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Engineers with an interest in ships and the powerful engines that
propel them across the water become marine engineers. Others,
dedicated to protecting the natural world, might pursue environ-
mental engineering. Specializing in a particular aspect of civil engi-
neering allows individuals to focus their training and careers in the
areas in which they are most interested and also allows them to
become experts in a particular field. General civil engineers, on the
other hand, can take on all sorts of projects, ranging from housing
developments to storm-water systems to road-widening projects.
Structural Engineers
One common civil engineering specialty is structural engineering.
Structural engineers work with architects to make sure a build-
ing’s design and the materials planned for its construction will
make it strong and stable. If the project is a tall office building, for
example, a structural engineer will work out how many beams
and columns are needed to make the building sturdy as well as
determine the proper thickness of the walls and other important
design details. Structural engineers are also involved in road,
bridge, pipeline, and tunnel construc-
tion projects. Their expertise is espe-
cially important on projects that have to
stand up to extreme temperatures, high
winds, earthquakes, coastal erosion,
and other natural forces.
Structural engineers are also called
on to inspect buildings and other proj-
ects that are under construction or are
recently finished to make sure they are
properly constructed. For example, they
look at load-bearing walls to make sure
they will safely support the roof or other floors above them. They
inspect the roof to make sure it is secure. Routine inspections
are also crucial for older buildings. Structural engineers check to
see how well a building is holding up and look for signs of erosion
around a building’s foundation or to see if the foundation itself has
moved or weakened.
“It’s an exciting time to
be a civil engineer. As
professionals, we take
pride in our work as the
stewards of the nation’s
infrastructure.”
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—Civil engineer Norma Jean
Mattei, president of the
American Society of Civil
Engineers
