Specialized sub-disciplines in civil engineering

SPECIALIZED SUB-DISCIPLINES IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

The various sub-disciplines of Civil Engineering are as follows:

1. Structural Engineering

It deals with the structural design and analysis of buildings, bridges, etc., taking the loads into consideration and designing the various components of a structure for its stability.

2. Construction Engineering:

Construction Engineering is a professional discipline that deals with the designing, planning, construction, and management of infrastructures such as roads, tunnels, bridges, airports, railroads, facilities, buildings, dams, utilities and other projects. Construction Engineering is considered a professional sub-practice area of civil engineering or architectural engineering.

3. Geotechnical Engineering (Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering)

It deals with engineering behavior of soils and rocks and the design of foundation. Knowledge from the fields of Geology, material science and testing, etc., are applied by Geotechnical Engineers for safe and economical design of foundations, etc.

4. Environmental Engineering

It deals with the purification of water, drinking water supply, disposal of liquid and solid wastes, pollution control, etc. The civil engineer plays an active role in the preservation of the ecology and environment.

5. Water Resources and Management Engineering

It deals with the construction and maintenance of canals, reservoirs, dams, distribution channels to the cultivable lands, docks, harbors, etc.

6. Transportation Engineering

It deals with the construction of roads, highways, railways, bridges, tunnels, etc. The development of a nation mainly depends on the communication facilities. The national wealth is measured in terms of the road and railway facilities available. There are three modes of transportation, viz., land, water and air.

7. Surveying

Surveying is an art of determining the relative positions of distinctive features on the Earth's surface. This is achieved by the measurement of distances, directions and elevations. Surveying is necessary for various purposes such as mapping, defining the boundaries of cities, states, countries including private properties.