Pursuing a Career in Civil Engineering
Pursuing a Career in Civil Engineering
Why do I want to be a civil engineer? Until recently, I did not know the answer to this question myself. I was extremely confused when it came to choosing a career. There were so many fields that interested me that I found it difficult to make up my mind. Then I read about civil engineering, an occupation involving the construction of buildings, roads, and bridges. As I looked further into civil engineering, I began to like many aspects of this career. Civil Engineers play a crucial role in the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings.
Before beginning construction civil engineers plan layout and every other aspect of a building. As the article “Architecture (building)” on Microsoft® Encarta® remarks “Architecture must satisfy its intended uses, must be technically sound, and must convey aesthetic meaning” because “Architecture is a social art” (page 1 of 19). Structural engineers are principally concerned with the structural form of a building, whereas architects are concerned with the integration of the building functions, form, mechanical system, as well as the building itself. It is through their collaboration that complex building can be designed. Designing the overall frame of a building is the first step in constructing a viable and stable structure. According with the Attila Lawrence’s article on the “architectureweeek” web page, “ In today’s competitive business environment, corporate cultures tend to focus on improving product quality while minimizing costs and managing risks”, (page 1 of 2). Furthermore, the English poet Sir Henry Wotton said: “ Well building have three conditions: Commoditie, Firmenes, and Delight” (qtd. In Architecture (building) page 1 of 19). Structure and aesthetics of a building are related through efficiency, lightness, elegance, and the principles of minimizing weight and using the least material possible to control cost. Civil engineers and architects together design in detail the various components of a building and the materials to be used. According with the article “Building Construction” on Microsoft® Encarta®, “ The major elements of a building include the following: The foundation, the structure, the exterior walls, the interior partitions, the environmental-control systems, the vertical transportation communications, and the power, water supply system”, (III elements of a building, page 2 of 12). Furthermore, as the article “Building Construction” on Microsoft® Encarta® remarks, “As a general rule, state laws require a registered architect or engineer, or both, to execute the design and to...