Nama : Putri Afrina Guza

NIM : 21117025
Class : TPB 10
An Introduction to the Field of Civil Engineering
written by: Raunekk • edited by: Lamar Stonecypher • updated: 9/26/2014

Civil engineering is the oldest and one of the most versatile branches of engineering.
Every structure that we see around today is a creation of civil engineering. Learn more about
this fascinating discipline.
Civil engineering is the oldest and broadest engineering discipline among all the
engineering fields. The field deals with the planning, designing, and construction of buildings
and various other structures. From huge dams to sky high buildings, from suspension bridges
to offshore drilling platforms, every physical concrete structure comes under civil
engineering.
The usage of civil engineering dates back to the ancient times. Most of the seven
wonders, including Egyptian pyramids and the Taj Mahal, are the creation of flawless civil
engineering skills. Some of the world’s oldest civilizations such as Harappa and Mohenjo-
daro are also the product of immaculate civil engineering. After all, how can one ignore the
magnificent architecture of Rome’s Coliseum or the unique design of the great Eiffel tower?

Sub-Branches of Civil Engineering

Civil engineering is the most diverse field of all the engineering branches. Technically
speaking, civil engineering is the creator of the whole world’s infrastructure. Structures such
as tunnels, dams, sewers, bridges, highways, canals, industrial plants, residential buildings,
railway lines, airports etc come under the category of civil engineering. Moreover, as the
population of the world increases and the technology becomes more advanced, the need for
better infrastructure will increase around the world. Civil engineering continues to cater to
these needs in all the sectors and aspects of human life.
The need for infrastructure has increased by leaps and bounds in each and every
sector. In order to concentrate and manage the construction process in each sector, the field of
civil engineering has been divided into various sub-disciplines. This means that on the basis
of applications, the stream of civil engineering has been segregated into several branches to
make the construction process easier and more manageable. Some of the main branches
include – bridge engineering, construction engineering, coastal engineering, geotechnical
engineering, environmental engineering, transportation engineering, surveying etc.