This document provides an overview of the field of civil engineering, including its various subdisciplines and applications. It describes the structural, transportation, geotechnical, environmental, and construction aspects of the profession. Specific examples and links are given for each area. The history and founding of the American Society of Civil Engineers is also briefly outlined.

1. Civil Engineering
EG380
Colorado State University
Dr. Robert N. Meroney
Click on speaker, then click on title

2. 61% are clueless
about engineering
Why?
Civil Engineering is Everywhere
 Civil Engineering is a
composite of many
specific disciplines.
– Structural
– Waste Treatment
– Transportation
– Geotechnical
– Water Management
– Construction
Management

3. Building Big!!!!
Buildings & Structures: Cities
Infrastructure: Transportation
Culture: Art: Architecture
Link: Building Big Site
The Future: Without Limit!

4. What is Civil Engineering????
 Civil engineering is a
composite of many
specific disciplines.
– Structural & solid mechanics.
– Waste treatment & environmental.
– Transportation.
– Geotechnical & soil mechanics.
– Hydraulics & water management.
– Construction management.

5. Structural &
Solid Mechanics
 Structural engineers
design steel, concrete,
or timber framed
structures such as:
– Tall buildings & towers,
– Bridges,
– Dams,
– Retaining walls, &
foundations, &.
– Stadiums.
Link: Mackinack Bridge
Link: Chesepeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel

6. Waste Treatment & Environmental.
 Wastewater treatment
engineers are civil or
environmental engineers
trained to design or analyze
water treatment plants.
 Water treatment plants are
categorized as follows:
– Sanitary waste treatment
facilities,
– Industrial waste treatment
facilities,
– Potable (drinking) water
treatment facility.
Largest treatment basins in the USA
Link: Visit Sewage World

7. Transportation
 Transportation
Engineers design and
analyze
– Highways,
– Railways,
– Airports,
– Urban and Suburban
Road Networks,
– Parking Lots, and
– Traffic Control Signal
Systems.
Link: Transportation at work

8. Geotechnical &
Soil Mechanics
 Geotechnical Engineers
analyze the subterranean
rock and soil to
determine its suitability
to support extreme
loads.
 Proper geotechnical
engineering is essential
for a safe and secure
structure.
Link: A bad engineering job

9. Hydraulics & Water Management
 Water management
involves the use of
hydrologic and hydraulic
principles to design:
– Drainage systems,
– Detention/retention ponds,
– Navigational waterways,
and
– Flood control levees, dams,
and lakes.
Link: Hoover Dam
Link: Flood Pictures

10. Construction
Management
 Construction managers:
– Review contracts,
– Order materials,
– Hire and schedule sub-
contractors.
 The job of a construction
manager is to:
– Provide quality control and
insure project is completed on
time and.
– Within budget.
Link: Golden Gate Bridge Construction

11. U.S. Civil Engineering: 150 years
 The twelve founders
gathered at the Croton
Aqueduct, New York, on
November 5, 1852, to
establish ASCE.
Link: ASCE History Site
 The American Society of
Civil Engineers, a pro-
fessional organization
representing more than
123,000 civil engineers,
celebrates its 150th
anniversary in 2002.

12.  A flood in Fort
Collins? (click)
– Dr. Darrell Fontane
 An earthquake in
Fort Collins? (click)
– Dr. Wayne Charlie
 A tornado in Fort
Collins? (click)
– Dr. Robert Meroney
Natural Disasters &
Civil Engineering
Link: Visit Ft. Collins Flood

13. Next a Tornado in Fort Collins!
 Between 1950-1995
there were 28
tornados in
Larimer County
 In July 1979 an F3
scale tornado hit
Cheynne injuring
40 and killing 1

14. Click on ovals

15. Related Web Sites:
 Click sites below to visit Civil
Engineering related web sites:
Link: Discover Engineering Online
Link: West Point Bridge Designer
Link: Engineering Case Studies
Link: National Engineering Week
Link: Engines of Our Ingenuity
Link: Virtual Laboratory
Click on picture
Click? >>