Taking a step back and looking at civil projects from a macro perspective, one would come to find that these projects are in one way or another linked to civil engineering more than it is linked to the construction industry despite the fact that the activities of civil projects are mostly construction-based activities. There are various reasons as to why the branch of civil construction is generally seen as a ‘spin-off; of civil engineering, however the primary reason is attributed to the extensive coordination and planning that is required between a motley of engineers from different fields and architects.
These professionals who are in essence specialists must come together and map every detail out before any construction work will be allowed to commence and almost every single one of them belong to the civil engineering faction which in essence takes responsibility for not just building infrastructure, but also maintaining infrastructure and natural environments for entire geographical areas.
Looking at the civil faction from a plain perspective any firms linked to projects that comes under the hood of civil engineering do far more than build buildings that support infrastructure as they also manage our surroundings (natural environment) such as natural water reservoirs, prevent landslides around hillsides or mountain ridges, manage irrigation, and even manage the water flow consistency of rivers. In essence, the civil engineering sphere manages and maintains any element, natural or not that potentially interacts with humans.
The scope of work carried out by a civil construction contractor therefore can be said to be extensive and any construction firm that bids for projects that fall under the purview of civil engineering, must be competent in their ability and capacity in terms of expertise in areas that go beyond building structures such as erosion control, environmental impact, legal regulations or even the comprehension of how specific projects would impact the public.
Overview of Civil Engineers
Civil engineers belong to an engineering faction that is directly responsible for not just the design and construction of infrastructure, but also responsible for maintaining existing infrastructure and public works. In essence, everything or any element that is deemed as belonging to the civil sphere falls under the oversight of civil engineers. The role of the civil engineer begins at the very initial stages of a project’s initiation until completion and the maintenance of the project after the project is completed.
For instance, if the project is a railway station and railway tracks, after the station is built and the tracks are laid, it is the responsibility of civil engineers to maintain the railway station and tracks. Similarly, if it were a water management project and involves waste water management, after the necessary water treatment plants are built, civil engineers continue to ensure that the treatment plant continues to function optimally.
As a matter of fact, all public utilities which include sewerage systems, power stations and dams generally come under the umbrella of civil engineers who take the lead in building and managing these facilities.
