Civil Engineers Occupation Details

Civil Engineers Job Description
Education	Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Related Experience	A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Example	Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.

Tasks and Work Activities of Civil Engineers

Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications.
Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.
Direct or participate in surveying to lay out installations or establish reference points, grades, or elevations to guide construction.
Estimate quantities and cost of materials, equipment, or labor to determine project feasibility.
Prepare or present public reports on topics such as bid proposals, deeds, environmental impact statements, or property and right-of-way descriptions.
Test soils or materials to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations, concrete, asphalt, or steel.
Conduct studies of traffic patterns or environmental conditions to identify engineering problems and assess potential project impact.
Analyze manufacturing processes or byproducts to identify engineering solutions to minimize the output of carbon or other pollutants.
Design energy-efficient or environmentally sound civil structures.
Design or engineer systems to efficiently dispose of chemical, biological, or other toxic wastes.
Develop or implement engineering solutions to clean up industrial accidents or other contaminated sites.
Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.
Identify environmental risks and develop risk management strategies for civil engineering projects.
Provide technical advice to industrial or managerial personnel regarding design, construction, program modifications, or structural repairs.
Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures, using computer-assisted design or drawing tools.
Analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, or other topographical or geologic data.
Present data, maps, or other information at construction-related public hearings or meetings.
Review development plans to determine potential traffic impact.
Prepare administrative, technical, or statistical reports on traffic-operation matters, such as accidents, safety measures, or pedestrian volume or practices.

Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Thinking CreativelyDeveloping, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Communicating with Persons Outside OrganizationCommunicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Estimate technical or resource requirements for development or production projects.
Inspect facilities or sites to determine if they meet specifications or standards.
Survey land or bodies of water to measure or determine features.
Estimate operational costs.
Explain project details to the general public.
Prepare proposal documents.
Test characteristics of materials or structures.
Investigate the environmental impact of projects.
Prepare technical or operational reports.
Evaluate characteristics of equipment or systems.
Develop software or computer applications.
Prepare project budgets.
Schedule operational activities.
Determine operational criteria or specifications.
Prepare detailed work plans.
Create models of engineering designs or methods.
Advise others on health and safety issues.
Direct surveying activities.
Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans.
Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality.

Skills and Abilities for Civil Engineers

Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Systems AnalysisDetermining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Operations AnalysisAnalyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
MathematicsUsing mathematics to solve problems.
SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Systems EvaluationIdentifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Learning StrategiesSelecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
PersuasionPersuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Management of Material ResourcesObtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.

Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Mathematical ReasoningThe ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Number FacilityThe ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Fluency of IdeasThe ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
OriginalityThe ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Anemometerse.g. Anemometers
Photocopierse.g. Blueprint copiers
Compassese.g. Compasses
Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
Digital camerase.g. Digital cameras
Compassese.g. Dividers
Scalese.g. Drafting scales
Trianglese.g. Drafting triangles
Distance meterse.g. Electronic distance measuring devices
Global positioning system GPS receivere.g. Global positioning system GPS receivers
Notebook computerse.g. Laptop computers
Levelse.g. Laser levels
Tape measurese.g. Measuring tapes
Microfiche or microfilm viewerse.g. Microfilm readers
Map measurerse.g. Planimeters
Levelse.g. Precision levels
Protractorse.g. Protractors
Speed sensorse.g. Radar guns
Distance meterse.g. Rhodes arcs
Scalese.g. Rolling scales

Engineering and TechnologyKnowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Building and ConstructionKnowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
TransportationKnowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
DesignKnowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
PhysicsKnowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
Law and GovernmentKnowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Economics and AccountingKnowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Personnel and Human ResourcesKnowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Civil Engineers Occupation Detailed Description

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Civil Engineers

Tasks and Work Activities of Civil Engineers

Skills and Abilities for Civil Engineers