Engineering is the application of science and maths to produce a solution to a problem. Engineering is a term that covers a wide range of professions eg - chemical engineering, civil engineering and software engineering.
Types of civil engineering:
When applying for civil engineering apprenticeships you will usually have to choose a discipline you want to work in. Some companies allow you to rotate between disciplines once you start your apprenticeship so that you can find your vocation. Before applying to work in any branch of civil engineering you need to know what each discipline does.
Structural engineering:
Structural engineers design the structural elements in buildings and bridges. They work to make sure structural members in the building are safe and strong enough to support the dead and live loads applied to the building. Structural engineers have to make sure the buildings they design will be safe and carry out their purpose for a minimum of fifty years, a century for bridges.
Transport engineering:
Transport engineers design transport systems such as roads, roundabouts and railway tracks. They have to understand how building a transport system in a certain area will improve the community surrounding the project and if it will outweigh any risks. Transport engineers will also make sure their designs are environmentally friendly and will look to reduce its embodied and operational carbon by conducting a life cycle assessment.
Geotechnical engineering;
Geotechnical engineers assess ground conditions and will determine how infrastructure projects will impact the ground and if the ground is stable enough to support the project. Geotechnical engineers will look at the feasibility of a project by assessing the risks, contamination, landslides and sinkholes, and what could be done to reduce the probability.
Environmental engineering:
Environmental engineers look to reduce pollution and waste in construction projects. They conduct environmental assessments throughout the project and advise other engineers on what they need to do to reduce embodied carbon. These engineers will also tell the client about current environmental laws that will impact their project and advise them accordingly.
