to outsourcing, which is more common in other engineering disciplines. Overall, civil engineering – among the oldest of all engineering professions – is projected to continue its healthy rate of job creation. Senior engineers should encounter considerable advancement opportunities as project managers or functional managers of design, construction, operation, or maintenance.
The call for bigger and higher structures that are more resistant to natural disasters and the desire to better utilize living and working spaces will continue to present civil engineers with new challenges and new employment prospects.
In high school, you have to take Physics class and score good grades in Mathematic and the sciences in your final exams.
Civil engineers need to get a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, which should be approved by ABET (The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). A program accredited by ABET is required in order to gain licensure, which is required to work as a professional engineer (PE).
Programs in civil engineering typically take four years to complete and include coursework in mathematics, statistics, engineering mechanics and systems, and fluid dynamics, among other courses, depending on the specialty. Courses include a mix of traditional classroom learning, laboratory work, and field work.
Further education is helpful in getting a managerial position. About one out of every five civil engineers has a master’s degree.
